Bottom club Sheffield United survived for more than 30 minutes with 10 men to claim only the fourth Premier League win of their disappointing season and dent Aston Villa’s European ambitions.
David McGoldrick gave his side a first-half lead from inside the six-yard area after being picked out by George Baldock following a lovely move that started inside the Blades’ half.
United defender Phil Jagielka was sent off after half-time for a foul on Anwar El Ghazi after referee Robert Jones viewed the incident on a pitchside monitor and changed the yellow card he had initially given him to a red.
Villa’s Ollie Watkins headed against the post shortly before Jagielka’s red card but the visitors were unable to take advantage of the 38-year-old former Everton player’s dismissal.
The result ended a four-match losing run for Chris Wilder’s spirited side who, despite victory, remain 12 points from safety in the Premier League with 11 matches to play.
Villa could have moved three points from a Champions League place with a win but were disappointing, especially when playing against 10 men.
Blades show appetite for fight
Despite his side’s seemingly hopeless position at the foot of the table, Wilder said before the game his players would not be waving the white flag between now and the end of a wretched season that has produced 21 league defeats.
His players responded to their manager’s words with a gutsy performance that was even more impressive given they lost their most experienced player in the 57th minute.
Jagielka sent El Ghazi crashing as he was about to race clear, although it required a check on the monitor before the yellow card was upgraded to red.
Former England centre-back Jagielka had earlier made a superb block to deny Bertrand Traore an equaliser as the Blades defended with the kind of vigour and organisation which characterised their fine 2019-20 season
They remained resolute in the closing stages when Villa were desperately searching for an equaliser, Oliver Norwood throwing himself at Ezri Konsa’s shot during a frantic finish.
Eight months after finishing ninth in the table with 19 more points than Villa, despite this result it will require an extraordinary set of circumstances for Sheffield United to stay up.
At least they showed an appetite for a fight in spite of their position as Villa joined Manchester United, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion as the sides to lose to the Blades this season.
A performance to forget
Villa’s transformation since surviving relegation on the final day of last season has been startling – but this was a performance to forget from a team that has been turning heads this campaign.
They started the season with four straight wins and although they have thrown in some surprise defeats – this loss coming four days after winning at Leeds – it has been a positive campaign for Dean Smith’s side.
They struggled to impose themselves in front of goal at Bramall Lane, although Watkins was unfortunate with his header that struck the woodwork, while Traore went close after showing great foot work inside the penalty area.
Keeper Emiliano Martinez has impressed all season but there was little he could do to keep out McGoldrick from close range after the defence was undone by Baldock’s pass.
Villa have been excellent on the road this season, with victories at Leicester, Arsenal and Wolves among seven they have managed away from Villa Park.
But Smith will not want to dwell on this performance – particularly as his side face a tough run-in that includes home matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Liverpool away.
What’s next?
Both teams are at home on Saturday with Southampton visiting Sheffield United (15:00 GMT) before Aston Villa host a West Midlands derby with Wolves (17:30).
Player of the match
McGoldrickDavid McGoldrick
Sheffield United
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Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrick
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Squad number22Player nameAmpadu
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Squad number23Player nameOsborn
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Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
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Squad number4Player nameFleck
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Squad number2Player nameBaldock
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Squad number16Player nameNorwood
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Squad number24Player nameBrewster
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Squad number29Player nameBryan
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Squad number3Player nameStevens
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Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
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Squad number7Player nameLundstram
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Squad number14Player nameBurke
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Squad number15Player nameJagielka
Aston Villa
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Squad number26Player nameMartÃnez
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Squad number11Player nameWatkins
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Squad number4Player nameKonsa
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Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
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Squad number5Player nameMings
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Squad number15Player nameTraoré
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Squad number18Player nameTargett
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Squad number21Player nameEl Ghazi
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Squad number19Player nameNakamba
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Squad number41Player nameRamsey
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Squad number27Player nameAhmed El Mohamady
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Squad number20Player nameBarkley
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Squad number39Player nameDavis
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Squad number25Player nameSanson
More to follow.
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Ramsdale
- 22Ampadu
- 15JagielkaBooked at 57mins
- 29Bryan
- 2Baldock
- 7Lundstram
- 16Norwood
- 4Fleck
- 3Stevens
- 17McGoldrickBooked at 45minsSubstituted forOsbornat 73′minutes
- 24BrewsterSubstituted forBurkeat 60′minutesSubstituted forMcBurnieat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 9McBurnie
- 10Sharp
- 11Mousset
- 13Lowe
- 14Burke
- 18Foderingham
- 23Osborn
- 34Ndiaye
- 35Maguire
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 26MartÃnez
- 27El Mohamady
- 4Konsa
- 5Mings
- 18Targett
- 7McGinn
- 19NakambaSubstituted forBarkleyat 68′minutes
- 41RamseySubstituted forSansonat 68′minutes
- 15TraoréSubstituted forDavisat 81′minutes
- 11Watkins
- 21El Ghazi
Substitutes
- 1Heaton
- 3Taylor
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 17Trézéguet
- 20Barkley
- 22Engels
- 25Sanson
- 39Davis
- 62Hayden
Live Text
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Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Aston Villa 0.
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Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Aston Villa 0.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
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Attempt missed. Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right.
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Attempt saved. Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Anwar El Ghazi with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by George Baldock.
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Attempt saved. Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Anwar El Ghazi with a cross.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by John Fleck.
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Substitution, Sheffield United. Oliver McBurnie replaces Oliver Burke.
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Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).
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Attempt blocked. Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ross Barkley.
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Substitution, Aston Villa. Keinan Davis replaces Bertrand Traoré.
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Attempt blocked. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. Ahmed El Mohamady (Aston Villa) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Bertrand Traoré with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Ben Osborn.
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Attempt blocked. Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Ollie Watkins.
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Foul by Bertrand Traoré (Aston Villa).
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John Fleck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.