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Match Stats

FULL TIME! SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 ASTON VILLA
David McGoldrick's first half goal the difference between the two teams, despite the Blades playing with 10-men for a lot of the second half.
Villa threw everything at Sheffield United but could not find a way through the Blades' rear-guard who defended heroically.
Final score at Bramall Lane, Sheffield united 1-0 Aston Villa.
90+'
90+'
Corner in the final minute to Villa...
90+' FOUR MINUTES ADDED TIME
Martinez comes up for yet another corner, but the Blades clear again.
Bodies everywhere in red and white, fighting to hold on.
90'
Konsa forces Ramsdale into a superb save from the corner and the Blades can breathe again, momentarily...
89' BLADES SUB
88'
85'
5 minutes to go!
82'
El Ghazi lifts it in but can't beat the first man and Oli Burke heads away.
81' VILLA SUB
80'
78'
77'
76'
73' BLADES SUB
71'
Fleck delivers from the left but Villa play themselves out of trouble.
Burke picks up a loose ball for United but runs straight into trouble.
69' VILLA SUB
Dean Smith rolling the dice here.
67'
The resulting corner comes to nothing.
66'
Traore delivers but the Blades clear.
63'
60' BLADES SUB
59'
57' RED CARD - VAR
The referee changes his original decision and upgrades his initial yellow to a red card for Phil Jagielka.
Blades down to 10 men for half an hour.
55' YELLOW CARD
Hang on though, VAR are checking this...
54' OFF THE BAR
The Blades survive.
52'
48'
Villa play it short and work it forward. Traore gets a shooting opportunity after McGinn nods it down, but Jagielka flies in with a block to deny the ball's route to goal.
46' SECOND HALF UNDERWAY
SUFC 1-1 AVFC
HALF TIME: Sheffield United 1-0 Aston VIlla
Villa have seen more of the ball, but they have not really forced Aaron Ramsdale into many goal-saving stops.
Equally, neither have Sheffield United, but it's them who lead at the break.
45+' YELLOW CARD
He's the first name to go into Rob Jones' book.
45+'
43'
McGinn stays down for a bit but is now back on his feet.
40'
38'
34'
Ball played into the feet of Traore on the edge of the 18 yard box. He twist and turns his way through four Sheffield United players before dragging his shot just wide of Ramsdale's far post.
What a goal that would've been.
30' - GOAL! Sheffield United 1-0 Aston Villa
Blades lead!
25'
24'
This time Lundstram clears away, but not very far. Villa recycle and end up getting a throw.
Finally the Blades clear through Ampadu.
21'
You have to think that if that was inside the box, VAR would've had a say there...
19'
18'
16'
14'
8'
He feeds John Lundstram who unselfishly tries to feed Baldock rather than shoot but his pass doesn't have enough on it and Villa recover.
5'
Straight down the other end, Oli Norwood floats a diagonal cross in but Emi Martinez comes out to claim confidently.
Match Officials
Assistants: Darren Cann and Derek Eaton
Fourth Official: Tony Harrington
VAR: Graham Scott
Assistant VAR: Lee Betts
1'
Aston Villa kick us off and will be defending the Bramall Lane end this half.
Here come the teams!
You can breathe easy, Chris - he isn't playing!
The Gaffer on Villa & Jack Grealish. 👇
“A club that is huge, I’m delighted Dean’s doing a brilliant job.
I think he’s (Grealish) the best player in England by the way. I hope he doesn’t play tomorrow. Have another day off, Jack, make your return at the weekend.” pic.twitter.com/ElXlNHM75J — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 2, 2021
Rhian Brewster starts for the first time since Jan 30th
Rhian Brewster into the starting XI. 💫 pic.twitter.com/blXt3OKk79 — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 3, 2021
Villa Captain checking out the surroundings
𝗧𝗠𝟱. 👍 #SHUAVL pic.twitter.com/JNSvarvJDz — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2021
Billy Sharp speaks to BT Sport
"If we can get to the last two or three games and we're still in it then I fancy us."
After the success of last season, this campaign has been tough for Sheffield United.
Billy Sharp knows results must change if they are to continue their Premier League fairytale. pic.twitter.com/bqduQpDSv5 — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 3, 2021
Starting XI - Aston Villa
⚫ 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⚫
This is your Aston Villa team to face Sheffield United tonight! 👊 #SHUAVL pic.twitter.com/bSTNu6WpqC — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2021
Starting XI - Sheffield United
One change for the Blades. 🔁
Rhian Brewster replaces Oli McBurnie in the starting XI.#SHUAVL 🔜 pic.twitter.com/BW1TPcYq3U — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 3, 2021
Lack of goals?
The Blades have the lowest goalscoring tally in the league with 15, and haven't scored a goal (of their own) in the league since Jayden Bogle and Billy Sharp's against West Brom over a month ago.
Whilst Villa have scored 38 goals this season, that's the joint lowest in the top nine teams. They also have not scored more than one goal in a game since their 3-2 defeat away at Burnley at the end of January.
To top it off, no team has lost more games by one goal than Sheffield United this season. Sit tight everyone.
Blades players arrive at Bramall Lane
The Blades are in. 👊 pic.twitter.com/a5obOXADKa — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 3, 2021
Villa checking in at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane 📍 #SHUAVL pic.twitter.com/MhkApM6INf — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) March 3, 2021
90 minutes to go!
Stay tuned for both starting XIs as they get released at 17:00 GMT.
Form Guide
Aston Villa: WLDWL
(Latest result first)
Previous meeting - September 2020
John Egan received a red card early in the tie as he was adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring opportunity in a tussle with Ollie Watkins.
Debutant Emi Martinez saved a John Lundstram penalty after Chris Basham was brought down by Matt Targett.
However, Konsa was able to nod back across goal and into the net after Tyrone Mings initially flicked on from a corner just after the hour mark.
How to watch Sheffield United v Aston Villa
Alternatively, you can keep tabs on all the action in this VAVEL live stream!
Dean Smith talks about the Blades' spirit
"Knowing Chris as I do, they will be ready for every game. I think you saw that against Liverpool on Sunday - a really good spirit about their team. There's certainly no chance they'll give up in any game."
Chris Wilder ahead of Aston Villa
"The two boxes decide the game of football. They've (Villa) been great in keeping the ball out of the back of the net, and credit has to go to their backroom team, and at the top of the pitch they've got players that can win those tight games.
"I think Dean (Smith) will agree with me when I say that not a lot has changed for them from last year to this year, but they've managed to get both boxes right, and we haven't."
It's matchday!
Matchday for the Bladesmen. 👊
We take on Aston Villa at 6pm. 💪 pic.twitter.com/iNQnTiyBWC— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 3, 2021
Predicted lineup - Aston Villa
(4-3-3)
Predicted lineup - Sheffield United
(5-3-2)
Team News - Aston Villa
Matty Cash is also still absent, but Ahmed Elmohamady stepped up excellently in his place against Leeds and will be looking to do the same again.
Team News - Sheffield United
First choice back three of John Egan, Chris Basham, and Jack O'Connell are all out with different issues.
This game is expected to come too soon for Jayden Bogle as he recovers from his clash with Fulham's Alphonse Areola.
Sander Berge and Jack Robinson are also still sidelined, but Lys Mousset was back on the bench for Sunday's tie against Liverpool.
Villa looking to build on recent win
Dean Smith's side proved they could win without captain Jack Grealish, and they'll be hoping for more of the same tonight.
Blades looking for a glimmer of hope
They currently sit rock-bottom of the Premier League table and are 15 points from Newcastle United and safety.
Kick-off time
Welcome!
