by Aston Villa’s excellent home winning streak in the Premier League has finally been broken, after 16 games, and with it the chance to go top of the table disappeared on Birmingham night. After such an exciting experience, however, this felt like a positive result as they avoided a first league defeat at Villa Park since February after a disappointing finish.
Poor Unai Emery looked uncomfortable throughout, in a tie dominated by Var’s decisions and when Sheffield United’s Cameron Archer – the former Villa forward – pounced on three minutes it sealed the shock result of the season. so far it seemed.
But in the seventh minute of added time, Villa substitute Nicolo Zaniolo struck the equalizer to spark scenes of wild celebration and, no doubt, relief. A win would see Villa top the table for the first time since August 2011, but some vintage fans will have seen this result coming a mile away.
Everything about the records of both clubs before kick-off suggested a comfortable home win, but Emery endured a torturous afternoon. Leon Bailey’s second-half goal was ruled out after referee Anthony Taylor reviewed the incident on his monitor, while Jacob Ramsey was deemed to have fouled United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
United also survived four penalty decisions after Var checks, to the irritation of the home supporters who were waiting for a 16th consecutive home win. Emery said: “It wasn’t the right decision [the disallowed goal] but I always accept the Var. “I think Var was too much today.
No need to review as much as they did. And for the goal it was the second act. We got the ball back and then we scored. This did not need to be reviewed. “We’ve been running and we know things can change and today it came, but I’m really happy with the players.” This was only Chris Wilder’s fourth game since his return to United, and his players deserved a point based on determination and sticking to the plan.
He formed a defensive back five and flooded the midfield in an attempt to slip Villa, and he worked for long periods. Archer showed his predatory instincts with the 87th minute goal and it’s clear why Villa insisted on a buy-back clause when they sold him this summer for £18&hair; million.
United’s point moved them off the bottom of the table, and Wilder’s take was a big boost. “Every time we play at Villa it’s an interesting night, and it was going to be smooth again,” he said. “It was cooked with him [Var] from the outside with penalties and disallowed goals. I’m a traditionalist, I’m here for the hand of God, that’s it.
It’s taken away from the referees when they get to the top.” “There were about a thousand Var calls tonight. Hit and miss and we’ll go 1-0 and you feel like you’re going to have the night.” Villa will have to contend with opponents setting up like this for the rest of the season, and that will be the latest test for Emery.
Villa’s excellent home form has underpinned their progress, with 15 consecutive league wins at Villa Park before last night. Backed by a lively home crowd, Villa were on the front foot from the start but it soon became clear that it was going to be difficult.
Ollie Watkins appeared to push Vinicius Souza over in the penalty area but United escaped after Var’s review. Seconds later, another Var was checked for an alleged handball by George Baldock and, again, United avoided a penalty. It was reminiscent of the “ghost goal” of 2020, when the season restarted after the first Covid-19 lockdown and United were denied a goal after Hawk-Eye technology failed to see that the ball had crossed the line.
Villa would go on to avoid relegation on the final day, one point. The home side had another chance, with Foderingham saving from Moussa Diaby before Ezri Konsa headed four goals clear. Frustration was building as Villa struggled to break down a determined opposition, despite dominating possession.
Emery was swirling around in celebration 13 minutes into the second half, when Villa’s relentless pressing yielded their supposed opening goal. It was a mistake from Baldock, when he gave the ball away trying to leave the penalty area, and the ball was played into Bailey at the far post who headed home.
Foderingham was fouled by Ramsey, and the goal was disallowed. It only gave the home supporters extra motivation, but United came out stronger.
Oliver Norwood had their first shot on target 12 minutes from time and then Konsa deflected Max Lowe’s cross inches onto his own post. The goal came three minutes from time, and it was inevitably going to be Archer, who showed his predatory instinct to put away Gus Hamer’s cross. United were in relative control but were eventually broken when Zaniolo headed into an empty net to salvage a point.
