Sheffield United 0-5 Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s side thrash woeful Blades to move into top four
Sheffield United #SheffieldUnited
Aston Villa became the first team to score as many as four goals in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League away game since Chelsea against Bolton in October 2011
Aston Villa dismantled Sheffield United to move back into the Premier League’s top four with a thumping victory which leaves the Blades rooted to the bottom of the table.
Unai Emery’s side overwhelmed the woeful hosts with four goals inside the opening half hour at Bramall Lane – by John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans – before Alex Moreno added a fifth after the break.
McGinn slotted his 12th-minute opener into a vacant goal after Blades skipper Anel Ahmedhodzic managed to hook Watkins’ goal-bound shot off the line – but Watkins did not miss his next opportunity, finding the bottom corner after receiving a wonderful outside-of-the-boot pass from Douglas Luiz.
The alarm bells were ringing loudly for Chris Wilder’s side when Bailey curled in a delightful third inside 20 minutes, leading some home supporters to head for an early exit.
Villa pressed for more and Tielemans, having just seen a shot headed off the line, unleashed a blistering strike from the edge of the box following the resulting corner to add a fourth as Bramall Lane continued to empty.
Those home fans who remained made their feelings clear as the half-time whistle was met with boos but their collective mood only worsened just 83 seconds after the restart when Moreno volleyed in Watkins’ cross to make it 5-0.
Substitute Moussa Diaby’s fierce strike was saved by Foderingham as Villa sought to add to their tally, while Sheffield United were denied a late consolation when Vinicius Souza’s injury-time finish was ruled out for offside.
Victory moved Villa level on points with second-placed Manchester City and Arsenal directly above them, although they have played more games than both of those sides.
But for Sheffield United, now 10 points from safety, the picture appears increasingly gloomy.
Five-star Villa maintain top-four push
Villa had not won at Sheffield United in the top flight for 30 years, last doing so in April 1994 – but they ended that wait in emphatic fashion on Saturday night.
Despite arriving in Sheffield with only one win in their past five league games – taking just five points during that run – an outstanding start to the campaign has ensured Emery’s side remain firmly in the fight for a Champions League place.
Defeat by Newcastle in midweek allowed Tottenham to leapfrog Villa into fourth but, as they now have following each of their five defeats this season, Villa responded to that setback with victory – this time to heap more misery on Sheffield United.
Watkins continues to impress as he aims to make Gareth Southgate’s England squad at this summer’s European Championship, with his goal and two assists in this match making the 28-year-old the first player to reach double figures for both goals (11) and assists (10) in the Premier League this season.
Bailey also shone in a fluid Villa attack which repeatedly sliced open the hosts’ defence with ease, the Jamaica forward displaying his quality in front of goal with a well-taken finish in a complete performance.
Villa threatened to humiliate the hosts when Moreno made it five shortly after half-time, but that tally was enough to give Villa their biggest away win in the Premier League since April 2008 as Emery’s side comfortably saw out victory.
Dismal Blades outclassed and in trouble
Sheffield United were outclassed in every department and, on this evidence, appear destined for an immediate return to the Championship.
In Premier League history, the three previous teams to accumulate as few as 10 points at this stage of the season have all been relegated.
The Blades look increasingly likely to suffer the same fate. In desperate need of a rapid upturn in form, they instead suffered a significant setback here – not least to their belief.
They have won twice all season, are winless in seven league games, and have conceded the most goals of any side at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1965-66.
The seats were rapidly emptying inside 30 minutes, with loud boos at the full-time whistle. United have now lost 31 of their 40 most recent Premier League games under Wilder, who has overseen one win in eight games since he was reappointed in early December.
Their only threatening spell arrived inside the closing 15 minutes, when Emiliano Martinez was forced to make a double save and Jack Robinson had an attempt headed off the line.
But there were few positives for Wilder, who made five changes from the midweek loss to Crystal Palace, and his players must now recover for a crucial trip to fellow promoted side Luton Town next weekend.
Player of the match
WatkinsOllie Watkins
Sheffield United
Squad number10Player nameArcher
Squad number11Player nameBrereton
Squad number28Player nameMcAtee
Squad number30Player nameHolgate
Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
Squad number35Player nameBrooks
Squad number19Player nameRobinson
Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza
Squad number8Player nameHamer
Squad number20Player nameBogle
Squad number32Player nameOsula
Squad number22Player nameDavies
Squad number33Player nameNorrington-Davies
Squad number23Player nameOsborn
Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
Squad number5Player nameTrusty
Aston Villa
Squad number11Player nameWatkins
Squad number7Player nameMcGinn
Squad number31Player nameBailey
Squad number6Player nameDouglas Luiz
Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Squad number15Player nameÁlex Moreno
Squad number3Player nameDiego Carlos
Squad number4Player nameKonsa
Squad number1Player nameE Martínez
Squad number44Player nameKamara
Squad number17Player nameLenglet
Squad number2Player nameCash
Squad number19Player nameDiaby
Squad number41Player nameJ Ramsey
Squad number27Player nameRogers
Squad number47Player nameIroegbunam
Line-upsSheff Utd
Formation 5-4-1
18Foderingham
20Bogle30Holgate15Ahmedhodzic5Trusty33Norrington-Davies
28McAtee21de Souza Costa35Brooks11Brereton
32Osula
Substitutes
Aston Villa
Formation 4-2-3-1
1E Martínez
4Konsa3Diego Carlos17Lenglet15Moreno
44Kamara6Douglas Luiz
31Bailey8Tielemans7McGinn
11Watkins
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Sheffield United 0, Aston Villa 5.
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Aston Villa 5.
Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
VAR Decision: No Goal Sheffield United 0-5 Aston Villa.
GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
Offside, Sheffield United. Auston Trusty is caught offside.
Foul by Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa).
Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Emiliano Martínez.
Attempt saved. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Osborn.
Attempt blocked. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer.
Tim Iroegbunam (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).
Attempt missed. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Moussa Diaby with a cross.
Substitution, Aston Villa. Morgan Rogers replaces Youri Tielemans.
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Boubacar Kamara.
Attempt blocked. Mason Holgate (Sheffield United) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Attempt saved. Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt saved. Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) right footed shot from very close range is saved in the centre of the goal.