Aston Villa ended their three-game winless streak at Sheffield United – and how! The game was decided after just half an hour at bottom club Sheffield United
Sheffield United coach Chris Wilder rotated his starting XI after the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace, making five changes to the starting eleven. Unai Emery, on the other hand, made two changes after the 3-1 defeat to Newcastle: Cash and ex-Leverkusen player Diaby had to go on the bench, while Diego Carlos and Bailey, also an ex-Bayer player, started.
The first chance of the game came from the bottom club in the Premier League, who had been winless for six games and had only scored twice this season. Brereton Diaz failed to beat Martinez from close range after just under ten minutes. A wake-up call for the Villans, who went on to dismantle Sheffield and decide the game early with four goals within 18 minutes.
Furious 18 minutes for the Villans with four goals
McGinn started the scoring when he latched onto Watkins’ lob which Ahmedhodzic just managed to scramble off the line to make it 1-0 (12′). Watkins finished off a strong outside of the foot pass from Douglas Luiz (16′) before Bailey placed the ball into the left-hand corner (20′). The final goal of these furious minutes came from Tielemans, who was completely unmarked after a corner and smashed the ball under the crossbar (30). The visitors then clearly took their foot off the gas and the four goals remained until the break.
Triple chance to score – VAR rescinds goal
In the second half, however, Aston Villa got off to another lightning start, Alex Moreno volleying the ball into the net to make it 5-0. The air was completely out of the game after that. Coach Unai Emery’s team no longer really wanted to play, Sheffield Wednesday could not. In the 77th minute, Robinson had two chances to score a consolation goal, but first Kamara saved on the line and then Martinez was on hand with a reflex save. In between, Ahmedhodzic was denied by the Villa keeper. The ball was in the net in stoppage time, but Vinicius Souza’s goal was disallowed by VAR for offside
Aston Villa continue their FA Cup campaign on Wednesday when they host Chelsea (9pm). Sheffield Wednesday’s next match will be against promoted Luton (4pm).
