Aston Villa's aspirations to be top of the Premier League at Christmas were thwarted following a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at Villa Park. The contentious match saw Villa's Leon Bailey's goal disallowed due to a foul on Sheffield United's goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, as determined by VAR. Villa, who dominated with 78% possession, saw Clement Lenglet make his first Premier League start and had multiple penalty claims for handball and fouls on Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, including three different penalties checked by VAR in the span of two minutes. Despite their crossing threat and a busy goalline incident where they lost out, Villa only managed to score an equalizer through Zaniolo's late goal. The draw means Arsenal remains at the top of the league on goal difference, with Villa missing the opportunity to be league leaders for the first time since 2011. Unai Emery voiced his frustration with the match officials and the disruption caused by VAR but acknowledged the draw as a 'very good point' for the team.
Zaniolo's late goal gives Aston Villa 1-1 draw with Sheffield United https://t.co/OO3PcvGbCU https://t.co/KSRfehpbRh
Unai Emery: We were expecting Sheffield United to be very strong defensively and they were. When they scored the goal, we lost control of the game. In the end, the draw was fantastic for us because we are keeping a good thing at home.” #AVFC
Asked Unai Emery what he thought of #AVFC's performance: "A very good point." Says VAR disrupted his side's rhythm and was frustrated with Leon Bailey's disallowed goal.
Aston Villa 1-1 Sheffield United: Hosts miss chance to go top of the Premier League https://t.co/0C3FUfWx9K
#AVFC had 78% possession this evening - the most any Villa side has ever recorded in a Premier League game (the 2003/04 season onwards). Had to deal with increased expectations and the deep defensive block posed - both very difficult
Late drama as Aston Villa salvage Sheffield United point but miss chance to go top: https://t.co/firo0sg07F
Should Leon Bailey's goal have been ruled out by VAR? 👀 #AVLSHU https://t.co/fslElt00ty
Should Leon Bailey's goal have been ruled out by VAR? 👀 https://t.co/RQUQuerUmw
Cameron Archer returns to haunt former side as Aston Villa miss chance to go top of Premier League Full story 👇 https://t.co/uX1msD8Mij
The briefing: #AVFC 1 - 1 Sheffield United: VAR, dealing with pressure & opposition approach: 🟤Emery's annoyance at officials 🟣Villa's approach disturbed by new expectations 🟤Sheffield United's setup a sign of Villa's newfound status @TheAthleticFC ⬇️ https://t.co/c1k65wSwmu
Aston Villa missed out on the chance to move top of the Premier League as they were held at home by bottom club Sheffield United. https://t.co/mBxzFMI97x
Opportunity missed? Aston Villa would have moved to the top of the Premier League for the first time since 2011 with a win. But Arsenal hold on to top spot through goal difference. #BBCFootball #AVLSHU https://t.co/pyHbkTfu17
GOALLLL ZANIOLO AT THE DEATH 1-1 #AVFC
This was not in the script. Cameron Archer has scored against the run of play AND against his former club. Villa Park is in shock. #BBCFootball #AVLSHU https://t.co/h7wKQo7mFn
Oh My Word! Villa 0-1 in the 87th minute! Classic sucker punch #AVFCSHE
Villa getting what they deserve today. Lost patience. Lost composure. Lost the chance to go top of the table.
Goal Sheffield United. 1-0 #AVFC
Zaniolo is on for Bailey. #AVFC losing their shape and composure. There's still time - Emery talks about the "structure", Villa need to keep it
#AVFC becoming increasingly frustrated and therefore more chaotic. Martinez has just shouted at Cash for not making a forward run when he had the ball. Villa need to start testing Foderingham more - only one shot on target for each team
#AVFC's crossing threat is obvious with Cash & Bailey and keep pushing Sheffield United deeper. Duran coming on will add another presence in the box while Moreno will add more dynamism down the left. Time for Villa to bang the house down as they're struggling to take it apart
Another penalty appeal was checked by VAR for handball. Decision: no penalty. Moreno on for Digne and Duran replaces Diaby #AVFC
RULED OUT! ❌ Leon Bailey's goal disallowed for a foul by Jacob Ramsey on the goalkeeper 🚨 https://t.co/LNRPvi9iwx
🖥️ Leon Bailey thought he had given Aston Villa the lead, but then it went to VAR... ... the goal was disallowed because Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have fouled Wes Foderingham ❌ #BBCFootball #AVLSHU https://t.co/kymdujDgDL
Villa losing out in a busy goalline incident at home to Sheffield United is cosmic level karma
Why did that take VAR so long? GK was clearly fouled 🙄🙄#AVFCSHE
VAR has disallowed the goal for an apparent Jacob Ramsey foul on Wes Foderingham, completely ignoring Jayden Bogle holding Ramsey. The threshold was high for #AVFC winning penalties in the first half - now it's extremely low for giving fouls away in the box. Soft beyond belief https://t.co/HEpv0zcfym
A new sign/trigger from corners has been created tonight. McGinn is holding the ball behind his back. #AVFC just need to stay patient here, with Emery very aware of Sheffield United's perceived time-wasting
Unai Emery exchanges a few words with referee Anthony Taylor. Emery is unhappy with the number of fouls Sheffield United are making and their attempts to break up the game. Can't help but feel that if/when #AVFC get one, they will get quite a few. Konsa has just headed over.
Sheffield United have registered 15% possession in the first 20 mins with a 33% pass success rate. John McGinn's passing from deep has been excellent. Sheffield United resorting to just clearing - anywhere, anyhow - to safety. Could be seen as a peppering without the goals. #AVFC
Inside two minutes, VAR have checked for three different penalties inside Sheffield United's box. Somehow, for whatever reason, none of them are given. The holding both on Konsa and Watkins was blatant. #AVFC
How was that not a pen for #Villa ? I don’t understand the rules anymore #AVFCSHE
VAR checking for ANOTHER penalty on Ezri Konsa. Surely that's a penalty now. #AVFC
Vini Souza has literally just run and pushed Watkins in the back in the penalty area. VAR checking penalty call. #AVFC
Clement Lenglet is quickly replicating the 'Pau Torres to Leon Bailey diagonal'. #AVFC tasked with breaking down a 5-4-1 low block here. Bailey and Diaby have looked sharp combining early on. Always a sense Diaby is better when he has pace outside of him on the right.
Said yesterday about Lenglet coming in for his 1st PL start. Emery wanted a left-footed option in the summer (to replace injured Mings) & with Pau Torres injured, it was always likely Lenglet was going to come in ahead of Carlos.Left-footer key to breaking down a low block. #AVFC
Aston Villa v Sheffield United: Premier League – live https://t.co/jZSzDKvKWT
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United: who would ever have thought that a Happy Hunting Grounds Level 7 fixture could ever have such top-of-the-table significance
If results go their way over the coming days, Aston Villa will be top of the Premier League at Christmas. Would that be an indicator of likely title success? We look back at what being in first place on December 25 has meant for those clubs who have been there. ⬇️ @will_jeanes