Aston Villa’s long-suffering fans would be advised not to place too much importance on the margin of their side’s victory over troubled Sheffield United. I doubt whether they will face weaker First Division opponents this campaign.

United, with Just four points from their first 16 games, already seem doomed to sink into the Second Division, despite the insistence of new manager Jimmy Sirrel that there Is still hope.

Sirrel suggested that United might well have been 3-1 up at the interval if they had accepted their chances against Villa’s shaky defence which is still giving cause for concern. And he was right. But the former Notts County manager admitted that after half-time Villa were In a different class.

“They completely destroyed us, although they had a bit of luck with their goals,” he said. “It looks bad for us now. It’s rather like being in a ship surrounded by U-boats,” added ex-sailor Sirrel. “But in my Royal Navy days the other lads always used to say ‘Where’s Sirrel’ We’ll stay at his end of the ship.’ I just hope my luck holds “

Amidst the debris and flotsam of United’s relegation threatened outfit three young men stood out like shining beacons: Villa’s Andy Gray, John Deehan and Frank Pimblett.

Gray opened the scoring after nine minutes with a stunning left foot volley.

Villa’s goal scarcely gave a true picture of the first-half with goalkeeper John Burridge saving magnificently from Chris Guthrie (twice), Tony Currie and a mis-hit back pass from his own Chris Nicholl.

But it was a different story In the second-half with Pimblett sending Chico Hamilton away for the first of his two goals in the 50th minute with full back Len Badger deflecting his shot into the net.

Deehan scored his first League goal on his home debut seven minutes later, jumping well to head powerfully Ray Graydon’s corner into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Graydon made it four with a 67th minute penalty after Ted Hemsley was unluckily ruled to have handled a low centre from the winger and Hamilton rounded out the Villa goal onslaught three minutes from time.

Guthrie scored a consolation goal in the dying seconds after Alan Woodward had appeared to obstruct Burridge who had earlier received a nasty gash under his chin in a mid-air collision with Ian Ross. The injury afterwards required six stitches.