​Bottom club Sheffield United survived for more than 30 minutes with 10 men to claim only the fourth Premier League win of their disappointing season and dent Aston Villa's European ambitions.

​David McGoldrick gave his side a first-half lead from inside the six-yard area after being picked out by George Baldock following a lovely move that started inside the Blades' half.

​United defender Phil Jagielka was sent off after half-time for a foul on Anwar El Ghazi after referee Robert Jones viewed the incident on a pitchside monitor and changed the yellow card he had initially given him to a red.

​Villa's Ollie Watkins headed against the post shortly before Jagielka's red card but the visitors were unable to take advantage of the 38-year-old former Everton player's dismissal.

​The result ended a four-match losing run for Chris Wilder's spirited side who, despite victory, remain 12 points from safety in the Premier League with 11 matches to play.

​Villa could have moved three points from a Champions League place with a win but were disappointing, especially when playing against 10 men.

​Blades show appetite for fight
​
Despite his side's seemingly hopeless position at the foot of the table, Wilder said before the game his players would not be waving the white flag between now and the end of a wretched season that has produced 21 league defeats.

​His players responded to their manager's words with a gutsy performance that was even more impressive given they lost their most experienced player in the 57th minute.

​Jagielka sent El Ghazi crashing as he was about to race clear, although it required a check on the monitor before the yellow card was upgraded to red.

​Former England centre-back Jagielka had earlier made a superb block to deny Bertrand Traore an equaliser as the Blades defended with the kind of vigour and organisation which characterised their fine 2019-20 season

​They remained resolute in the closing stages when Villa were desperately searching for an equaliser, Oliver Norwood throwing himself at Ezri Konsa's shot during a frantic finish.

​Eight months after finishing ninth in the table with 19 more points than Villa, despite this result it will require an extraordinary set of circumstances for Sheffield United to stay up.

​At least they showed an appetite for a fight in spite of their position as Villa joined Manchester United, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion as the sides to lose to the Blades, who have now won three of their six home league games in 2021, this season.

A performance to forget
​
Villa's transformation since surviving relegation on the final day of last season has been startling - but this was a performance to forget from a team that has been turning heads this campaign.

​They started the season with four straight wins and although they have thrown in some surprise defeats - this loss coming four days after winning at Leeds - it has been a positive campaign for Dean Smith's side.

​They struggled to impose themselves in front of goal at Bramall Lane, although Watkins was unfortunate with his header that struck the woodwork, while Traore went close after showing great foot work inside the penalty area.

​Keeper Emiliano Martinez has impressed all season but there was little he could do to keep out McGoldrick from close range after the defence was undone by Baldock's pass.

​Villa have been excellent on the road this season, with victories at Leicester, Arsenal and Wolves among seven they have managed away from Villa Park.

​But Smith will not want to dwell on this performance - particularly as his side face a tough run-in that includes home matches against Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Liverpool away.
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*The Guardian*
*Wednesday, 3 March 2021*

​Sheffield United hang on to beat Aston Villa despite Phil Jagielka's VAR red

​Ten-man Sheffield United kept their faint hopes of a miraculous escape from relegation alive after bravely hanging on to defeat Aston Villa. David McGoldrick’s first-half strike proved to be enough to ensure only a fourth league win of the season for the Blades, while also putting a dent in Villa’s hopes of qualifying for Europe next season.

​But how Chris Wilder’s side had to do it the hard way, after Phil Jagielka was sent off for a foul on Anwar El Ghazi with over half an hour remaining. Initially a yellow card was shown for the challenge but VAR intervened and Jagielka was adjudged to have denied El Ghazi a clear goalscoring opportunity, piling the pressure on the hosts for the remainder of the match.

​However, they bravely held on and, while this result does not exactly raise the prospect of survival for Sheffield United, it did display the belief Wilder’s side possess despite their beleaguered league position. Villa, on the other hand, were left to rue another night when their attacking creativity continued to elude them without their injured captain, Jack Grealish.

​Their best chance in the first half came when John McGinn fired wide from close range after Ollie Watkins’ flick-on, before the Blades took the lead on the half-hour mark when McGoldrick turned home George Baldock’s skewed shot for his sixth league goal of the season. Watkins hit the bar with a header shortly after half-time, before the game’s big moment just before the hour mark.

​Jagielka brought down El Ghazi and, despite a Blades defender appearing to be covering, Robert Jones decided after looking at the screen that Jagielka had denied El Ghazi a clear goalscoring opportunity, overturning his initial decision from yellow to red, and sending the 38-year-old off. Already without regular first-team centre-halves Chris Basham, John Egan and Jack O’Connell, Wilder used Ethan Ampadu and Kean Bryan as a makeshift pairing at the back for the final half-hour.

​But they, and the rest of their teammates, battled courageously to earn the Blades three points, tirelessly throwing themselves in front of a number of half-chances. There was still time for one more huge opportunity for Villa to claim a point in added time but Ezri Konsa’s shot was superbly kept out by Aaron Ramsdale to ensure the hosts held on.
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