Unai Emery had a clear message for fans in his programme notes, asking them ‘not to think in records or about going top of the table’.
But all the supporters here had a skip in their step, with Villa Santa hats proving to be a big hit. Even former Villa striker Alan McInally was in the club shop! In the packed fan zone pre-game, another Villan from yesteryear, Lee Hendrie, waxed lyrical about Emery’s side with almost every statement met with huge cheers.
‘Winning would be the best Christmas present ever,’ said Hendrie. Asked if Villa were going to win the league, he responded: ‘Yes, we should all be getting excited.
‘I’ve even ended up getting calls to do Blues (Birmingham City) work so I’ve had a bit of stick from Villa fans,’ he said. That comment was understandably met by a chorus of boos.
Unai Emery urged fans not to think about going top of the league in his programme notes
Villa Park hosted British football’s first-ever mobile phone light show before the game on Friday night
All of the lights
History was made pre-match with Villa becoming the first British football club to stage a mobile phone light show.
About half-a-dozen reminders were given over the public address system for those inside the stadium to download the official Aston Villa app, with fans then prompted to hold their phones above their head.
Via the app, the torch automatically synced to the music. It took some doing but it did make for quite a sight with Hi Ho Silver Lining blaring in the background. A late shout for the Christmas No 1 spot perhaps?
VAR to the Blades rescue
Villa have not had many teams sitting off them, in the way Sheffield United did, since returning to the Premier League in 2019. They dominated, with Chris Wilder’s men happy to let them have the ball. Was this the blueprint for nullifying Villa?
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It took more than three minutes for Leon Bailey’s goal to be disallowed, but it was an example of VAR working correctly. From the initial camera angle, it was unclear if Jacob Ramsey had fouled Wes Foderingham but the second angle made it obvious ref Anthony Taylor should change his decision. Across the game there were five VAR checks, with none going the home side’s way.
Villa had a goal disallowed when Jacob Ramsey was penalised for fouling Wes Foderingham
It took more than three minutes for Leon Bailey’s strike to be chalked off, one of five interventions that went against the home side
Wilder reverts to tactics of old
Chris Wilder reverted to the system that took Sheffield United to ninth in the Premier League in 2019-20, with five at the back. Villa were forced to be patient, despite dominating with 79 per cent possession in the first half.
Unsurprisingly the Blades had no attempts on goal in the opening period, in line with their lack of attacking threat all season.
Their top scorer this season is own goals and they have had the fewest shots (142) of any Premier League side. Not that Wilder and Co would have minded at the break as the Blades became just the third side after Crystal Palace and Manchester City to stop Villa scoring in the first half here this term.
Villa miss chance to join table toppers
It all ended in frustration for Villa, despite the late, late equaliser, as they missed the chance to become the eighth different team this season to finish a matchday top of the table after Arsenal, Brighton, Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle, Tottenham and West Ham.
Only the 2020-21 season has had more than eight sides end a day at the summit, with nine teams achieving the feat in that campaign. It would also have been the first time Villa had gone top since 2011.
