National Media Deliver ‘flat’ Aston Villa Verdict After Sheffield United Draw

BirminghamLive’s most recent Aston Villa news after Unai Emery’s team’s 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at Villa Park.

Aston Villa’s league winning streak at Villa Park, which set a club record, came to an end on Friday as they drew 1-1 with Sheffield United.

Although Unai Emery’s team had won 15 straight league games at home, they were unable to overcome a strong Blades squad. Prior to Nicolo Zaniolo’s header salvaging a point in stoppage time, Chris Wilder’s team had a shocking lead in the second half thanks to former Villan striker Cameron Archer.

Villa will be disappointed having missed the chance to go top of the Premier League table with current leaders Arsenal playing Liverpool on Saturday evening. The Villans face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day next.

The Telegraph

After 16 games, Aston Villa’s incredible run of home triumphs in the Premier League has finally come to an end, and with it, the opportunity to lead the table vanished on the Birmingham night.

But after such a painful experience, this felt like a success since, after an absolutely captivating climax, they avoided losing in the league at Villa Park for the first time since February.

In a match dominated by Var decisions, poor Unai Emery seemed uneasy the entire time. With three minutes remaining, former Villa forward Cameron Archer of Sheffield United pounced, seemingly setting up the biggest upset of the season thus far.

Yet in the seventh minute of added time, Villa substitute Nicolo Zaniolo struck the equaliser to spark scenes of wild celebration and, undoubtedly, relief. Villa would have topped the table for the first time since August 2011 with a victory, but fans of a certain vintage will have seen this result coming a mile off.

The Guardian

Aston Villa’s remarkable run of Premier League home victories, which lasted for 16 games, has finally come to an end. With it, the chance to lead the table disappeared on the Birmingham night.

However, this felt like a success after such a terrible experience since, following a really thrilling finale, they managed to avoid losing in the league at Villa Park for the first time since February.

It was a Var-dominated encounter, and poor Unai Emery felt uncomfortable the entire time.

Three minutes to go, Sheffield United’s Cameron Archer, a former forward for Villa, pounced, seemingly setting up the biggest upset of the season thus far.

This was the first time Villa had lost a league home game since mid-February, when Brendan Rodgers of Leicester and Antonio Conte were still in control of Tottenham and Philippe Coutinho had Villa mid-table.

Chris Wilder, who took over as Sheffield United’s manager again last month, had not even started his disastrous 11-game tenure at Watford at that point.

BBC Sport

You are the reigning Premier League champions if you win. You are a finished club with no chance of success if you don’t. Aston Villa is having to adjust to the life of a team competing at the highest level of the league.

After their last-minute draw against Sheffield United at home, the reality is, as is frequently the case, somewhere in the middle. If Villa prevailed, it would have been their first Premier League title since August 2011, and if other results went their way, it might have been their first Christmas Day since 1998.

After being frustrated by a disciplined United team that played well on defense, they lost that chance when Cameron Archer, a product of the Villa system, gave the hosts a goal with two minutes left in normal time.

Despite salvaging a point in the eighth minute of injury time thanks to Nicolo Zaniolo, Villa had to make do with second place on goal differential, level with leaders Arsenal, who play third-place Liverpool on Sunday.

The Daily Mail

Aston Villa was held to a thrilling 1-1 tie by Sheffield United, which prevented them from winning the Premier League title before Christmas.

Nicolo Zaniolo’s heroic header gave Unai Emery’s team a last-gasp point as the midfielder beat goalkeeper Wes Foderingham to a dangerous cross. However, for a significant amount of stoppage time, they were expected to lose shockingly.

Before departing Villa Park earlier this year, Cameron Archer went through the academy there and took advantage of Gustavo Hamer’s incredible comeback to score.

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