MX23RW : Thursday, March 4 20:19:14| >> :120:11661:11661:
Feb 8, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at Villa Park (Birmingham)
Attendance: 34,892
Aston Villa
3-3
Sheff UtdSheffield United
Mings (82'), Abraham (86'), Green (94')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Sharp (11', 53', 62')

Result: Blades blunted by stunning Aston Villa comeback

Result: Blades blunted by stunning Aston Villa comeback
© Reuters
Billy Sharp's hat-trick was not enough for Sheffield United as Villa scored three times in the last eight minutes to earn a draw.

Aston Villa staged an incredible fightback to salvage a dramatic 3-3 draw against Sheffield United with three goals in the last 10 minutes.

United had seemingly been heading for a convincing win, which would have taken them top of the Sky Bet Championship, after skipper Billy Sharp scored his second hat-trick of the season.

But Villa, struggling for long periods, staged a dramatic turnaround after newcomer Tyrone Mings sparked off their recovery in the 82nd minute.

Four minutes later Tammy Abraham added a second with substitute Andre Green salvaging a face-saving draw.

Sharp's inspirational goalscoring had earlier been the major difference between the two teams.

The pedigree of the United side was a problem for a Villa team again without the services of Jack Grealish and James Chester.

As a result, Villa were subjected to heavy pressure and it was no real surprise when the Blades took an 11th-minute lead.

A left-wing corner was knocked back into the middle by on-loan Gary Madine and Sharp was on hand to score from about eight yards to record his 21st goal of the season.

Villa's makeshift defence was never at ease against relentless pressure from a United side that was visibly keyed-up and determined to maintain their concentrated promotion push.

Villa were openly frustrated by United's ability to switch swiftly from defence to attack.

John McGinn was a tireless worker but generally Villa were badly disjointed.

There was an immediate second-half improvement from Villa as they seemingly realised they had to raise their game to make an impact.

In the circumstances United were seemingly content to mount a defensive blockade but they were denied a second goal by a last-ditch tackle by Tommy Elphick to thwart Madine.

But in the 53rd minute Sharp again demonstrated his lethal finishing skills, albeit in controversial circumstances.

Nikola Kalinic made a save but the ball bounced above him as he was falling and Sharp nudged his effort over the line, with the keeper appearing to have hold of the ball with both hands.

Sharp was on fire and could not be contained, as he demonstrated when he headed his third goal in the 62nd minute following a right-wing cross.

On-loan Mings grabbed Villa's 82nd-minute goal on his home debut before Abraham tapped home when United keeper Dean Henderson parried Elphick's shot four minutes from time.

Green then popped up at the back post to head home John McGinn's cross for his dramatic injury-time equaliser.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'c6bf444e-7042-460f-9fef-22fce2fb3f18');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:match-reports');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Blades blunted by stunning Aston Villa comeback'});

ID:349771:cQx:QQ:
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Dean Smith in charge of Aston Villa on January 19, 2019
Read Next:
Dean Smith prepares for important nine days in Aston Villa's season
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City27205256173965
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd27149453322151
3Leicester CityLeicester27155746311550
4Everton2614483933646
5Chelsea27129641251645
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham2613674031945
7Liverpool27128747341344
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs26126842271542
9Aston Villa251231038271139
10Arsenal26114113427737
11Leeds UnitedLeeds26112134344-135
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2797112837-934
13Crystal Palace2797112943-1434
14Southampton2686123144-1330
15Burnley2778121935-1629
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton26511102633-726
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2675142744-1726
18Fulham27411122133-1223
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2738162056-3617
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2742211643-2714

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!