[Sport] Aston Villa 1-0 Sheffield United: Ezr Konsa's goal ensures opening win against 10-man Blades

[Agent47]

Ezri Konsa's second half-goal ensured Aston Villa got their Premier League campaign underway with a win following a 1-0 victory over 10-man Sheffield United.

Chris Wilder's side were on the back foot as early as the 12th minute when John Egan, who grappled with Ollie Watkins as the Villa forward looked to latch onto a loose ball, was adjudged to have denied a goal-scoring opportunity by referee Graham Scott.

However, the 10 men had the best opportunity of the first half when Matt Targett fouled Chris Basham in the penalty area. John Lundstram stepped up for the visitors, but his spot kick was brilliantly saved by debutant Emiliano Martinez.

With Villa starting to run out of ideas, it was the unlikely source of Konsa who headed home in the 63rd minute to hand Dean Smith's side a winning start.

It was a cruel blow for Sheffield United, who put in a spirited performance, as they start with back-to-back defeats. Meanwhile, Villa are up to ninth after their opening win.

How Villa saw of the Blades' spirited challenge
Sheffield United got off to the worst possible start when they were reduced to 10 men in the 12th minute when captain Egan was shown red by referee Scott after tussling with Watkins as he attempted to latch onto a long ball forward from Tyrone Mings.
The referee adjudged the defender to have denied a goal-scoring opportunity and the decision stood following a VAR check.

Despite their numerical advantage, Villa failed to make the pressure count and the visitors were then handed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 36th minute when Basham went down in the box following a tackle from Targett.

Scott pointed to the spot and once a VAR check had been completed, Lundstram saw his effort brilliantly pushed away by Martinez.

Conor Hourihane then sent a shot over the Sheffield United bar just before the interval, but the two sides went in at the break goalless.

The second half started in much the same vein as the first ended with Villa dominating possession, but the hosts struggled to find any way through the organised Sheffield United defence.

The breakthrough did eventually come though as the two centre-backs combined to give Villa the lead in the 63rd minute.

Edited September 21, 2020 by Agent 47'