December 23, (THEWILL) – Aston Villa missed the chance to go top of the English Premier League table after being held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Sheffield United on Friday. Substitute Nicolo Zaniolo scored a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a point for Villa after the visitors had taken a shock 87th-minute lead through Cameron Archer.
The draw means Villa remain second in the table on goal difference behind leaders Arsenal. Sheffield United’s gutsy display lifts them off the bottom of the standings despite coming agonisingly close to a brilliant upset victory at Villa Park.
Villa dominated proceedings but failed to capitalise on their chances. Leon Bailey had a goal disallowed while the home side had three penalty appeals turned down by VAR. Sheffield United defended stoutly and posed an occasional threat on the counterattack before Archer’s goal looked to have won it.
However, Zaniolo popped up deep into added time to head in Douglas Luiz’s cross and break Sheffield’s hearts. Villa manager Unai Emery was visibly angry at full-time after seeing his side squander chances to claim the top spot against the division’s bottom club.
Nonetheless, while Villa may rue missing the chance to hit the Premier League summit, their continued progress this season remains clear.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
