Highlights: Aston Villa 1-0 Sheff Utd
Aston Villa started their new Premier League season with a controversial 1-0 win at home to Sheffield United on Monday night.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men after just 12 minutes when John Egan was shown a straight red card for tussling with Ollie Watkins. It appeared to a 50/50 with each grabbing the other but referee Graham Scott saw it was the Blade denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale had been racing out of his area to close the pair down too. Unfortunately for Ramsdale he’s not as quick as the winning horses from the Horse Racing Tipster this week!
The next big decision for referee Scott to make was awarding Sheffield United a penalty in the first half. There was no difficult decision in pointing to the spot and the card that Matt Targett received shouldn’t have been either. Despite being the last man, denying Oliver Burke a goalscoring chance without attempting to play the ball, the defender didn’t receive his marching orders.
To add insult to injury to the Blades, Villa debutant Emi Martinez denied John Lundstram from the spot.
Ezri Konsa scored the game’s only goal shortly after the hour by heading home a flicked on corner from inside the six-yard box.
Watched the highlights from Aston Villa 1-0 Sheffield United here:
