Sheffield United VS Aston Villa, Villa side back to winning ways

Match Time：3/4/2021 02:00 Thursday  (GMT+8)

English Premier League --  Sheffield United   VS   Aston Villa

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Aston Villa will be looking to keep their unlikely top-four challenge alive when they travel to a Sheffield United side destined for relegation from the Premier League.  

 

The Villans returned to winning ways at Leeds United last time out and are six points off the Champions League spots with two games in hand.  Sheff United were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool, meanwhile, and are now 15 points adrift of safety with just 12 more games left to play.   

 

Match preview 

A run of three wins in five games gave United a glimmer of hope of survival, but four defeats in a row since then has left even boss Chris Wilder accepting his side's fate.  

 

Indeed, the Blades have failed to even score in the last three of those losses to West Ham United, Fulham and Liverpool.  

 

Curtis Jones's strike and Kean Bryan's own goal proved enough to condemn United to their latest loss at the hands of Liverpool on Sunday, all but killing off their survival hopes.  

 

That was the Blades' 10th home league loss of the campaign, which is just one short of their all-time record of 11 set in the Championship a decade ago.  

Wilder admitted that his side "lacked quality and strength in depth" against the Reds, which he will attempt to address over the summer - assuming the Yorkshireman is still in charge.   

 

While United are the worst side in the division in terms of home form - and indeed overall - opponents Villa have taken 23 points from 13 away matches this campaign.  

 

That is a figure bettered only by Everton, Manchester United, Leicester City and Manchester City, the most recent of their away wins coming at Elland Road on Saturday.  

 

Anwar El Ghazi settled the match with an early strike to earn Villa a first win in three, having lost to Leicester and drawn against Brighton and Hove Albion in their previous two.  

 

However, since winning their first four Premier League games this season, Dean Smith's men have won back-to-back matches just once since then.  

 

If they are to keep pace with the big hitters in the battle for Champions League football, they will have to put that right at Bramall Lane on Wednesday evening. 

 

Sheffield United Premier League form: WLWLLL  

Aston Villa Premier League form: WLWDLW    

 

Team News  

It is little wonder Wilder rued his side's lack of depth given that he is without his entire first-choice back three, with John Egan, Jack O'Connell and Chris Basham all sidelined for this match.  

 

Jack Robinson and Jayden Bogle are also out, so it will be a makeshift defensive setup on Wednesday.  

 

Oli McBurnie and David McGoldrick started the loss to Liverpool, but Wilder may be tempted to turn to the likes of Oliver Burke, Billy Sharp, Lys Mousset or Rhian Brewster here.  

 

As for Villa, Jack Grealish remains a major fitness doubt after missing their last two matches - though his absence was not felt as much as some predicted in the win against Leeds.  

 

Matty Cash is definitely out of this game, as is long-term absentee Wesley Moraes.  

 

Smith has plenty of options in midfield, where Douglas Luiz and Ross Barkley are vying for a starting spot after being benched at Elland Road.  

 

Sheffield United possible starting lineup: 

Ramsdale; Ampadu, Jagielka, Bryan; Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens; Mousset, Sharp  

 

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: 

Martinez; Elmohamady, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Luiz, McGinn; Traore, Barkley, El Ghazi; Watkins    

 

Sheffield United 0-2 Aston Villa