Aston Villa went some way to relieve the pressure on Gerard Houllier as they triumphed 3-1 at Sheff Utd.
Villa knock Blades out of FA Cup at Bramall Lane
Aston Villa went some way to relieve the pressure on Gerard Houllier as they progressed to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-1 triumph at Sheffield United, despite being reduced to 10 men.
Villa suffered a rough festive period in the Premier League, with a poor run of results leaving them in the relegation zone, prompting suggestions manager Houllier is the next top-flight boss in line for the chop.
But the Villans enjoyed some relief in cup action at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon, while simultaneously piling more woe on Micky Adams' Championship side, who have endured league worries of their own of late.
It was a former Blades player that did the early damage for Villa as Kyle Walker, on loan from Tottenham, opened the scoring nine minutes in on his debut for the Midlands club.
Marc Albrighton then produced a superb finish before the break to double the scoreline, but the Blades came back early in the second half as Jamie Ward converted a penalty.
The hosts were handed the chance for a fightback 13 minutes from time when Ashley Young was handed his marching orders after a second yellow, but they failed to break through, leaving substitute Stiliyan Petrov to seal Villa's win in stoppage time.
Houllier, who had included Robert Pires in his starting line-up despite his fellow Frenchman's critical comments this week, would have been encouraged as Villa made a blistering start at Bramall Lane.
Adams' side looked intimidated and their feeble start was summed up perfectly when Walker strode through to give the visitors the lead.
The right-back slipped away from one challenge just inside the United half and advanced into space before side-stepping Rob Kozluk and slotting home past Steve Simonsen.
Tremendous goal
It was a tremendous goal but Walker kept his celebrations muted against his old club.
The home side had shown little in response but should have taken advantage when Richard Dunne's weak header allowed in Ward but Brad Friedel spread his big frame to block.
Ched Evans, the Blades' former Manchester City striker, sent a header wide from Leon Britton's free-kick but the tie seemed as good as over when Albrighton volleyed home for Villa in the 33rd minute.
Young made the goal after a trademark burst down the left with a lovely dinked cross to the far post which left Albrighton with an open goal to crash in his volley.
Gabriel Agbonlahor then threatened to make it a first-half rout but was denied by a brave save from Simonsen.
The Blades, after a first half that could not have been much worse, started off the second in the best possible way.
In the 48th minute Lee Williamson enticed Carlos Cuellar to trip him inside the box and referee Michael Jones was well placed to award the penalty. Ward smashed it home down the middle, with Friedel diving to his right.
The goal fired up United and Williamson then drifted an effort onto the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Walker, Villa's hero of the first half, tried a trick on the edge of his own area and was hurried into a pass which ended up at Daniel Bogdanovic's feet and only Friedel's acrobatics prevented further embarrassment for the young debutant.
Double substitution
With 25 minutes left Houllier made a double substitution to try to stop the rot with Petrov and Downing replacing Barry Bannan and Pires.
Villa did look stronger as a result and Agbonlahor used his pace to get ahead of the defence but his low shot hit the side-netting.
Petrov should have sealed Villa's place in the hat for the fourth round draw with two chances in two minutes.
First of all he was put through by Downing and tried to tuck in under Simonsen but the keeper made a good block, then his header from Downing's corner bounced just the wrong side of the post.
United needed some fresh encouragement and received it when Young was given his second booking after a foul on Kyle Bartley.
An overhead kick - by centre-half Johnny Ertl of all people - brought a terrific save out of Friedel.
But in injury time Petrov made amends for his earlier misses with a clinical finish following a one-two with the impressive Albrighton.
| Sheffield United |
Team Statistics |
Aston Villa |
| 1 |
Goals |
3 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
2 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 7 |
Shots off Target |
3 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
5 |
| 9 |
Corners |
5 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 4 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 1 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
1 |
| 48.1 |
Possession |
51.9 |
|
