Aston Villa vs Sheffield United. Premier League.
Villa Park.
Report and highlights as Hawk-Eye apologise for goal-line technology error that denied Sheffield United goal on Premier League's big return
Thursday 18 June 2020 06:01, UK
Sheffield United were denied by a bizarre goal-line technology error in their 0-0 draw at Aston Villa as the Premier League returned in highly controversial fashion following a 100-day absence.
The visitors should have been ahead going into half-time as Oliver Norwood's deep free-kick was fumbled over the line by Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, but the usually faultless goal-line technology did not alert referee Michael Oliver, to the bemusement of all watching at Villa Park and at home.
Players, staff and officials unexpectedly took a knee just after kick-off to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement, before Sheffield United were denied their opener.
Villa had the better of chances in both halves, however, with Dean Henderson keeping Keinan Davis out well twice, and also tipping away John McGinn's fierce effort from the edge.
But it ended goalless, meaning Villa remain in 19th, now a point off safety, while Sheffield United move up to sixth, four points off the top four.
For the first time since Villa's 4-0 defeat at Leicester on March 8, the Premier League kicked off at an eerily empty Villa Park, with football back to provide a welcome distraction in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wearing 'Black Lives Matter' on the back of their shirts instead of their names, all players, along with coaches and officials, took a knee just after kick-off, a powerful image of unification after recent events.
Dean Smith and his assistant coaches took a pew higher up behind the dugout, and they'll have liked what they saw early from their new vantage point on as Villa came out brightest; Conor Hourihane's half volley was beaten away by Henderson, before Davis headed over the bar at close range after leaping over Sander Berge.
VAR has received much criticism this season, but this time it was the supposedly watertight goal-line technology that caused an unusual moment of controversy before the break.
Norwood's deep delivery from wide caused issues for Nyland, who failed to grasp the ball properly, colliding with team-mate Davis and falling into his side-netting inside the goal. The goalkeeper did his best to keep the ball on the line, and though replays conclusively showed it was over, referee Oliver's goal-line technology watch did not vibrate.
It is the first time the GDS (Goal-line decision system) has failed since its introduction to the Premier League in 2013, and Hawk-Eye apologised after the game, stating the incident saw the highest "level of occlusion" in over 9,000 games where GDS has been used.
Villa continued to create chances after the break as Davis caused more problems for the Sheffield United defence; he first forced Henderson into a fine save at a tight angle from eight yards, before coming within inches of Anwar El Ghazi's centre. McGinn, back after a breaking his ankle in December, also stung the hands of Henderson with a whipped effort from the edge of the box.
The game petered out as both sides struggled to create chances for a winner, but even after a 15-week absence, technology stole the headlines again. Football is back, not quite how we knew it, but with the same contentious talking points.
The game itself was not a memorable one for the right reasons with no goals given thanks to one huge error. That mistake will linger but while this match was far from a classic, at least the tempo of the contest was encouraging. Aston Villa covered 111.60 kilometres while Sheffield United ran 113.58 kilometres at Villa Park - which is actually above average for the Blades this season. This was no practice match.
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "We deserved a victory tonight. I know they've scored a goal that isn't given because of technology, but we did enough to score tonight. I feel for them, but I've had technology go against me, and we're probably due that little bit of luck.
"It was difficult, you don't know what to expect, because it's new. But once the game kicks off, you're into it."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder: "The statement's come out, unprecedented, unbelievable. That's the balance. We were waiting for somebody, I don't know who it was at Stockley Park, to show a bit of courage, stick their chest out and say I'll make that decision. But if they say they haven't seen it, and seven cameras haven't seen it, I suppose he's going to say he can't make that decision.
"I think we all had the feel, both sets of players, fans and staff, I think even speaking to the referee and the fourth official, I think we all had the feel of a goal. You listen to the statement that's been given by Hawk Eye, my issue is one of frustration, seven cameras haven't picked it up, the most technical league in the world, video analysis and everything we see at every angle hasn't seen a goal. That's disappointing from our point of view.
Villa now host Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, kick-off at 4.15pm.
Sheffield United go to Newcastle on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Pick, kick-off at 2pm.
