Gary Neville named John McGinn and Douglas Luiz as the Aston Villa duo who needed to be ‘more inventive’ during the 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield United on Friday night.
The Blades looked set to stun the Villans in Birmingham as Cameron Archer (87’) returned to Villa Park and struck a late go-ahead goal. But Nicolo Zaniolo (90’+7) rose deep in stoppage time to guide a header past Wes Foderingham. The tie edged Aston Villa up to second place.
Aston Villa would have topped the table had Unai Emery’s squad extended their club-record run of 15 consecutive home wins. But the team that entered the day bottom of the Premier League standings ended their streak. Arsenal now only lead Aston Villa with goal difference.
Aston Villa had chances to beat Sheffield United on Friday night
A win was on the table against Sheffield United as Aston Villa dominated the possession and enjoyed several chances. Leon Bailey also put the ball in the back of the net but a VAR check found it illegal. Replays proved Jacob Ramsey held Foderingham’s arm before Bailey scored.
Aston Villa carved out further chances to score, however, but struggled to test Foderingham in the Sheffield United goal. WhoScored recorded the Villans as attempting 12 shots to their guest’s five. Yet Emery’s side directed just four on target, four were blocked and four missed.
John McGinn and Douglas Luiz failed to impress Gary Neville
Neville also found the efforts of Aston Villa midfielders McGinn and Luiz to be lacking during the second half against Sheffield United. McGinn laboured to try and pull the strings but he failed to create the final punch. The Blades also kept a tight lid on Luiz up until his late assist.
“McGinn and Luiz need to be more inventive,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “They need to get Ramsey the ball and he needs to get into better positions.”
Most of Aston Villa’s play went through Luiz and he handled Sheffield United’s robust tackles well in most. McGinn also had his moments but will have kicked himself for the 29-year-old’s role in Archer’s goal. But neither showed enough to impress Neville with the scoreline level.
The post ‘Need to be more inventive’: Aston Villa duo left Gary Neville wanting more vs Sheff Utd appeared first on HITC.
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