Aston Villa played out a 0-0 draw against Sheffield United as Premier League action resumed behind closed doors at Villa Park.
The eagerly-anticipated encounter marked 100 days since Villa were last in action away at Leicester City before the suspension of top-flight football in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The game’s controversial moment arrived just before half-time as Ørjan Nyland appeared to carry Oliver Norwood’s free-kick over the line but referee Michael Oliver was not notified by the goal-line technology system.
Villa showed plenty of attacking threat but were thwarted throughout by a string of fine saves from Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who denied Conor Hourihane, John McGinn and the lively Keinan Davis.
The point from the club’s first-ever competitive match in the month of June, played without supporters present, moves Dean Smith’s side on to 26 points ahead of Saturday’s home clash against Chelsea.
Villa and the Blades proudly showed their support for the Black Lives Matter movement by ‘taking a knee’ for the first 10 seconds of the fixture following kick-off, coming after a minute’s silence to recognise those whose lives have been affected by COVID-19.
Both clubs also displayed an NHS badge on their shirts while all player names on the back of jerseys were replaced with Black Lives Matter.
Fit-again McGinn returned to Villa’s starting XI to make his first outing since December having recovered from a fractured ankle.
Goalkeeper Nyland was recalled between the sticks while there was a first Premier League start for forward Davis in attack, with Head Coach Smith also able to name nine substitutes on the bench in line with new regulations.
And it was the hosts who flew out of the blocks in the early exchanges, Hourihane saw his strike parried by Henderson before Davis headed over from close range at the back post.
The visitors grew into the game as the first half wore on but it was Villa who remained the most threatening, McGinn’s glancing header saved by Henderson before Anwar El Ghazi saw penalty appeals waved away in the 26th minute having been sent crashing by John Lundstram.
Kortney Hause could count himself unfortunate as Hourihane’s corner deflected off him and flew wide from six yards, but the game’s controversial moment came in the 42nd minute.
Norwood’s inswinging free-kick from the touchline was caught by Nyland at the far post but, under pressure, he stumbled backwards and fell into the side-netting, appearing to carry the ball over the line in the process.
But referee Oliver did not get a watch alert from the goal-line technology system and play continued, with the encounter goalless at the break.
Davis continued to pose a threat for Villa in the attacking third and forced a super one-handed save from Henderson in the 52nd minute.
The sliding frontman was then inches away from connecting with El Ghazi’s teasing ball across the face of goal just minutes later, before the impressive Henderson was at it again to palm away McGinn’s strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Smith introduced Trezeguet and Ally Samatta off the bench in the 69th minute but it was the Blades who twice threatened shortly afterwards, Douglas Luiz blocking superbly from Lundstram before Nyland saved Oli McBurnie’s powerful header from the subsequent corner.
Ahmed Elmohamady and Marvelous Nakamba entered for the final 14 minutes as Smith utilised his ability to make up to five substitutions.
But neither side could find a winner as the encounter finished all square with a point apiece.
Villa: Nyland, Konsa (Elmohamady 76), Hause, Mings, Targett, McGinn (Nakamba 76), Luiz, Hourihane, El Ghazi (Trezeguet 69), Davis (Samatta 69), Grealish (c).
Subs: Reina, Taylor, Borja, Jota, Vassilev.
Who’s next?
Dean Smith’s side are back in Premier League action at Villa Park on Sunday as they entertain Chelsea (ko 4.15pm).
