Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Sheffield United 0.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder criticised two "major decisions" from officials as Ezri Konsa's second-half header gave Aston Villa victory over the Blades, who played for 78 minutes with 10 men.
Konsa headed in fellow defender Tyrone Mings' flick-on in the 63rd minute after Matt Targett whipped a corner in from the left for the only goal of the game.
But Wilder questioned referee Graham Scott's decisions to send off John Egan early in the game and not show a red a card to Villa's Targett for conceding a penalty, which John Lundstram saw saved by Villa debutant Emiliano Martinez with the score at 0-0.
A lengthy VAR review showed Targett had clipped Chris Basham in the box, but the 'double jeopardy' rule - which means a player cannot be sent off when conceding a penalty if they were making an attempt to win the ball - saw the Villa left-back only pick up a booking.
Egan, however, was dismissed for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity for tussling with Ollie Watkins, who looked to be in on goal in the 12th minute.
"Why didn't the referee go over to the monitor? I wouldn't come out here and mug myself off - if I thought it was a clear sending-off I'd say so," Wilder told Sky Sports.
"Why didn't he go to the monitor? Why didn't Stockley Park [where the VAR officials are based] say 'it's a bit of tussle and look at it yourself'?
Speaking to BBC Sport, he added: "The penalty - Egan gets sent off 35 yards from goal, Matt Targett makes no effort to win the ball.
"The double jeopardy is only when the opposition player makes a challenge for the ball, the ball is four yards away, so [he can't reach it] unless he's got spider legs he can wrap around - and he hasn't because I've watched it."
The defeat was United's fifth in a row in the Premier League, including the end of last season, and despite regrouping from the sending-off, they could not hold out to earn a share of the points.
Meanwhile, Villa continue where they left off at the end of the last campaign and are now unbeaten in their past five league games.
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Martinez heroics as Villa battle to victory
Villa got off to a good start and within a minute right-back Matty Cash - making his debut - fired a dangerous ball into the box but John McGinn's volley flew over the bar.
United also threatened in the early exchanges and Konsa had to slide in at the near post to prevent a low cross from the right being poked in by David McGoldrick.
But Villa were gifted the upper hand inside a quarter of an hour when Egan pulled back Watkins as he raced on to Mings' long ball and referee Scott showed the red card.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Lundstram could have given United the lead from the spot 20 minutes later but Martinez, who arrived from Arsenal for £17m earlier this month, dived to his right to deny the midfielder.
Conor Hourihane's deliveries were causing problems and although Villa were unable to capitalise initially, they deserved to take the lead through Konsa's header after Jack Grealish and Watkins each went close.
It was Villa's second victory in a week after they overcame League One side Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup second round.
Blades fail to recover from Egan red
After going two goals down in their Premier League opener to Wolves within six minutes last Monday, Wilder would have hoped for a smoother start at Villa Park.
But again, a needless error from Egan made United's task much harder and Wilder was forced to sacrifice striker McGoldrick before the break.
New signing Ethan Ampadu's introduction was a shrewd tactical decision - releasing Basham into midfield and moving John Fleck across to deal with Cash.
The move paid off immediately with Basham making the forward run into the box to earn the penalty but Lundstram was unable to take advantage.
United kept their organisation and steel at the back - pushing back every set-piece and squeezing out the space in which Villa tried to work for the next half an hour.
But Konsa's header was the key blow and while United had glimpses of hope on the counter-attack, they never truly tested Villa from open play.
What they said
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to BBC Sport: "A very good start, to get three points and a clean sheet you can't ask for more. I thought we started the game the better and the game changes with the sending-off.
"We've worked on Tyrone Mings getting across the near post, flicking it on and Ezri Konsa arriving. It's difficult when they go in with two banks of four. We probably should have scored more. Since lockdown, defensively I think we've been more aggressive."
A first for debutant Martinez - the best of the stats
- Aston Villa have won three consecutive Premier League games at Villa Park for the first time since October 2007 under Martin O'Neill.
- Villa are unbeaten in their last 14 home league meetings with Sheffield United (W8 D6), including all five games against them at Villa Park in the Premier League (W4 D1).
- Sheffield United have lost their opening two games to a top-flight season for the first time since 1973-74.
- Seven of Aston Villa's last nine Premier League goals have come from set-piece situations (four corners, three free-kicks).
- Sheffield United have failed to win any of their 11 Premier League games in which they received a red card (D4 L7).
- Konsa has scored two goals in his last four league games, one more than he registered in his previous 137 in league competition.
- Martinez became the first goalkeeper to save a penalty on their debut for Aston Villa in the Premier League.
What's next?
Aston Villa travel to Bristol City in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday (19:00 BST), before a visit to Fulham in the Premier League on Monday (18:00).
Sheffield United host Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday (12:00).
Player of the match
E MartínezEmiliano Martínez
Aston Villa
Avg
- Squad number26Player nameE MartínezAverage rating
7.95
- Squad number4Player nameKonsaAverage rating
7.09
- Squad number5Player nameMingsAverage rating
6.68
- Squad number2Player nameCashAverage rating
6.67
- Squad number10Player nameGrealishAverage rating
6.51
- Squad number11Player nameWatkinsAverage rating
6.43
- Squad number6Player nameDouglas LuizAverage rating
6.27
- Squad number7Player nameMcGinnAverage rating
6.04
- Squad number39Player nameDavisAverage rating
5.89
- Squad number14Player nameHourihaneAverage rating
5.75
- Squad number18Player nameTargettAverage rating
5.73
- Squad number17Player nameTrézéguetAverage rating
5.68
Sheffield United
Avg
- Squad number22Player nameAmpaduAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number14Player nameBurkeAverage rating
5.11
- Squad number2Player nameBaldockAverage rating
5.00
- Squad number6Player nameBashamAverage rating
4.99
- Squad number8Player nameBergeAverage rating
4.97
- Squad number3Player nameStevensAverage rating
4.90
- Squad number4Player nameFleckAverage rating
4.85
- Squad number5Player nameO'ConnellAverage rating
4.79
- Squad number23Player nameOsbornAverage rating
4.77
- Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
4.73
- Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrickAverage rating
4.69
- Squad number7Player nameLundstramAverage rating
4.67
- Squad number9Player nameMcBurnieAverage rating
4.51
- Squad number12Player nameEganAverage rating
3.58
Line-ups
Aston Villa
Formation 4-3-3
- 26E Martínez
- 2CashBooked at 83mins
- 4Konsa
- 5Mings
- 18TargettBooked at 33mins
- 14HourihaneSubstituted forDavisat 62'minutes
- 6Douglas Luiz
- 7McGinnBooked at 84mins
- 17Trézéguet
- 11Watkins
- 10Grealish
Substitutes
- 3Taylor
- 12Steer
- 19Nakamba
- 21El Ghazi
- 27El Mohamady
- 30Hause
- 39Davis
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Ramsdale
- 6BashamSubstituted forMcBurnieat 68'minutes
- 12EganBooked at 12mins
- 5O'Connell
- 2Baldock
- 7LundstramBooked at 10mins
- 8Berge
- 4FleckSubstituted forOsbornat 63'minutes
- 3Stevens
- 14Burke
- 17McGoldrickSubstituted forAmpaduat 31'minutes
Substitutes
- 9McBurnie
- 10Sharp
- 16Norwood
- 18Foderingham
- 19Robinson
- 22Ampadu
- 23Osborn
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home72%
- Away28%
- Shots
- Home18
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away1
- Corners
- Home10
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Sheffield United 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Keinan Davis.
Post update
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by John Lundstram.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ollie Watkins.
Post update
Foul by Trézéguet (Aston Villa).
Post update
Sander Berge (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Sander Berge (Sheffield United) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is too high. Assisted by Oliver McBurnie following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by John McGinn.
Post update
Ezri Konsa Ngoyo (Aston Villa) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Burke (Sheffield United).
Post update
Attempt missed. John McGinn (Aston Villa) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Trézéguet.
Booking
John McGinn (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).
Post update
John Lundstram (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Matthew Cash (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jack Grealish (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by John McGinn.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sander Berge (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by John Lundstram.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) right footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by John McGinn.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by John McGinn.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Not sure it was a red card. But they had their chance with the penalty to go one up and park the bus, great save by Martinez.
More interested in having banter about what they had to eat!
Especially the ex footballers who can’t string two meaningful sentences together.
Just get a nickname and your in the money!
Chris Waddle and Pat Nevin are notable exceptions.
Still it's 3 points! UTV!
Got to laugh at the 'championship clubs tonight' comments from the big 6 armchair fans on here.. it seems that if you dont play like Barcelona/Man City/ at their best then its rubbish.
Good luck Sheff Utd for rest of the season. UTV
Worried that McGinn hasn't looked good since his injury.
Wilder will sort it out though, he always does but this was dire, Villa deserved the win. We didn't test them at all.
Great work last season.
This season just a bitter loser.
He likes to get it out of the way as early as possible.
Villa didn’t exactly fill their boots playing against 10 for 80 odd minutes but they got the job done.