Sheffield United visit Villa Park on Wednesday to play in the first Premier League match in over three months.
Aston Villa host the Blades at 6pm as part of ‘Project Restart’ as professional football in England makes its return following the indefinite suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak.
For most fans of the sport it is a welcome comeback, but for United supporters it allows their best season for a generation to continue.
Should Chris Wilder’s side win in Birmingham, they will rise to fifth in the table after 29 games. They would head into Sunday’s away trip to Newcastle United with genuine hopes of European qualification.
It is in stark contrast to Villa, who are also newly promoted but sit second bottom as they desperately try and avoid relegation.
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Yet the Blades know just how tricky this fixture is. The last time they were here it ended in very disappointing circumstances for the visitors.
What happened last time Sheffield United visited Villa Park?
(Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
In February last year, Wilder’s men were looking to close the gap between top two Norwich City and Leeds United in the race for promotion from the Championship.
Everything looked to be going well at Villa Park as a Billy Sharp hat-trick put them 3-0 up. Yet the final 10 minutes proved to be ones to forget for the away team.
Goals from Tyrone Mings and Tammy Abraham started the comeback, before Andre Green scored a 94th minute equaliser. The Blades could only make up one point on their rivals and remained in third place.
They would of course go onto be promoted, but Wilder does not want a repeat of that night.
“We were cruising and they were never in the game,” the 52-year-old told the Daily Mail. “Villa Park must have had 15,000 people in it. They had gone home.
“Then one mistake and then another and another. Suddenly it’s 3-3. That one got sorted out in the dressing room.
“Not words, actions. I am not condoning it but that is the emotion of the game. It happens.
“I could have got involved but I let them deal with it. I know my players, I trust them.”
