ASTON VILLA hosted Sheffield United as the Premier League returned following a 100-day absence.
And there was no shortage of drama at Villa Park as home keeper Orjan Nyland appeared to clearly drag the ball over the line just before the break – but goal-line technology failed to recognise it.
- Final score: Villa 0-0 Sheff Utd
- Villa XI: Nyland, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Davis, Grealish.
- Sheffield Utd XI: Henderson, Robinsson, Egan, Basham, Stevens, Baldcock, Norwood, Berge, Lundstram, Sharp, McBurnie.
Follow all the reaction from a dramatic game as the Premier League returned…
THE DEVIL WE KNOW
While the game may have lacked quality, Man Utd loanee Dean Henderson enjoyed a very fruitful return to action.
Here's the brilliant save he made from Keinan Davis.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Interesting theory…
EYE DON'T BELIEVE IT
Hawk-eye appear to have confirmed their system is not one hundred per cent accurate given that the reason the goal wasn't given is their cameras were blocked.
They wrote: “The seven cameras located in the stands around the goal area were significantly occluded by the goalkeeper, defender and goalpost.
“This level of occlusion has never been seen before in over 9000 matches that the Hawk-eye Goal Line Technology system has been in operation.”
(NOT) WATCHING LIKE A HAWK
Hawk-eye have apologised for events at Villa Park earlier this evening and said Sheffield United's goal SHOULD have stood.
As a result of the decision, the Blades only move up to sixth position and remain a point behind Manchester United in fifth, which could end up being a Champions League spot.
Their full statement is as follows…
MOUR TO COME
Sheffield United prefer not to speak…
VILLANS OF THE PIECE
Not much from Aston Villa yet, but despite a positive performance they'll feel they got away with one tonight.
Nyland will be delighted his error didn't result in a goal but will they recall Pepe Reina next game?
FULL TIME: Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
A drab affair to restart the Premier League season, but with one of the biggest talking points of the campaign so far.
Aston Villa were the better team but Sheffield United will feel more unlucky not to have won thanks to an incredible error in the hawk-eye system.
On the stroke of half time, Orjan Nyland carried the ball over his own line, but the goal line technology failed to signal a goal.
More bizarrely, Michael Oliver's watch did then inform him that a goal should have been awarded to the Blades but only when he was already in the dressing room for the break.
We'll hear from the managers next.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
90+3: Lundstram tries to pass the ball to McGoldrick but kicks it clean out of play.
That just about sums up what we've seen for most of Project Restart's opening game.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
89: Worrying scenes for the Blades as the new season looks like it may have come too soon for David McGoldrick.
The striker falls awkwardly on his ankle just ten minutes after coming on
Four minutes of stoppage time will be added on.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
82: Tyrone Mings scythes Mousset down then picks up the ball and shouts angrily in the direction of Michael Oliver.
He then smiles as he realises his tantrum may have scared the referee into not giving him a yellow card.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
80: We now witness the increasingly rare phenomenon of a single substitution.
Lys Mousset replaces Oli McBurnie for Sheffield United.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
79: George Baldock taking a cheeky chunk out of Jack Grealish to concede a foul on the halfway line.
Let him know you're there son!
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
75: Aston Villa become the first team ever to make four changes in a Premier League match!
Marvelous Nakamba and Ahmed Elmohamady replace John McGinn and Ezri Konsa.
Remember that while there are five substitutions available, teams still only have three intervals in which to use them, which is why we are seeing so many double changes.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
Here's something to excite any watching Manchester United fans.
On-loan goalkeeper Dean Henderson's save from John McGinn's curling effort.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
68: With the drinks breaks now over, both teams can make their substitutions.
Trezeguet and Mbwana Samatta replace Keinan Davis and Anwar El Ghazi for Aston Villa.
For the visitors, Luke Freeman and David McGoldrick come on for John Lundstram and Sander Berge.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
66: Both teams are making a double substitution, and why not?
Remember they will be allowed to bring on up to five substitutes until the end of the season.
Interestingly, neither Dean Smith or Chris Wilder were in favour of the new system, with both preferring to keep the number at three.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
Sky Sports' crowd noise has so far earned mixed reviews on Twitter.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
58: If there was a home crowd at Villa Park they'd be out of their seats and roaring in approval.
Jack Grealish again terrorising the Sheffield United defence as he plays the ball to the edge of the box.
John McGinn's effort heads towards the top corner but is plucked away by Dean Henderson.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
57: It's that man Jack Grealish taking centre stage again.
The Villa captain runs the ball past the halfway line and plays a brilliant through ball to Anwar El Ghazi.
However the Dutchman's cross is just beyond Keinan Davis, who would have had a tap-in.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
Here's how socially distanced reporting looks at Villa Park.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
51: First chance of the half for Aston Villa.
A high ball over the top catches John Egan out as Keinan Davis forces a fine save from Dean Henderson high at his near post.
Aston Villa 0-0 Sheffield United
50: A sluggish start to the second half from both sides.
Aston Villa trying to get Jack Grealish involved but the quality of the final ball remains poor.
LATE TO THE PARTY
The refereeing team are now reporting that Michael Oliver's watch DID indicate a goal had been scored.
Unfortunately this happened when he was already in the dressing room for half time.
Chris Wilder is looking completely perplexed.
WATCHING LIKE A HAWK
The refereeing team has stated that hawk-eye is now working and should be effective in the second half.
That won't be much of a consolation for Sheffield United.
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Chris Wilder is talking to Michael Oliver in the tunnel and trying to understand why the goal wasn't given.
Still no word on what happened with hawk-eye.
Source: Read Full Article