Stoppage time chaos as 97th-minute strike denies massive PL upset

Aston Villa missed the chance to go top of the Premier League but Nicolo Zaniolo’s late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Sheffield United on Friday.

The visitors kicked off bottom of the table, with Birmingham club Villa having won their last 15 home games in the Premier League.

But Cameron Archer, sold by Villa to the Blades in pre-season, stunned the home fans at Villa Park by opening the scoring in the 87th minute with a close-range shot.

Substitute Zaniolo rescued a point for Villa with a header seven minutes into stoppage time.

Villa needed a win to go top of the Premier League for the first time since August 2011, having not led the table at this stage in a season for 25 years.

But they remained behind leaders Arsenal on goal difference despite dominating possession and having the better of the game’s chances.

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Leon Bailey had the ball in the net early in the second half but it was ruled out by the video assistant referee, with VAR also rejecting three Villa penalty claims.

The first of those came when Ollie Watkins was shoved by Vini Souza, with another penalty appeal turned down by VAR when George Baldock blocked Watkins’ header from the ensuing corner.

Villa thought they had gone ahead in the 58th minute when Watkins intercepted as United tried to clear a corner and exchanged passes with Jacob Ramsey.

The England striker then crossed for Bailey to sweep in but the goal was disallowed when Ramsey was ruled to have fouled Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham at the corner.

Another VAR reprieve for the visitors came 15 minutes later when Baldock came through a handball review.

United struck three minutes from the end of normal time.

Vini Souza’s free-kick found Gustavo Hamer and the midfielder’s fine piece of skill took John McGinn out of the game.

The substitute then cut the ball back for Archer to convert from six yards. Foderingham saved Alex Moreno’s header but Villa equalised in stoppage time when Zaniolo headed in Douglas Luiz’s cross.

But it finished all square, the first time in 16 games – dating back 307 days to February – that Villa had failed to win at home.

Since returning to take over as Sheffield United manager, Chris Wilder has taken four points from a possible 12.