VILLAINS TO HEROES
Villa fight back from 3-0 down to snatch a point
Villa Park has seen some remarkable contests this season, but nothing on this scale. Sheffield United were 3-0 up with 80 minutes gone and heading for Championship top spot courtesy of a Billy Sharp hat-trick.
Then, with no indication of what was to come, Villa rose from the dead to snatch a draw and puncture the momentum gathering behind Chris Wilder’s team.
The final goal came in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Moments before, after two goals in four minutes, the stadium had brimmed with hope. The noise rose as anwar El Ghazi wriggled past Enda Stevens to cross, and there was bedlam when andre Green headed in at the far post.
Manager Dean Smith turned to the stands with fists clenched in joy. John Terry leapt on to the back of his coaching colleague. Never leave this ground early. There has been late drama in the 5-5 against Nottingham Forest, the 3-3 with Preston and the 3-2 loss to leeds. This was from the realms of fantasy, however.
But you had to feel for Sharp after a hat-trick showing his pristine poaching, with each of his goals scored from no more than three yards out.
Three days on from turning 33, Sharp took his tally for the club to 101 and became the first Championship striker to pass 20 goals. He now has 22 for the campaign.
The visitors took the lead in the 11th minute. Oliver Norwood hit a deep corner that was nodded back by Gary Madine. Sharp moved into space and swept a low finish towards goal. Tammy abraham tried to clear on the line but the ball had already crossed it.
Sharp’s second came in the 53rd minute. kieran Dowell shot from distance and lovre kalinic palmed it out. Sharp had gone for the ball from an offside position and was still there when Madine headed the rebound against the post. kalinic grabbed the ball but Sharp prodded it out of his hands and over the line. Villa were incensed.
There was nothing wrong with Sharp’s third. Dowell’s cross took a deflection off Tyrone Mings and Sharp nodded in at the far post.
Villa hit back when Mings leaped highest from Conor Hourihane’s corner to head past Dean Henderson. and the home side were given hope when abraham tapped in on 86 minutes for his 20th goal of the season. He has now scored in eight straight home games.
Then came Green’s dramatic equaliser deep into added time to send Villa Park into raptures.