The comeback to end all comebacks! Aston Villa have produced one of the most unlikely comebacks in recent memory, scoring three times in the final 10 minutes to rescue a draw at home to Sheffield United. The result is one that keeps their play-off hopes alive, although they still sit three points behind sixth placed Bristol City having played two games more.
Sheffield United entered this evening's game in an excellent run of form, and got off to a fast start. Billy Sharp opened the scoring after 11 minutes for the visitors, tapping home from close range.
Sharp doubled his personal and his team's tally in the second half, with yet another short range effort. The Aston Villa 'keeper could possibly feel aggrieved to have not received a free kick, but Sharp was on hand to poke the ball home nonetheless.
The Sheffield striker completed his hat trick just after the hour mark, and the game seemed over as a contest. They were three of the scrappiest goals you are likely to see, but it gave the visitors what looked like an unassailable lead.
On-loan Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings nodded home in the 81st minute for Villa for what looked like a consolation goal. Mings was of course involved in an unsavoury incident with Reading's Nelson Oliveira last week, and was perhaps lucky to be on the pitch tonight having avoided punishment.
Tammy Abraham was on hand to capitalise on an error from goalkeeper Dean Henderson five minutes later, and all of a sudden the comeback was very much on.
Villa piled forward to find an equaliser in the game's closing stages. Their moment would arrive deep into injury time, when Andre Green rose highest at the back post, completing one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent history.
The goal was met with a mixture of hysteria and heartbreak, with the two sets of players displaying wildly different emotions.
Aston Villa will be hoping to ride the wave of this performance and turn it into a march up the table. For Sheffield United, while this is a result they probably would have taken before the game, it most definitely feels like two points dropped.
