Birmingham [UK]: Sheffield United played out a goalless draw against Aston Villa here on Wednesday as Premier League returned to action after the coronavirus-enforced break.
After a long hiatus caused by the pandemic, Premier League resumed behind closed doors at Villa Park.
Both the clubs gave each other tough competition and restricted one another from taking a lead in the match.
The game's controversial moment arrived just before half-time as Aston Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland appeared to carry Oliver Norwood's free-kick over the line but referee, Michael Oliver, was not notified by the goal-line technology system.
Aston Villa showed plenty of attacking threats but were thwarted throughout by a string of fine saves from opponents goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who denied Conor Hourihane, John McGinn, and Keinan Davis.
After the draw, Sheffield United are now placed on the sixth position on the Premier League table with 44 points, while the struggling Aston Villa are on the 19th spot with just 26 points.
Also, expressing solidarity with the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement, players and coaching staff from Sheffield United and Aston Villa took a knee in order to send a 'strong message' of unity.
"Sheffield United and Aston Villa were proud to stand in solidarity with the actions of the players and coaching staff of both football clubs during the first ten seconds of tonight's Premier League fixture, expressing our collective support for the Black Lives Matter movement," Sheffield United said in a statement.
"In the first Premier League fixture of Project Restart both clubs hope that the act of 'taking a knee' will send a strong message of unity and amplify the many messages of support from Premier League players and the wider football family," the statement added.
