Season poised for a grandstand finish?

If Aston Villa were in search of a spark to re-energise a season that so far in 2024 bore little resemblance to the excellence of the previous year, the first 30 minutes at Bramall Lane provided just that. Players such as Douglas Luiz, Youri Tielemans, and Ollie Watkins demonstrated against Sheffield United that Villa possess class when they play with conviction. If Villa have been playing within themselves in the past few weeks, bigger tests are to come in their forthcoming double-header at Villa Park this week, which could significantly shape their season.