Ghost-goal revenge, changing in marquees and getting fans back: Key talking points from Sheffield United's press conference ahead of Aston Villa clash

When the Blades faced Aston Villa last season, the first game after Project Restart, Ollie Norwood's shot was not given as a goal despite replays showing it clearly crossed the line.

HawkEye, who operate the goalline technology used in the Premier League, released a statement after the game apologising to United and insisting the error had not happened before in 9,000 games.

The issue was unsurprisingly raised at this morning's press conference, which saw Chris Wilder and John Egan face the media ahead of Monday's trip to the Second City.

Here's what Wilder and Egan both said about that controversy, plus the other big talking points...

The Ghost Goal

Wilder was asked whether he was satisfied with the explanation given for the shambles that led to Norwood's goal not being awarded, and it turns out he isn't. Not one bit.

"I'm not sat here thinking it was all explained and everything's OK," he said. "I'm 100 per cent convinced that if we were a more powerful club in the division, more of a name, then a lot more would have been made of it."

Egan: No revenge on our mind

The defender struck a more conciliatory tone when asked for his own view about what happened at Villa Park back in June. He admitted it was frustrating but denied that United would be going out on Monday looking for revenge. "It's just one of those things that happens in football," he said. I think he's being kind, especially considering Hawkeye's claim that this is the first time their technology failed in 9,000 games, and it's certainly an issue that won't be forgotten about in a hurry.

Heroes and Villa-ins

There have certainly been some epic battles against Villa since United came back into the Championship, ranging from the sublime - a 4-1 win for United at Bramall Lane - to the ridiculous, in surrendering a 3-0 lead at Villa Park to draw 3-3 after conceding three times in about eight minutes. Even last season there was controversy and excitement in both games, with Jack Grealish hitting the bar at the Lane after a handball was given against Egan by VAR before the biggest talking point of the lot in the return leg at Villa Park.

No-one enjoys behind-closed-doors games

We know why it has to happen, but it doesn't mean we have to like it. Wilder made an excellent point that hadn't really been considered before - that his players are being robbed of the experiences they earned by winning promotion to the Premier League, of walking out at places like Villa Park and Old Trafford to full houses. Instead, they pull off the motorway with no traffic whatsoever and have to get changed in a marquee at Burnley. "They're getting on with it," Wilder said, "but the return of fans can't come quick enough." Amen to that.

Second-season syndrome

It's a media cliche invented to suggest that the Blades will struggle this season after finishing ninth last time out, but as Egan revealed - it's only something that he speaks about with the press, rather than any of his teammates. As players, it doesn't even cross their minds, Egan said. "You can't look too far ahead in the Premier League or behind you. Every team is brilliant and it's the best league in the world for a reason." He rightly said that United confounded pre-season predictions last season, after not making any targets. Their only focus is on winning the next game - anything else can quickly come back to bite you.