Sheffield United are only looking up in Premier League after Aston Villa win, says defender Chris Basham

Sheffield United are only looking up in the Premier League after their Aston Villa at the weekend, according to defender Chris Basham.
Chris Basham (centre) and his Sheffield United team mates John Fleck (left) and Oli McBurnie: James Wilson/SportimageChris Basham (centre) and his Sheffield United team mates John Fleck (left) and Oli McBurnie: James Wilson/Sportimage
Chris Basham (centre) and his Sheffield United team mates John Fleck (left) and Oli McBurnie: James Wilson/Sportimage

United moved up to fifth in the top-flight table after beating Villa 2-0 on Saturday, although they were knocked down to seventh the following day after the Sunday games.

More importantly, the Blades moved to 25 points after 17 games – and now sit well over halfway to the 40-point mark which is universally accepted as enough to survive.

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But Basham, whose backheel helped set up the first of John Fleck’s two goals, admitted: “I don't think we could have dreamed of this.

“But I think if you'd asked the gaffer at the start of the season, he believed in us and that we could have done so well. He would have believed we could be in the top ten.

“There's a little bit of looking over your shoulder, but everyone's looking above and hopefully we can chase the pack.”

United struggled to break down Villa in the first half before two goals in the second half – and Jack Grealish’s penalty miss – saw the Blades run out 2-0 winners.

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“The gaffer reminded us how Villa would have to be stubborn and hard to beat – because teams are not just going to come out at us. “They know what they're going to be in for.

“When we've got the ball we're comfortable and everyone's got that ego about themselves… it's good.”

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