Aston Villa defender Ritchie De Laet earns some ironic cheers with a wild shot that does not test Simon Moore.

Villa then go charging forward again... Jack Grealish hauled down!

Sheffield United go for an innovative* corner routine which is easily mopped up by Villa defenders.

Then a superb ball into the back post beats everyone and Leon Clarke, goalside of the full-back, heads just wide.

That. Was. A. Chance.

Bad, bad miss from the Championship's top scorer.

* Rubbish

Villa piling forward now as they enjoy a concerted spell of pressure on the Sheffield United box.

Conor Hourihane and Jack Grealish struggling to make a lot of headway through the middle, so it goes wide and a swinging left side delivery is headed over the top by Keinan Davis.

Up to the hour.

Villa bring on Ritchie de Laet for Rob Snodgrass. Applause from the home support.

By the way, nowt came of that free-kick in the end.

Few murmurs of discontent from the Villa support.

Leon Clarke gets away down the right chasing a long ball into the channel, but is then stopped by a Bobby Moore-esque tackle by James Chester.

Villa look left to Jack Grealish... who's upended by Chris Basham. Booking for the Blades man who seems to have taken on his own 'Enforcer' role. Dangerous position left side of the box.

Image source, Getty Images

After his side hit back to draw 1-1 at QPR, Bristol City head coach Lee Johnson told BBC Radio Bristol:

"I want to tell you how much I'm in love with my players.

"They're outstanding. I'm absolutely in love with my boys at the moment.

"To go from that game against Manchester United with the energy expenditure from Wednesday... It's amazing what they're doing."

Postpublished at 55 mins

55 mins

Aston Villa 2-2 Sheff Utd

Chris Basham just letting Villa know he's there with a 'committed' challenge on Robert Snodgrass that leaves the Scot limping away.

Toot on the whistle sees a free-kick given, which is duly wasted.

Not a lot of quality this past five minutes.

Image source, Rex Features

It appears that both teams have had a good rejigging defensively at half-time as they look a lot more resolute in the first seven minutes of the second-half.

Not much else to tell you about. Bar Conor Hourihane having another shot blocked.

John Lundstram sets up the move with an interception, Leon Clarke touches it to Mark Duffy who tests Sam Johnstone in the Villa goal.

Then a header by Clayton Donaldson which sails over the bar from the corner.

Image source, Rex Features

Smart work down the Villa right by Robert Snodgrass but he wanted too much time, too many turns and twists before the ball was howked downfield by the Blades.

United win it back and spring an attack... then lose it, then win it...

John Lundstram almost slipped a pass through into the Villa box but it was well cut out.

As Ged just said, the atmosphere has definitely dulled. Probably though the genuine fear fans will have every time the ball comes near their team's box.

Villa just looked to get away Albert Adomah then but the flag went up. Quite late. But up all the same.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at Villa Park

It was an understandably muted atmosphere among the home fans at half-time after surrendering a two-goal lead.

But a cracking game in which the excitement has been matched only by the quality of the Villa Park press room half-time parsnip soup.

Shame about some of the defending though!

Team talks dished out at the break.

Will we have the same early flurry? Let's see.

Right. Not far off the second half.

Who's got the character, the quality, the ruthlessness to come out on top here?

Managers are back out. Teams set for the second-half...

Image source, Rex Features

Gazbolou: Hope this tempo continues. Really good game

I agree. I just ask for time to type, that's all. Plenty of long, exorbitant goal celebrations will suffice.

Here's what you've missed so far on a frantic festive Saturday in the EFL...

• Wolves go seven points clear in Championship with 1-0 win over Ipswich
• Bolton beat second-placed Cardiff 2-0
• Derby up to third with 3-0 win over Millwall
• Sunderland draw with bottom side Birmingham
• League One leaders Wigan thump Oxford 7-0 away
• League Two leaders Luton beat Grimsby 2-0

Image source, Empics

Birmingham boss Steve Cotterill, whose struggling side held on for a draw with 10 men away at Sunderland, told BBC WM 95.6:

"Hopefully we've pleased our supporters today. We wish we could have sent them home with three points for Christmas.

"Maybe a point was about right, but I thought we were the better team. We haven't got what we deserved today."

On goalscorer Sam Gallagher's second-half dismissal for two yellow-card offences, Cotterill adds:

"The sending off was never a sending off in a million years. To get one yellow card for as light a challenge as we're talking about would have been enough, but to get two and get red carded, that's happened because we're away from home.

"It's a really harsh one for Sam (Gallagher). He's got the ball."

How do you go about summing that ridiculous fixture up?! I'll have a go, cos that's what I'm being paid for.

Aston Villa fans were dreaming of a claret and blue Christmas when they led 2-0 after 12 minutes, Albert Adomah's penalty and Mile Jedinak's header giving them an early advantage.

However, it was cancelled out before they could say 'Santa Claus'. Jedinak looked more confident in the opposition penalty area than his own, a factor that was captalised on by Clayton Donaldson, twice.

The Sheffield United forward scored a wonderful first when he took in a long ball and dinked in, and then drilled beyond Sam Johnstone to level.

There was no way the pace could stay at that level, and it didn't. But still a cracking first 45 minutes.

Right, chill. Get a drink. Enjoy some reaction. Relax. Back soon.

Image source, Rex Features

Sheffield United finishing this half the stronger in terms of possession and time in the opposition half.

Clayton Donaldson proving a threat with his movement.

Couple of minutes remaining til half-time.

John Lundstram raps a low fizzer into the palms of Sam Johnstone and Aston Villa are happy to see it so.

Four minutes of added time.