When Sheffield United and Aston Villa marked the Premier League’s return from lockdown, on this day in 2020 after an 100-day hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the BBC’s match report described the result as “a low-key goalless draw.” But in reality it was anything but, as one of the most staggering technological failures in the top flight’s history cost United what could have been a huge result in their unlikely push for Europe.
The Blades should have gone 1-0 ahead when Villa goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland caught Ollie Norwood’s deep free-kick and fell over his own goalline with the ball still in his hands. Multiple replays showed the ball had clearly gone over the line but referee Michael Oliver’s goalline technology failed to alert him that a goal should have been given, and VAR inexplicably declined to get involved.
The game went on to finish goalless and United could not rediscover the momentum that had been taken from them by lockdown, eventually finishing ninth - still a remarkable achievement in their first season back in the Premier League after 12 years away, but also one of the biggest ‘what-if?’ moments in recent years. But what happened to the 20 players in the United squad that day? Let’s have a look...
![Now at Crystal Palace after a £15m move from Manchester United and his late-season form, plus a few injuries, saw him named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros alongside another former United goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/11/13/28/SPI_121_Liverpool_Sheff_Utd.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
1. Dean Henderson
Now at Crystal Palace after a £15m move from Manchester United and his late-season form, plus a few injuries, saw him named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros alongside another former United goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale | Sportimage
![The right-back’s long association with the Blades came to an end this summer when he was released, the Greek international since agreeing a deal to move to his adopted homeland and sign for recently-crowned Greek Cup winners Panathinaikos.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/16/11/40/SPI_291_SB_SHEFF_UTD_WOLVES.JPG.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
2. George Baldock
The right-back’s long association with the Blades came to an end this summer when he was released, the Greek international since agreeing a deal to move to his adopted homeland and sign for recently-crowned Greek Cup winners Panathinaikos. | Sportimage
![Another multiple promotion winner to be released by the Blades this summer, Basham is still on the comeback trail from a horror injury sustained at Fulham amid uncertainty if he will play again](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/06/11/14/GettyImages-1610165481.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
3. Chris Basham
Another multiple promotion winner to be released by the Blades this summer, Basham is still on the comeback trail from a horror injury sustained at Fulham amid uncertainty if he will play again | Getty Images
![The United skipper also saw his season ended by a serious injury and he’s now out of contract, with the Blades seeing how he recovers before deciding whether to offer him a new deal. In the meantime he’s free to pursue other avenues](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/24/14/33/GettyImages-1687006584.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
4. John Egan
The United skipper also saw his season ended by a serious injury and he’s now out of contract, with the Blades seeing how he recovers before deciding whether to offer him a new deal. In the meantime he’s free to pursue other avenues | AFP via Getty Images