Watkins becomes first player in Europe to hit milestone record in easy Villa win

The 28-year-old has been key to Villa's rise into the top four this season, with the striker going one step further at Bramall Lane.

Unai Emery's side travelled to Yorkshire to face a struggling Blades team who sit rock bottom of the Premier League table.

They took the lead after 12 minutes when John McGinn smashed in a rebound from close range after Watkins' chip hit the post.

The England international then found the back of the net moments later with a low finish before assisting Leon Bailey to make it 3-0.

Villa held a 4-0 lead at the break as Youri Tielemans fired in on the half-hour mark to continue the rout in Yorkshire.

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Watkins proved influential in the second-half too as he teed up Alex Moreno for his volley just two minutes after kick-off.

As a result, he has become the first player to hit double figures for goals [11] and assists [ten] in Europe's top five leagues this season.

He is also the first player to do so for Villa in the Premier League since Dwight Yorke in the 1995/96 campaign.

The win - their first in the league for 2024 - has seen the Midlands outfit leapfrog Tottenham into fourth spot where they are now two points above Spurs.

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Villa are also level on 46 points with Manchester City and Arsenal, with goal difference the deciding factor in their positioning.

Sheffield United meanwhile are still searching for a third league win of the season as their relegation fears continue to grow each week.

Many Blades fans could be seen heading for the exits after Bailey curled in Villa's third goal of the evening.

Chris Wilder's side are now ten points adrift from safety and their 59 goals conceded is the most of all 20 Premier League sides.

Incredibly, only Northern Irish side Newry City have conceded more goals [65] than United among all UEFA top-flight leagues this term.