Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder hails two-goal hero John Fleck after he outshines Scotland rival John McGinn and Aston Villa

A dire first half was followed by a very watchable second period in which the Scot's double saw Chris Wilder's team move up to fifth in the table.

The only blot on Fleck’s copybook was a first-half yellow card, which was his fifth of the league season and rules him out of next weekend's game at Brighton.

On Fleck's man-of-the-match performance, the Blades boss said: "His energy levels and his play in the second half was terrific.

"It was a tough afternoon for him in that midfield against the likes of John McGinn, who he knows from his Scotland days and who he played in there again last season.

"But he was still running past people with 93 minutes on the clock. I'm a bit disappointed he didn't get his hat-trick because that would have put the icing on the performance."

Wilder's team took advantage of their best spell of the match by taking the lead, and the goal came from a piece of football that defied anything that the previous 50 minutes had produced.

Norwood found Chris Basham with a back-heel and his pass sent John Lundstram racing through down the right side of the penalty area, where he pulled the ball back for Fleck to steer home his near-post shot.

Villa then woke up but United scored again, with a move started and finished by Fleck and assisted by David McGoldrick’s clever flick.