Houllier went into the third-round match at Bramall Lane with Villa having lost seven of their previous nine games - and in the knowledge that Roy Hodgson had just parted company with his old club Liverpool. As it was, Houllier was left a relieved man after Villa held off a fightback by Championship strugglers Sheffield United to eventually triumph 3-1. Houllier insisted defeat would not have made a difference to his position at Villa, saying: "I don't think whatever happened there would have been any major change. I don't think anything would have happened really." But asked about events at Liverpool, he added: "This world has become brutal, I mean it - if you lose two games you are in the firing line." Houllier did have the pleasure of seeing Kyle Walker, signed on loan from Tottenham, produce a stirring performance at right-back including a superb individual goal nine minutes into his debut. The impressive Marc Albrighton put Villa 2-0 in front with a volley and it needed a half-time team talk by Blades boss Micky Adams to spark a revival. Jamie Ward's spot-kick after Lee Williamson enticed Carlos Cuellar to trip him gave the home side hope and there were a number of chances after Ashley Young had departed for an early bath - he had picked up two bookings - before Stiliyan Petrov finally made it safe for Villa. Stewart Downing now wants his Villa team-mates to turn around their league form. "There's no point moaning about things, we have to push on now and get some points," Downing said. "We need everyone fighting because we are all in this together." Adams said the match highlighted the Blades' desperate need for new players - his problems are so acute that he only named six substitutes rather than the permitted seven. Adams added: "I'm aware we're need strengthening - I only named six subs and four of those were youth trainee boys. We need reinforcements." He also gave credit to his side for their spirit in what was only his third game in charge. The Blades boss said: "We have got to be pleased that we lost the game with our boots on rather than rolled over and let it be a walkover. In the second half we were terrific."
