League One side Sheffield United stunned Aston Villa to advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win at Villa Park this afternoon.

Villa started well as Marc Albrighton earned several free kicks early on down the right, but the home side could not turn their pressure into a goal.

After seeing out the storm from the Premier League outfit, the visitors took the lead in the 20th minute when striker Jamie Murphy latched onto a through0ball and fired home past Jed Steer with the aid of a deflection.

Paul Lambert's team had an excellent chance to level things up just before the break when Albrighton sprinted down the left and lifted a cross into the area for Christian Benteke, who beat his man in the air but his effort went wide of the target.

After the break, United nearly doubled their lead as Ryan Flynn fired a powerful effort at goal and Steer had to be at his best to turn the ball away from the net.

Seconds later, Flynn tested Steer again with another shot from distance, but again the keeper was equal to it and kept his side in the game.

United were having all the chances and Chris Porter went close to putting the game to bed when he fired from distance, only to see his effort go just the wrong side of the post.

Nigel Clough's men were to pay for their missed opportunities as Villa equalised in the 75th minute when, following a spate of corners, a loose ball fell to Nicklas Helenius in the area and he fired home.

However, United weren't to be denied as Flynn finally scored when he beat a challenge before launching an effort past Steer into the roof of the net to secure a surprise victory for his side.