---
title: "Fans slate ‘awful’ Targett for ‘shocking’ distribution"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/03/04/fans-react-matt-targett-aston-villa-sheffield-united/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-03-04T13:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-03-04T13:00:00Z"
---

# Fans slate ‘awful’ Targett for ‘shocking’ distribution

[Aston Villa suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United](https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/march/Sheffield-United-1-0-Aston-Villa/) on Wednesday and Matt Targett was one of many players to put in a poor performance. The 25-year-old was particularly poor with his distribution in the final third, resulting in him being slated by supporters on social media.

When United went down to 10-men with a 1-0 lead to hold onto, Villa saw a lot of the ball. They did little with it, however, as Targett and may others failed to pick out a teammate from their numerous balls into the box.

> Targett just keeps swinging the same cross in. [#avfc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/avfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Chris Stanley (@chrisstanley1) [March 3, 2021](https://twitter.com/chrisstanley1/status/1367193442108002304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/GrealishSZNNN/status/1367193961689997318?s=20

> Switch to Targett or McGinn, cross, gets cleared, repeat. This is shocking. [#AVFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — – (@JordAVFCx) [March 3, 2021](https://twitter.com/JordAVFCx/status/1367199477065539587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/ValiantVilla/status/1367200933034274819?s=20 https://twitter.com/AVFC\_\_Alex/status/1367201489156988928?s=20

> Shocking from Villa & Smith. On crossing, can’t remember Villa being as bad, El Ghazi, Traore, Targett, McGinn, not a decent cross all night. Midfield slow, can’t play Nakamba & Ramsey together in a game we’re going to have most possession. Letting Guilbert go a mistake! [#AVFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Noel (@NoelM1986) [March 3, 2021](https://twitter.com/NoelM1986/status/1367202256584646661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

https://twitter.com/jameshendicott/status/1367202677185273856?s=20

> El Ghazi, Targett, all that possession, not a decent cross in amongst them. Bloody awful.
>
> — Rachel Malloch (@RachelVillavox) [March 3, 2021](https://twitter.com/RachelVillavox/status/1367204127042846723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Against United, Targett played for 90 minutes, had 93 touches, won two aerial duels, completed 82.9% of his 70 passes, created one chance, whipped in eight crosses with only one being accurate, made one clearance, blocked one shot and had one successful dribble ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485443/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Sheffield-United-Aston-Villa)).

The 25-year-old has played in all 25 of Villa’s Premier League appearances this season ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-targett/leistungsdaten/spieler/250478)) so he isn’t at risk of losing his place to Neil Taylor based on Wednesday’s performance. Targett has found a teammate from 11 of his 74 crosses (15%) and averages less accurate crosses than six other first-team players ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/24/Show/England-Aston-Villa)), so it’s clear he needs to work on his distribution.