David McGoldrick gave Republic of Ireland fans a flavour of what they will be missing later this month.
He scored the only goal of the game as Sheffield United beat Aston Villa by a goal to nil at Bramall Lane.
United survived the last half-hour with ten men following the sending-off of Phil Jagielka.
The first real chance of the game fell to John McGinn, who flashed the ball wide of Aaron Ramsdale's right-hand upright after the hosts failed to deal with a speculative Bertrand Traore effort.
Villa should have had a penalty when Ollie Watkins - bearing down on goal - appeared to be barged over illegaly by Kean Bryan.
But it was Chris Wilder's side who poked their noses in front on the half-hour, with a goal created and finished by David McGoldrick.
The 33-year old won the ball in midfield, before spraying a ball wide to George Baldock.
The wing-back fed McGoldrick who was waiting at the far post to tap home his sixth Premier League goal of the season.
Villa heads didn't drop, however, with Traore sending another effort wide before the break.
The game threatened to turn on its head just before the hour mark, when Phil Jagielka was punished for a foul on Anwar El-Ghazi.
Referee Robert Jones seemed to be giving the defender a yellow card before an intervention from VAR. Jones consulted his monitor and upgraded Jagielka's card to a red.
Ezri Konsa was left angry with himself as he controlled and volleyed a corner towards goal, only to see the chance snuffed out.
United stay bottom of the table, twelve points from safety with eleven games to play. A tenth defeat of the season leaves Villa in ninth, with dwindling hopes of securing European football.
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