New signing Walker (right) gave Villa the lead after only nine minutes
Aston Villa safely negotiated a testing FA Cup tie against Sheffield United.
New signing Kyle Walker ran from just inside the United half before side-stepping Rob Kozluk and slotting past Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.
Just past the half hour Ashley Young's dinked cross was expertly volleyed in by Marc Albrighton to make it 2-0.
In the second half Carlos Cuellar gave away a penalty - converted by Jamie Ward - but Stiliyan Petrov's injury-time goal made the game safe for Villa.
Walker was making his debut after joining Villa on loan from Spurs and he took only nine minutes to make an impact as he galloped away from a series of tackles before wrong-footing Simonsen with his shot.
Villa slipped into the bottom three after a home defeat by Sunderland in midweek, but the visitors showed no sign of their Premier League malaise when Albrighton extended their lead.
Young burst down the left before crossing to the far post and Albrighton crashed in his volley.
The early stages of the second half brought some hope for the Blades when Lee Williamson was fouled by Cuellar inside the box and Ward thumped his penalty down the middle of the goal.
Walker's trick on the edge of his own area almost proved costly when he was hurried into a pass which ended up at Daniel Bogdanovic's feet but Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel came to the rescue.
With 25 minutes left Villa manager Houllier made a double substitution, introducing Petrov and Stewart Downing for Barry Bannan and Robert Pires.
Petrov should have extended Villa's lead with two chances in two minutes.
He was first put through by Downing only to be denied by Simonsen, before the Bulgarian's header from a corner bounced just the wrong side of the post.
But Petrov made amends for his earlier miss with a fine finish following a one-two with the impressive Albrighton in injury time.
90:00+3:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Marc Albrighton on Johnny Ertl. Rob Kozluk takes the direct free kick.
90:00+2:22 The assist for the goal came from Marc Albrighton.
90:00+2:22 GOAL - Stiliyan Petrov:Sheff Utd 1 - 3 Aston Villa Stiliyan Petrov gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Sheff Utd
1-3 Aston Villa.
90:00+1:21 Substitution Jordan Slew joins the action as a substitute, replacing Elian Parrino.
90:00+0:48 Substitution Nigel Reo-Coker goes off and James Collins comes on.
90:00+0:20 Leon Britton has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
90:00+0:12 A cross is delivered by Nick Montgomery.
89:08 Stiliyan Petrov takes a shot. Steve Simonsen makes a save.
88:25 The ball is crossed by Stiliyan Petrov.
87:31 Corner taken short by Stewart Downing.
86:19 Stewart Downing crosses the ball.
85:06 Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Ward from the left by-line, Effort from just outside the area by Rob Kozluk goes over the
bar.
82:38 Elian Parrino takes a shot. Blocked by Kyle Walker.
81:00 Stiliyan Petrov is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jamie Ward,
clearance made by Richard Dunne. Johnny Ertl takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel. Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Ward from
the left by-line, Richard Dunne manages to make a clearance.
81:00 Booking The referee shows Stiliyan Petrov a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
79:45 The ball is delivered by Daniel Bogdanovic.
79:13 The ball is sent over by Marc Albrighton, Gabriel Agbonlahor takes a shot. Johnny Ertl gets a block in.
78:42 Inswinging corner taken by Stewart Downing from the right by-line.
76:53 Ashley Young concedes a free kick for a foul on Kyle Bartley. Rob Kozluk takes the free kick.
76:53 Sent off Ashley Young receives a red card.
75:25 Ashley Young takes the outswinging corner, Effort from deep inside the area by Stewart Downing clears the bar.
74:34 Ashley Young takes the outswinging corner, Stiliyan Petrov takes a shot. David McAllister gets a block in.
74:01 Substitution (Sheff Utd) makes a substitution, with David McAllister coming on for Lee Williamson.
73:25 Stiliyan Petrov takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
72:43 Effort from 18 yards by Nick Montgomery. Blocked by Richard Dunne.
72:13 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jamie Ward.
71:45 Foul by Gabriel Agbonlahor on Nick Montgomery, free kick awarded. Nick Montgomery takes the direct free kick.
70:55 The ball is sent over by Ashley Young, save by Steve Simonsen.
70:00 Shot from close range by Gabriel Agbonlahor misses to the left of the goal.
67:40 Nick Montgomery concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Dunne. Free kick taken by Carlos Cuellar.
67:15 Stewart Downing crosses the ball, clearance by Elian Parrino.
66:56 The ball is delivered by Marc Albrighton.
64:08 Substitution Barry Bannan goes off and Stiliyan Petrov comes on.
64:08 Substitution Stewart Downing joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robert Pires.
64:08 Unfair challenge on Robert Pires by Nick Montgomery results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kyle Walker.
62:13 Ched Evans concedes a free kick for a foul on Nigel Reo-Coker. Brad Friedel takes the direct free kick.
61:11 Foul by Ashley Young on Elian Parrino, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
61:11 Booking The referee books Ashley Young for unsporting behaviour.
60:32 The referee blows for offside. Carlos Cuellar takes the indirect free kick.
58:45 Daniel Bogdanovic challenges Ashley Young unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ashley Young
from left wing, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
57:25 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Ward from the right by-line, clearance made by Carlos Cuellar.
57:12 Daniel Bogdanovic takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.
55:06 Corner taken right-footed by Jamie Ward from the right by-line, Kyle Walker makes a clearance.
54:09 Carlos Cuellar concedes a free kick for a foul on Ched Evans. Strike comes in from Ched Evans from the free kick, Ashley Young
gets a block in.
52:52 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie Ward, Foul by Johnny Ertl on Ciaran Clark, free kick awarded. Direct free kick
taken by Brad Friedel.
52:13 Nick Montgomery fouled by Barry Bannan, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Kyle Bartley.
50:13 Centre by Lee Williamson.
47:57 The ball is delivered by Jamie Ward, Foul by Carlos Cuellar on Lee Williamson, Penalty awarded.
47:57 GOAL - Jamie Ward:Sheff Utd 1 - 2 Aston Villa Jamie Ward scores a penalty. Sheff Utd 1-2 Aston Villa.
46:35 Johnny Ertl delivers the ball.
45:52 Effort on goal by Ashley Young from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:09 The ref blows to end the first period.
45:00+0:44 Nick Montgomery fouled by Barry Bannan, the ref awards a free kick. Rob Kozluk takes the free kick.
44:17 Elian Parrino produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the net.
44:04 The ball is delivered by Daniel Bogdanovic, Carlos Cuellar manages to make a clearance.
43:15 Gabriel Agbonlahor challenges Daniel Bogdanovic unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Elian Parrino.
41:01 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ashley Young from the left by-line, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
40:23 Unfair challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor by Johnny Ertl results in a free kick. Ashley Young takes the free kick.
38:22 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ched Evans by Ciaran Clark. Rob Kozluk takes the direct free kick.
36:44 The ball is swung over by Ciaran Clark, Lee Williamson concedes a free kick for a foul on Ciaran Clark. Direct free kick taken
by Robert Pires.
36:23 Gabriel Agbonlahor takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
35:23 Unfair challenge on Ciaran Clark by Daniel Bogdanovic results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Ciaran Clark.
32:10 The assist for the goal came from Ashley Young.
32:10 GOAL - Marc Albrighton:Sheff Utd 0 - 2 Aston Villa A goal is scored by Marc Albrighton from inside the six-yard box to the top right corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 0-2 Aston
Villa.
30:49 Foul by Ciaran Clark on Ched Evans, free kick awarded. Jamie Ward produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by
Ched Evans misses to the right of the target.
29:53 The assistant referee flags for offside against Daniel Bogdanovic. Richard Dunne takes the free kick.
29:03 The ball is swung over by Gabriel Agbonlahor.
27:58 Marc Albrighton crosses the ball, save made by Steve Simonsen.
27:23 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor by Nick Montgomery. Robert Pires takes the free kick.
23:36 Outswinging corner taken by Jamie Ward from the right by-line, Effort from deep inside the area by Kyle Bartley clears the
bar.
23:27 Daniel Bogdanovic delivers the ball, clearance by Carlos Cuellar.
22:26 The ball is swung over by Jamie Ward, Shot from close in by Ched Evans misses to the left of the goal.
22:04 Corner taken by Jamie Ward from the left by-line, clearance made by Carlos Cuellar.
21:40 Jamie Ward takes a shot. Brad Friedel makes a save.
21:30 The assistant referee signals for offside against Ashley Young. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
20:47 Kyle Walker fouled by Rob Kozluk, the ref awards a free kick. Kyle Walker takes the free kick.
20:47 Booking Rob Kozluk goes into the referee's book.
19:37 The offside flag is raised against Ched Evans. Free kick taken by Kyle Walker.
19:01 Johnny Ertl concedes a free kick for a foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor. Direct free kick taken by Robert Pires.
18:17 Jamie Ward is ruled offside. Kyle Walker takes the direct free kick.
13:13 The ball is delivered by Rob Kozluk.
12:33 The ball is sent over by Kyle Bartley, Ciaran Clark makes a clearance.
12:23 The ball is swung over by Jamie Ward.
11:53 Jamie Ward takes the outswinging corner, Richard Dunne manages to make a clearance.
10:16 Leon Britton concedes a free kick for a foul on Marc Albrighton. Barry Bannan takes the free kick.
8:39 The assist for the goal came from Barry Bannan.
8:39 GOAL - Kyle Walker:Sheff Utd 0 - 1 Aston Villa Kyle Walker gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Sheff
Utd 0-1 Aston Villa.
6:24 Elian Parrino sends in a cross, Richard Dunne makes a clearance.
4:41 Ashley Young fouled by Elian Parrino, the ref awards a free kick. Ashley Young restarts play with the free kick.
0:43 Effort on goal by Rob Kozluk from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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