Oli good show as Mac bugs Blades
OLI MCBURNIE rose from two weeks on his sick bed to blunt the Blades’ promotion hopes and move Swansea into the Championship’s top 10.
The Scotland striker tucked away his one and only chance just past the hour to complete the double over Sheffield United, who had won their previous four league matches.
McBurnie had missed two games with a bug but looked in rude health when he grabbed his 11th goal of the season.
The Blades remain in the play-off spots while Swansea are on the fringes of the top six after they stretched their unbeaten run to a season’s-best five matches.
The hosts’ rhythm was disturbed when centre-back Mike van der Hoorn needed lengthy treatment after a clash of heads.
He stayed on but the home ship lurched again when his defensive partner Joe Rodon limped off with less than 20 minutes gone.
The Swans looked tidy enough in possession but never threatened and slowly Sheffield United’s greater urgency gave them control.
Billy Sharp missed two chances, stabbing straight at keeper Erwin Mulder and then heading wide.
Swansea boss Graham Potter replaced Wayne Routledge with youngster Dan James at the break and the effect was immediate.
The Wales starlet, a target for Leeds United, troubled the visitors with his pace and directness and it was now the home side who looked more likely to go ahead.
That breakthrough came in the 65th minute, although it was supplied by Nathan Dyer.
The winger played a one-two with Van der Hoorn and delivered a perfect cross which McBurnie swept into the net.
The Blades were now being overrun down both channels and when James sparked another attack it needed a superb save from Dean Henderson to deny Bersant Celina.
The rebound fell to James whose 20-yard drive produced an even better stop to tip the ball to safety.