Really Wild show
VIDEO NASTY BUT BLADES ARE STILL McBURNING HOT
NOT even VAR could spoil this south coast clash for Chris Wilder’s high-flying Sheffield United.
It tried, by disallowing two goals from the visitors at the start of each half for John Egan and then Jack O’Connell.
But a fine strike from £20million hitman Ollie McBurnie ensured they left victorious.
The win fires the Blades into fifth place – for 24 hours at least – and extends their amazing unbeaten run on the road.
Wilder’s troops have now gone 18 away games without losing – nine of which have come in their first season back among the big boys.
And that equals the record for a newly-promoted top-flight club, set by Burnley in 1947-48. Whether United go one better remains to be seen. Next up on their travels come champions Manchester City on December 29.
But for now, Wilder – one of VAR’s most vocal critics – can at least enjoy the festive break thanks to yet another superb afternoon.
The Blades supremo said: “Those disallowed goals lifted the opposition players and crowd.
“The decisions were right but John is so unlucky because it just grazes his hand. But we had a good reaction mentally to both calls.”
As for the possibility of eclipsing Burnley’s away-day heroics from the previous century – and being in the hunt for Europe – Wilder laughed: “Seen who our next away game is against?
“No, it’s brilliant for the club. Our away record has been fabulous.
“But talking about Europe is ludicrous. A season isn’t over
18 games.” Wilder and Brighton boss Graham Potter are the latest flag-bearers for English managers making waves at this level.
United have simply carried on where they left off in the Championship by ruffling feathers wherever they go.
Albion, meanwhile, have been transformed under Potter from a negative unit into a bright, quick side. Until yesterday, that is. They were sloppy, disjointed and under the cosh for the full 90 minutes.
By contrast, the South Yorkshire outfit looked likely to wreak carnage at The Amex from the start as Egan bundled a corner home in the eighth minute.
But that was before Stockley Park official Michael Oliver spotted it had bounced off the defender’s knee and hand and the 1-0 lead was corrected to 0-0. Just 10 minutes later, Brighton had the ball in the net with their only attack of the half. United keeper Dean Henderson did brilliantly to deny Aaron Mooy’s drive but Martin Montoya was a yard offside as he squared for Neil Maupay to tap in and the game remained 0-0.
Midway through the period the deadlock was finally broken by the visitors, this time legitimately.
Adam Webster’s headed back pass was never going to reach keeper Matt Ryan and McBurnie pounced, held off Lewis Dunk and drilled in at the near post.
The Scot’s third Premier League goal further justified the club record fee United paid for him in August.
And it showed there is no room for sentiment in football – given it was with Potter at Swansea last season where he blossomed into a prolific marksman.
“I know Ollie’s quality,” said Potter, whose side stay five points clear of the bottom three. “It was nice for him to score. Not for us.
“We weren’t good enough today and that includes me.
“We must all hold our hands up. United were better in everything they did.”
By the break the Albion chief had seen enough.
In an effort to change things he sent on strikers Glenn Murray and Aaron Connolly but the shuffle had little impact.
If David McGoldrick had not missed an open goal at the start of the second-half – and VAR not chalked off O’Connell’s effort soon after – United would have been out of sight.
But they had done enough to claim the three points and climb to fifth in the table, as their unlikely charge towards a “ludicrous” place in Europe gathers pace.