BY ECK IT’S A STUNNER Blades cut champs to pieces
PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM’S biggest problem yesterday was finding the words to praise his side’s stunning display as Sheffield United marched into the play-offs. He need not have worried.
In destroying champions Fulham, the performance of Heckingbottom’s Blades said everything about their desire to make an immediate Premier League return.
United were one of four teams in the mix for the final two play-off spots but knew a win would ensure a top-six finish, irrespective of how Luton, Middlesbrough and Millwall fared.
A first-half masterclass, courtesy of goals from Morgan Gibbs-White, Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge, put the result and their play-off place beyond doubt by half-time.
Enda Stevens added a fourth for good measure in the second half and Heckingbottom said: “The main thing was getting there and we wanted to do it our way. When we started taking risks, we became a real force and it just reinforces the belief of what we’re about.
“I’ve said all along, we’ve got good players and we have extended the season which is great.
“Now we’re playing even bigger games, we’ve got to embrace it.”
United face Nottingham Forest at home in the first leg of their play-off semi-final next Saturday before the return fixture at the City Ground the following Tuesday.
The Blades have been unsuccessful in all their previous eight play-off campaigns but Heckingbottom said: “We know each other well and they will be two good games. We have belief going into the play-offs, but we haven’t won or achieved anything yet.”
The Blades were 16th in the table when Heckingbottom was promoted from Under-23s boss to become Slavisa Jokanovic’s successor last November.
He stopped the rot, restored belief and has made them a formidable force again, with this brilliant display encouraging hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League.
A near-capacity 30,813 crowd saw Fulham, who thumped Luton 7-0 on Monday to seal the title, pop the ball around with a swagger early on.
Yet United soon took complete control, scoring in the 10th minute through Gibbs-White, who headed in Oliver Norwood’s right-wing cross.
The Blades grabbed a second goal in the 21st minute when Berge quickly moved the ball to Gibbs-White and his neat pass found Ndiaye who rifled home.
And they struck again in the 25th minute when Ndiaye reached the left-hand byline and cut the ball back for Berge to sweep home a low shot.
A fourth goal came in the 49th minute when a delightful passing sequence saw Berge find Stevens, who fired home at the far post.
Chances came and went for both sides but Fulham boss Marco Silva admitted: “It definitely wasn’t the way we wanted to finish the season.
“The second and third goals were too sloppy and reflected our performance.
“We weren’t good enough or aggressive enough and they punished us, but I don’t want to use our title celebrations as an excuse.”