Eager Egan leaves it late to level for Blades
PREM ROUND-UP
JOHN Egan scored with 10 minutes to go to earn Sheffield United a draw at fellow European hopefuls Burnley.
The defender struck a rising half-volley into the far top corner of the net after a short corner had been swung into the box and flicked on by Billy Sharp.
It was reward for a positive display from the Blades, who pressed forward for much of the second half after James Tarkowski had given the home side the lead with a sliding close-range finish.
Both sides will feel they had the chances to secure what would have been a big three points in their quest to secure a place in the Europa League.
The Blades had enough of the play and chances, with Oli McBurnie denied by Nick Pope in the very first minute, and could have had a penalty had the VAR officials deemed Erik Pieters’ accidental handling of the ball in the box a punishable offence.
At the other end, Matej Vydra and Dwight McNeil both fired superb opportunities wide of goal for the Clarets.
The draw means Sheffield United stay eighth - a position that could be good enough for European qualification - two points ahead of ninth-placed Burnley.
West Ham threw away their chance of earning a precious three points and taking a huge step towards Premier League survival this season though, on the face of it, a point will be accepted by David Moyes’ men.
The Hammers manager will have to hope that those points dropped don’t, and they shouldn’t see him also lose out on the signing of Tomas Soucek permanently from Slavia Prague. If the Hammers stay up, they will make the move to tie up his loan deal into a much longer stay in east London. From what we have seen of the 25-year-old so far, it’s a move the club really has to make.
The Czech midfielder has said himself that he wants to stay. During lockdown, Soucek said “The next step would be saving West Ham’s Premier League status and completing my transfer.
“I’ve played a few games in the Premier League and I look forward to playing many more.”
West Ham fans will hope he will be playing more after he put in another star turn, his second in a week, as West Ham made it two unbeaten with a 2-2 draw against Newcastle. The £16million the Hammers will have to pay looks an absolute steal on not just the evidence from St James’ Park but since he arrived at the club.