HERO BILLY HAPPY WITH A HEADACHE
BILLY SHARP ended up with a banging headache – and showed he’s still in the market to dish out a few of those to Championship defenders.
There were those who doubted whether, at the age of 31, the Sheffield United striker could cut it at this level after banging in 30 goals to fire the Blades to promotion last time around.
But the lifelong Bramall Lane fan proved he has still got what it takes by bagging the goal that gave his side the perfect start to life back in the second tier of English football.
Sharp’s 39th-minute winner was well deserved.
But it came at a cost, with the hitman and Bees skipper John Egan banging heads as they went for Leon Clarke’s cross.
Both ended up with their heads heavily bandaged, but were thankfully able to carry on. And United boss Chris Wilder was fulsome in his praise for Sharp.
Wilder said: “That was typical Billy – he’ll always put his body on the line for this club, and he deserved that goal for his bravery and the effort he put in throughout the game.
“His goal record down the years speaks for itself, and he’s not finished yet by a long way.
“He’s one of those who just seems to get better with age.
“He took a bang on the head, but it’s nothing serious.
“Billy was excellent – the whole team were – and this was a fantastic way to come back into the Championship after a tough six years.”
A noisy near full-house crowd gave the Blades brilliant backing right from the word go, and their favourites should have had the fans cheering an opening goal in the ninth minute.
Left wing-back Enda Stevens, hired on a free from Portsmouth, fired over a wicked cross which caused panic in the Brentford defence. But Clarke failed to take advantage, glancing a header disappointingly wide from 10 yards.
Brentford then fired a warning shot across their hosts’ bows when Jota fed Lasse Vibe, whose drive was superbly tipped over by keeper Jamal Blackman. When Vibe returned the compliment a few minutes later, Jota shanked his shot wide with only Blackman to beat from inside the box.
United notched the winner six minutes before the break through Sharp. The talismanic striker arrowed a header into the roof of the net after Clarke found him with an inch-perfect cross.
Wilder’s boys believed they had doubled their advantage on 53 minutes when Sharp netted the rebound after John Fleck’s 25-yard free-kick came back off the post.
But the celebrations ended when Sharp’s effort was ruled out by ref Stephen Martin for offside.
The Blades enjoyed an incredible slice of good fortune eight minutes later when the hapless Vibe unbelievably headed over from just one yard after sub Nico Yennaris had rattled the bar.
Bees chief Dean Smith said: “The result was disappointing, but our performance wasn’t. I don’t think we got what we deserved.
“There was nothing in it in the first half, but we showed more energy after the break and their keeper made some good saves. We will get better.” Possession 41% 59% Shots On Target 2 5 Shots Off Target 4 5 Blocked Shots 3 2 Corners 6 3 Fouls Conceded 6 9 Offsides 8 1 Yellow Cards 0 0 Red Cards 0 0 SHEFFIELD UTD: BRENTFORD: REFEREE: