Billy’s 200 leaves ton in sight for Blades
BILLY Sharp bagged a double to pass 200 career goals as champions Sheffield United moved to within one win of reaching 100 points in League One.
Sharp’s two goals in the second half followed Leon Clarke’s opener just before the break, as the Blades secured their sixth successive league win in front of over 7,000 travelling fans at Stadium MK.
“We’re obviously delighted to be coming away with another 3-0 win from a difficult place,” said Blades assistant Alan Knill.
“We’re all chuffed for Billy (Sharp). He’s taken on the captaincy so well and on the pitch he does what Billy Sharp does best: he delivers and it’s brilliant for him.
“Billy’s a proper Blade. At the end of last season when the team finished 11th Billy said he wasn’t happy and didn’t want to finish there – and that gave us the confidence to make him the skipper.
“He wants to lead and he doesn’t want to end up where they were last season.”
The visitors started on the front foot and should have taken the lead through top goalscorer Sharp inside nine minutes, after Chris Basham’s cut-back found the 27-goal man whose effort smacked against the post.
Chris Wilder’s side made their marginal first-half pressure pay just before the break, as Clarke rose highest to meet John Fleck’s inviting corner to head home his ninth goal of the season.
And Sharp entered the fray with a second and third for the Blades midway through the second half after confusion in the MK defence twice saw the forward race through on goal before firing home on both occasions to nudge his goal tally up to 29 this season – and his 200th and 201st career goals.
The result means United need to win their final game next week at home to relegated Chesterfield to win the league with 100 points.
And MK Dons boss Robbie Neilson could have no complaints after being outclassed by a side preparing for life in the Championship next term. “They’re a good side and very deserving of the title,” admitted Neilson, whose side conclude their season away at Walsall next Sunday.
“We had some good chances in the first half but then give the first goal away with a silly corner.
“It’s the little details that make the difference.
“When we go up the top end of the pitch and have a chance we don’t take it, but then a minute later they’re in our box and score from the header so it’s just the small details that aren’t dropping for us at the minute.”