BLADES CUT FALTERING CHELSEA TO RIBBONS
DAVID McGOLDRICK struck twice as Sheffield United carved out their most impressive win of the season with a fully deserved thrashing of Chelsea.
McGoldrick scored his first Premier League goal and pounced again to seal a stunning victory in the second period after Scotland striker Oli McBurnie’s fine header had given the Blades a 2-0 half-time lead.
This season keeps getting better for Chris Wilder’s side, who climbed up to sixth place, four points behind Manchester United, to give their Europa League hopes another big boost.
McGoldrick enthused afterwards: ‘Thirty-five games in and the table doesn’t lie. That was us at our best today. I said in the press I wasn’t concerned that I hadn’t scored.
‘The goals were coming as I have had chances. I hope there is many more to come as it means the world to me.’
The manner of the Blades’ victory was even more impressive considering Chelsea had recently moved up to third spot in pursuit of a Champions League berth after winning five of their previous six league matches.
The Blues, roundly beaten in their first match at Bramall Lane in nearly 14 years, could slip out of the top four tomorrow if both Leicester and Manchester United win their game in hand.
Manager Frank Lampard admitted: ‘They were better than us physically, in the mind and with the ball. So you lose the game. They were stronger than us.
‘You feel and hear every noise and all I could hear was Sheffield United voices. They are a good team. If you come here and perform below par this is what will happen.’
His team’s soft underbelly was exposed when the home side took an 18th-minute lead. McBurnie was picked out at the back post by George Baldock’s cross and, although the striker’s deflected shot was blocked by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, McGoldrick turned home the rebound for his first league goal in over a year.
No 2 came in the 33rd minute. Enda Stevens was sent clear down the left after playing a one-two with Ben Osborn and the wing-back’s pin-point cross was headed home by McBurnie into the top corner.
Lampard replaced Mason Mount and Andreas Christensen with Marcos Alonso and Toni Rudiger at the interval.
Olivier Giroud was sent on for Christian Pulisic in the 65th minute and, within moments, volleyed just wide.
But the home side cut loose again in the 76th minute. McGoldrick burst forward and sent substitute Lys Mousset down the right and, when Rudiger made a hash of his attempted clearance, McGoldrick pounced to kill the game off.