Maupay leveller spoils Sheffield United’s day
Sheffield United players walked off looking disappointed. It is not how they would have been expected to appear after reaching 40 points this season before winter has even ended.
This felt like two points dropped for the sixth-placed club, as they are still jostling among the challengers for Champions League qualification.
Chris Wilder, the Sheffield United manager, is changing perceptions – even though he was not recognised on his way into Bramall Lane, as he was asked if he would like to take part in a survey about his Premier League experience, by a man with a clipboard.
Broader recognition is coming for Wilder though. His men were supposed to be like Brighton, battling to pull clear of relegation danger.
The home club had the disappointment of conceding an equalising goal to Neal Maupay, Brighton’s top scorer, whom the Yorkshire club tried to sign in the summer and who ended a twomonth wait for a goal here.
Wilder, though, kept perspective. The boyhood Sheffield United fan said he would have stayed at the end to clap his men off. “There’s a slight tinge of disappointment and that’s all there is,” Wilder said. “The players couldn’t have given any more for the football club.
“And credit to Brighton. People might think Brighton are soft but I didn’t see any soft performances. It was a full-blooded encounter.”
Wilder once played for Brighton, in their Withdean Stadium days, and his former club showed some of the resilience that he once displayed as a player.
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, was here again, and would have seen some positives among the English contingent on show.
The home side’s defensive record is only bettered by Liverpool in the Premier League this season.
Wilder’s men had the better of the first half and went ahead in the 26th minute after a short corner routine, leading to Enda Stevens finishing powerfully.
Brighton equalised quickly from a route-one set-piece. Aaron Mooy launched a free-kick forward and Adam Webster nodded the ball on for Maupay to head in.
Both sides created moments of danger in a second half that opened up, with John Lundstram escaping a late red card for a challenge on Lewis Dunk. Visiting goalkeeper Mat Ryan also deserved credit for keeping out Oli McBurnie’s effort.
Potter said: “When you come here you need to earn it and we did. We fought, we battled. It’s not that we didn’t want to play – we couldn’t. I credit Sheffield United.”