Spurs victims of VAR as Blades bounce back
WILDER: ‘WE’RE THE UNOFFICIAL CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE WHEN IT COMES TO VAR DECISIONS AGAINST US’
IN both Premier League games between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur, the visitors had an equaliser harshly chalked off by the video assistant referee.
The Blades fought back to claim a draw in north London, whereas Spurs felt sorry for themselves in South Yorkshire, and went on to lose 3-1.
It is why, despite last season’s European Cup finalists having more talent and far more resources, they are back beneath Chris Wilder’s seventh-placed side in the Premier League table.
Feeling sorry for themselves is just not something Sheffield United do.
“Fancy a game?” Wilder shouted when he saw a masked Michael Brown, on media duty, in the stands.
We thought he was joking, but when the teamsheets were released minutes later, perhaps not. With John Fleck and John Lundstram out injured for a couple of weeks each, the Blades could have done with their former midfielder, if only to flesh out numbers a bench substitutes short.
By not even giving a day out to a couple of academy youngsters or even a third goalkeeper, it felt like Wilder might be playing politics and getting his excuses in early. When he lays down an excuse, though, he is normally daring his players to pick it up. He will not take it kindly if they do.
Whatever the thinking, the Blades are at last up and running with a first win since March 7, the last time they played Premier League football at Bramall Lane.
Sander Berge, Lys Mousset and Oli McBurnie took well-crafted chances from overloads out wide as the Blades took control to claim yet another scalp for their impressive collection.
They rode their luck in the first half, but were certainly owed it.
“We’re the unofficial champions of Europe when it comes to VAR decisions against us,” pointed out Wilder at full-time.
They say these things even themselves out and after Lundstram’s big toe was ruled offside – it was – when the ball was on the opposite side of the field from the one it was crossed from for David McGoldrick to score at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Blades belatedly got some payback.
Harry Kane thought he had quickly cancelled out Berge’s first goal in English football, pouncing on a loose ball, cutting inside Jack Robinson and finding the net.
The ball came to him off Lucas Moura, who had the ball booted against him by John Egan as he fell to the ground. Michael Oliver noticed the ball had fallen to Kane off the winger’s hand when he was clipped by Robinson and advised referee Chris Kavanagh to chalk the goal off. When the replay was shown on the big screen, the Tottenham bench went ballistic.
Accidental handball has become an offence when it creates a goal, so if Kavanagh had pulled play up, Spurs could have had no arguments. But the VAR is only supposed to intervene for clear and obvious errors to stop matches being re-refereed from Stockley Park.
“The man with the whistle is not the referee any more,” said Mourinho with good cause. “The man on the pitch is the assistant referee.”
Spurs never looked the same after their disappointment.
The Blades built on a positive performance against Arsenal in the opening quarter with both sides passing the ball around pleasingly without much threat.
That changed after 32 minutes when George Baldock fed the overlapping Chris Basham, who drilled the ball back for Berge to pick his spot. Overloading out wide is a Blades speciality, so it was pleasing to see all three goals come the same way.
Wilder made an important substitution just after the hour, withdrawing McGoldrick, who had just ruffled the side netting when Ben Osborn – on his full
Premier League debut – picked him out. Mousset came on but it was McBurnie instructed to drop deep into the Republic of Ireland international’s roving brief.
McBurnie picked the ball up on the right wing and, looking gangly and ungainly with the ball at his feet, his socks halfway down his shins as usual, made space and used it to brilliantly switch the play to Enda Stevens. The wingback played a one-two with Osborn before producing an invitation it would have been rude of Mousset not to accept.
The third goal was excellent too, and no less than McBurnie deserved, finishing a move which saw Baldock thread a terrific pass to Berge, and cross for a tap-in.
Kane found the net in the 90th minute but it was as irrelevant as the celebrations suggested.
“It was a big night for us and I thought we showed what we were about,” said Wilder. “The players we were missing, the run we were on, it has been difficult for everybody. We’re always the underdogs, there’s never any change. We have to turn the tables on it somehow.
“The players have been hurting because they’re responsible and they do care. We always give ourselves an opportunity of competing with the likes of Tottenham.” Sheffield United: Henderson; Basham, Egan, J Robinson; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Osborn, Stevens; McGoldrick (Mousset
63), McBurnie (K Freeman 90). Unused
substitutes: Sharp, Jagielka, Moore, Rodwell,
Zivkovic.
Tottenham: Lloris; Aurier (Ndombele 71), Dier, Sanchez, Davies (Vertonghen 81); Sissoko (Alli 71), Lo Celso; Bergwijn (Lamela 56), Lucas, Son; Kane. Unused substitutes: Alderweireld, Winks, Gazzaniga, Skipp, Fernandes. Referee: C Kavanagh (Manchester).
The man with the whistle is not the referee any more.
Jose Mourinho, unhappy with officials at Bramall Lane yesterday.