BAGG SNATCH
Gibbs completes fightback
KIERAN GIBBS was the unlikely hero for Albion with the winner that downed their promotion rivals.
The former Arsenal and England left-back doesn’t score many but finished like a striker to take the points.
It was the 29-year-old’s third goal of the campaign, making it his most prolific season in his entire career.
Gibbs revealed that a tactical tweak at half-time by Baggies boss Darren Moore allowed him to pop up in the 75th minute.
He said: “We changed formation a little bit so that helped.
“We have got a front three who are so dangerous, teams drop off. That allows a bit of space and has allowed me to nick a few.”
Harvey Barnes, the on-loan Leicester winger, claimed a quality assist with a clever back-heel after Matt Phillips’ cross had unhinged Sheffield United’s back-line.
Earlier it had been Gareth Barry, whose goals come along less often than Christmas these days, who had snatched the vital Baggies first and cancelled out David McGoldrick’s early strike.
Barry struck four minutes before the break – his first goal since December 17 last year and just his second in 27 months – after a rare mistake from Blades playmaker Ollie Norwood.
His wayward pass was intercepted by Gibbs who played in Barnes down the left wing.
After his pull back from the byline was missed by two Baggies, Barry converted clinically leftfooted from 15 yards.
It was a big blow for United who had enjoyed the better of an entertaining first half and taken the lead after 12 minutes.
A juddering Chris Basham tackle ended an Albion attack with Norwood finding Mark Duffy whose super pass allowed McGoldrick to hold off Craig Dawson and drive in the opener.
Duffy was running the show, with his early shot being turned behind by Sam Johnstone and his great turn and near-post strike forcing the keeper into a save at the second attempt.
Just before the equaliser, Duffy teed up Jack O’Connell whose cross-shot looked set to be turned in at the far post by Billy Sharp until it took a deflection behind.
From the corner, United claimed a penalty after Ahmed Hegazi appeared to elbow Sharp.
After conceding the equaliser, the Blades might have trailed before the interval if Dean Henderson had not dealt well with Phillips’ long blast.
Just after the hour another devastating Baggies attack saw Dwight Gayle play in Barnes who only had the keeper to beat but was denied by his block.
After falling behind, Sharp had United’s best chance to nick something but shot flew high and wide and the Baggies recorded a third straight away win for the first time in 10 years.