BILLY JUST TWO SHARP
Livermore red ruins it for Bruce
STEVE BRUCE’S management return was spoiled by Billy Sharp’s brace and Jake Livermore’s dismissal as Sheffield United moved menacingly level on points with West Brom.
Bruce, axed by Newcastle on October 20, was taking charge of his first game since replacing the sacked Valerien Ismael as Baggies boss on an 18-month contract.
The 61-year-old has won promotion to the Premier League four times – twice each with Birmingham and Hull – but his hopes of a repeat were dealt a blow at his former club.
Bruce began his managerial career at Bramall Lane back in 1998, but Sharp produced a typically 2 0 predatory finish to put the ahead in the 22nd minute.
The talismanic Blades captain made the game safe with another cool finish 10 minutes from time.
In between Sharp’s strikes came a straight red card for Albion captain Livermore for a dangerous 39thminute tackle on Conor Hourihane.
With Livermore went West Brom’s hopes of giving Bruce a winning start.
Paul Heckingbottom’s resurgent Blades look well placed to mount a
hosts serious promotion assault in the coming weeks.
Bruce was jeered by the home supporters but the travelling fans gave him a warm reception.
An entertaining first half saw Chris Basham blaze a shot high and wide before Sharp opened the scoring with a powerful right-foot shot which deflected off Alex Mowatt and past Sam Johnstone.
Then came Livermore’s moment of madness six minutes before the break when he cleaned Hourihane out with a shocking late tackle.
Livermore was dismissed and United spurned a number of second-half chances before Sharp rifled home a brilliant right-foot shot from 16 yards to seal the points in the 80th minute.