GIBB ’N’ GO!
...but Sharp pain has Heck sweaty
BILLY SHARP set the alarm bells ringing for Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom after limping off with a worrying hamstring injury.
The Sheffield United captain is the highest goalscorer in Championship history with 128, including 15 this season.
But he was substituted in clear discomfort in the 65th minute – 11 minutes after Norway midfielder Sander Berge had fired the Blades ahead.
Wolves loanee Morgan Gibbs-white enhanced his reputation with a delightful second goal, but Sharp’s injury was a cause for concern as the run-in approaches. Heckingbottom said of his talismanic striker (left): “Billy felt something, so I’m anxious and worried, if I am totally honest.
“Billy knows his body and signalled over and stopped, so he’ll have a few days and we have got a scan booked later in the week.”
Sharp’s injury put a dampener on a victory which extended United’s unbeaten home record to 10 games. They have yet to lose at Bramall Lane since Heckingbottom replaced the axed Slavisa Jokanovic at the end of November.
This result boosted the Blades’ hopes of making the play-offs but they made heavy weather of seeing off relegationthreatened Barnsley.
The struggling Tykes made the short trip across South Yorkshire unbeaten in three games. But for all their undoubted desire and early confidence, Poya Asbaghi’s men could not breach the home rearguard during the opening 45 minutes.
The visitors went close before the break when midfielder Matty Wolfe forced an excellent low save from Blades keeper
Wes Foderingham. But United upped the tempo in the second half and were rewarded when Berge bagged his third goal in four games.
A quick free-kick saw Oliver Norwood find ex-barnsley man
Conor Hourihane, and his superb left-wing cross was bundled home by Berge.
After Sharp was forced off, the hosts made the game safe when Gibbs-white found Oliver Mcburnie 25 yards from goal, and then took the striker’s return pass before rounding keeper Brad Collins to score.
Barnsley missed a late chance when Carlton Morris headed over and their next game is a crunch home clash with relegation rivals Reading.
Asbaghi said: “We were the better team for 55 minutes.
“Then in the second half, after falling behind, the reaction was not what I was hoping for. The Reading match is a big, big one.”