Lundstram and Fleck reap the benefits of Sheffield

Midfielders score again after order to push up Wilder stays grounded as team reach the top six

Sheffield United have shaken up the Premier League’s established order by surging up to sixth place – and the identity of their scorers was unexpected but no accident in the 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday.

Although midfielders John Lundstram and John Fleck have rarely been on the scoresheet in recent years, a tactical tweak in Sheffield United’s evolution led to both of them finding the net. Lundstram, who scored twice, and Fleck have clearly been given licence to push forward, in a system where two of the club’s three central midfielders are free to attack, and that kind of tinkering is why manager Chris Wilder has made such an impact on the top flight.

With technician Oliver Norwood sitting in central midfield behind them, it has reinvigorated the way United’s midfield operates.

Before this match, since the start of 2018, Lundstram had two goals to his name. Here, he had two by halftime. Since September 2018, Fleck had only one goal – but he doubled that tally here.

Sheffield United’s wing-backs and famous overlapping centrebacks are already a handful so with these central midfielders giving another headache to teams, it is no wonder that even a side like Burnley – often so disciplined – can be picked apart.

Wilder’s men move the ball forward quickly, players flood towards the box and midfielders like Lundstram and Fleck are now showing finishing ability that was relatively hidden beforehand.

The movement in front of them helped too, with forward Lys Mousset twice making subtle runs in the creation of Lundstram’s goals.

Lundstram was struggling to nail down a place in the first team last season when United played with two sitting midfielders – with Norwood and Fleck excelling in those roles. For the Liverpudlian to be heading down the tunnel at halftime with two goals to his name in the Premier League was a remarkable turnaround.

“There’s no better feeling in the world,” Lundstram said. “You can’t