About time too, Chris... Sheffield United win!
Blades stop the rot
AFTER six long months that miserable clock can stop. Time will tell if any good comes of Sheffield United’s involvement in the FA Cup, but for now a purpose has been served — they have been reacquainted with that forgotten joy of winning.
Who knows when the next one will come, or where, or how, or if they will even get close to Premier League survival. But if there is to be a bounce after such a rotten fall this season, then it had to start somewhere.
Maybe this was that place. And maybe this game was that first step, given t he win removed Sheffield Uni ted’ s grubby distinction of being the only side in the top six tiers of English football without a victory this season.
Nothing, since July 11, when they beat Chelsea in those glory days of the 2019-2020 campaign, to be precise.
In that context, emerging triumphant from a tough scrap with the 18th- placed team in League One will feel like something far, far grand er. A false dawn, quite possibly, but for now it can serve as hope of sorts, even if it was hard won.
Credit at this point goes to Bristol Rovers and Paul Tisdale — they came close and made it an excellent tie.
Twice they fought ht back from a goal down — in turn, Alfie Kilgour and Max Ehmer managed quick responses to an own goal from keeper Joe Day and a strike from Oliver Burke — before Jayden Bogle put United ahead for a third and final time.
Rovers fought on but, unlike so many Premier League fixtures, United were able to ride out the pressure. Not that things will ease for Blades boss Chris Wilder. Or not much, anyway, even if this very match-up should serve as a tribute to how far he has taken the club — it was played in League One just three and a half years ago. If ever a manager should be allowed to survive a slump, it is him. Wilder said: ‘When you are in this situation any result is gladly accepted. We needed it. Whether we played well or not didn’t matter — it was all about the result. We got it and now it is on to some unbelievably tough fixtures back in the Premier League.’ Tisdale felt a degree of regret. ‘We had a good go at it and t he players are disappointed because they felt they had an opportunity,’ he said. ‘ But we pushed them all the way. I said to the players I didn’t mind if they lost 3-2 if they had a go and that’s how it worked out in the end.’
Wilder’s intent was obvious from his team sheet, of which 10 names matched the 11 most recently used in the Premier League. The only change was the introduction of John Lundstram for Enda Stevens, though the limited rotation was also a consequence of having only 16 available outfield players. ‘The worst injury list I have had in 20 years,’ Wilder said. When they emerged from a stairwell at the Thatchers End — they changed in a bar — they started rapidly. Inside a minute Lys Mousset had a stab after a cross from Ben Osborn and within five minutes the same pair put United ahead. The delivery was good, the markings lack, and Mousset’s header rebounded off the bar and against the back of keeper Day and in.
But then Rovers, with their first attack, were level, courtesy of that quintessential tool of the upset — a set-piece. The free-kick was looped in by Zain Westbrooke and Kilgour nailed the header.
A mad patch of three goals in four minutes started with a Burke finish after a breakaway from John Fleck. Ehmer levelled at the back post after another set-piece and Wilder had a familiar look.
But within 54 seconds Bogle had exchanged passes with David McGoldrick and slipped a shot through Day’s legs.
United cannot afford to wait so long for the next win.