Sheffield United put in a strong performance at home against Chelsea and more than deserved their point from the game.
The Blues seized an early advantage in the 11th minute as Thiago Silva calmly side-footed Conor Gallagher’s corner into the net without facing any challenge. That was shortly cancelled out by Jayden Bogle’s near post effort. Noni Madueke would later put Chelsea ahead in the second half, but Oli McBurnie was in the right position to level proceedings in injury time at Bramall Lane.
Lineups
Blades: Grbic, Trusty (Archer 86), Hamer, McBurnie, Brereton Diaz, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson (Souza 90), Bogle, Osborn, Arblaster, Holgate (McAtee 76).
Unused: Foderingham, Norwood, Slimane, Larouci, Osula, Brooks.
Chelsea: Petrović, Disasi, Cucurella (Badiashile 90), Thiago Silva, Fernández, Madueke (Mudryk 82), Chalobah, Jackson (Casadei 90), Palmer (Chukwuemeka 74), Gallagher, Caicedo.
Unused: Bettinelli, Sharman-Lowe, Sterling, Washington, Gilchrist.
First half
The game started off at a relatively slow pace. Nonetheless, Chelsea struck first blood in the 11th minute when an unmarked Thiago Silva volleyed Gallagher’s corner into the net. It wasn’t until later that United found a response. Following a rare lapse by the Brazilian defender, McBurnie set up Brereton-Diaz, but Caicedo intervened with a crucial block, otherwise it was heading into the goal.
That moment seemed to spark Sheffield United into life as Gustavo Hamer had a long-range effort well saved by the Chelsea shot-stopper. And shortly after the Dutchman was involved again when he played a delightful pass through multiple defenders for Jayden Bogle to run onto it and beat Djordje Petrovic at his near post to bring the Blades level.
Moments after finding the equaliser, the Blades had their Bosnian defender to thank when Noni Madueke appeared to have a big chance, but Ahmedhodzic swiftly recovered to make a last-ditch block to thwart the threat posed by Madueke.
Second half
Early in the second half, McBurnie narrowly missed a header from a Brereton-Diaz delivery, while a powerful strike from Hamer struck the side-netting from distance. However, midway through the second half, Noni Madueke’s superb goal, cutting inside and curling a precise finish past Ivo Grbic, seemed to steer Chelsea towards victory.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder made a bunch of attacking changes, firstly, bringing off Mason Holgate for James McAtee in the 76th minute. Ten minutes later, Wilder made another attacking move by subbing out Auston Trusty for the returning Cameron Archer. While Jack Robinson hobbled off and was replaced by Vinicius Souza into stoppage time.
As the Blades kept pushing forward, the growing confidence among Chris Wilder’s players became palpable as the Bramall Lane crowd raised their voices in support of their team – and their resilience was duly rewarded with a moment of jubilation.
With five minutes of added time indicated by the fourth official, in the third minute of stoppage time, Oli McBurnie displayed sharp reflexes, capitalising on Cameron Archer’s flick-on after Gustavo Hamer had initially kept the attack going. United’s number nine was on hand to poke the ball into the net at the Bramall Lane Kop end.
While Sheffield United have drawn three consecutive games now, they have left it frustratingly too late and unfortunately draws won’t be enough to keep them in the Premier League. The Blades are nine points from safety, but with a game in hand on teams above them.
