Sheffield United had another positive pre-season test as they dominated League Two opposition Harrogate Town in a 4-1 victory.
First half goals from Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare were separated by Jack Muldoon. The Blades would add another couple of goals in the second half through Owen Hampson and Louie Marsh.
Anel Ahmedhodzic and Gustavo Hamer once again missed out on minutes, along with Will Osula, who was forced off against Chesterfield after suffering a huge whack to the face.
Lineups
The Blades yet again lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape.
Sheffield United: Grbic (Davies, 60), Dozzell (Peck, 73), McCallum (Hampson, 45), Brewster (Moore, 60), O’Hare (Marsh, 45), Shackleton (Boyes, 45), Robinson (Trusty, 60), Souza (Arblaster, 60), Slimane (Oné, 73), Brooks (Seriki, 45), Sachdev.
Subs not used: Hackford, Curtis, Faxon, Sasnayskas, Freckleton
First half
Sheffield United started the game on the front foot, showing real intensity in their passing and in their intentions to win the ball back after turning it over. And it didn’t take long for their early efforts to go rewarded in the 11th minute as Anis Slimane beat his man at the left byline and picked out Andre Brooks with his cutback, and the youngster dispatched it first-time beyond the goalkeeper.
The Blades attempted to suffocate Harrogate with a potent press, however that press was beaten via long ball and a flick-on which found Jack Muldoon run in behind the defence and he fired a low shot right at Ivo Grbic from outside the area, but the United keeper failed to stop it from going in.
Chris Wilder’s men were not shaken by the goal and their dominance of the ball continued. Callum O’Hare linked up really well all half with Slimane and Sam McCallum down the left, so it came to no surprise that the trio were involved in United’s second of the night in the 35th minute. McCallum, offering support for Slimane on the overlap, weighted the ball perfectly in O’Hare’s path as he burst into the area from the edge of the box and the attacking midfielder stretched enough to divert the ball into the far corner.
Second half
Rhian Brewster had a couple of great chances to get himself on the scoresheet in the second half. Firstly, some superb defensive awareness from Slimane saw him cut out a lateral pass on the left and he quickly threaded a through ball into Brewster on the right side of the box but his chipped effort clipped the far post. He would then drag a shot wide from the right side of the box minutes later.
After several changes from either side, the Blades had plenty of youngsters on the pitch. But that didn’t impact the performance; the fluidity remained – that was on full display in the 68th minute when Louie Marsh dropped into a midfield position and played a sensational disguised pass in behind the defence for Owen Hampson, and the youngster notched his second goal in two games.
As the minutes ticked down the Blades were not done. Still playing at the same intensity from minute 1, United probed an opening in the 89th minute through Oli Arblaster, who swivelled on the ball on the left side of the box and unleashed a left-footed strike which took a small deflection off Marsh and found the back of the net.
Sheffield United are next in action on Saturday afternoon against South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United at the New York stadium.
