Sheffield United made it two consecutive 2-0 victories after securing three points away at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon, and in doing so they became the first team to beat Rovers at Ewood Park.
An excellent left-footed shot from Harrison Burrows ripped into the side netting to give the Blades the lead in the first half. Another cracking effort, this time from Tyrese Campbell, doubled United’s advantage shortly after the hour mark. His initial shot was saved, but he put an exclamation mark on his rebound attempt by acrobatically smashing the ball beyond the keeper and a number of Rovers players.
Chris Wilder was forced into a change at the back with Anel Ahmedhodzic suspended, this prompted the return of club captain Jack Robinson. Gustavo Hamer was also welcomed back to the matchday squad after serving his suspension against Stoke City, but he was named on the bench. Rhian Brewster took the place of Tyrese Campbell in the starting eleven.
Lineups
Blackburn: Pears, Hyam, Tronstad, Cantwell, Dolan (Brittain 60), Rankin-Costello (Gueye 70), Batth, Hedges (Weimann 60), Ohashi (Buckley 70), Beck, Travis (Pickering 70).
Unused: Balázs, McFadzean, Leonard, Baker.
Blades: Cooper, Gilchrist (Seriki 90), Arblaster, Souttar, Brewster (Campbell 54), Moore (McCallum 90), O’Hare (Hamer 65), Rak-Sakyi (Brooks 65), Burrows, Robinson, Souza.
Unused: Faxon, Shackleton, Norrington-Davies, Peck.
First half
The game began at a high pace and a good flow, with both sides shifting the ball quickly it became a counterattack-heavy start to the game. And the Blades soon struck first, with 16 minutes on the clock, when the ball bounced to Harrison Burrows, after a shot from Vinicius Souza, and United’s left-back showed his technique by driving the ball low straight into the far right corner.
Sheffield United soon took over the first half with some excellent combination play across the pitch. Rak-Sakyi picked the ball up on the right, cutting inside, he reversed a clever pass back to Moore who rotated to the right of the penalty area, and the big striker tried to pick out O’Hare but his effort was snuffed out.
Rak-Sakyi was causing problems once more, and he swivelled on the ball before cutting it back to Brewster who’s first-timed shot was blocked.
After 34 minutes of play, Blackburn Rovers created their first real chance as Ohashi played in Dolan down the right side of the penalty area, and the pacey forward stabbed the ball to the back post to Ryan Hedges, who missed a gaping goal.
Second half
United kept their foot on the accelerator in the second half and they should’ve scored in the opening couple of minutes. Arblaster delivered a delightful ball into the box from a free-kick on the right of the box, and Moore timed his jump perfectly, but he could only power his header towards the keeper which forced a fingertip save.
Then, the Blades made a change to freshen the side on 54 minutes. Tyrese Campbell replaced Rhian Brewster.
Harrison Burrows almost created United’s second goal as he whipped in a cross to the back post for Kieffer Moore to attack but some superb defending from Dom Hyam managed to clear the ball from the jaws of the goal.
Just ten minutes into Tyrese Campbell’s sub appearance, Campbell bagged his second Blades goal in as many games. Kieffer Moore drove down the left side of the penalty area, cutting the ball back to Campbell he unleashed a shot which was parried back out to him, and the ex-Stoke man acrobatically followed up his initial shot and steered the ball beyond a cluster of defenders and the goalkeeper.
Wilder soon introduced Gustavo Hamer and Andre Brooks to replace Callum O’Hare and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.
Meanwhile, Blackburn’s substitute Makhtar Gueye should’ve received a red card after blatantly leading with the point of his elbow as he went up to challenge Souza for a header, and United’s midfielder felt the full force of it. Gueye only received a yellow card.
The game became very stretched and Arblaster played a low crossfield ball into space for Harrison Burrows to run onto. The ball sat up perfectly for a left-footed shot from distance, but Blackburn chucked bodies in the way.
After an excellent performance from Moore, the icing on the cake would’ve been a goal, but unfortunately his 84th minute effort from a tight angle was saved down at the keepers right-hand post.
United were pushing for a third goal, and Burrows came inches away from getting his second of the day. Almost on the left angle of the penalty box, the Blades’ attacking left-back fizzed a low shot towards the bottom right corner, and it narrowly missed the target.
With eight minutes of injury time shown on the fourth officials board, the Blades began to drop off to defend what they have. Blackburn Rovers pushed bodies forward and launched several crosses into the box, however, either United’s defence cleared them away or Michael Cooper assertively claimed the high crosses.
United’s eighth win of the campaign is enough to send them second in the Championship, on 25 points, albeit temporarily with the 3PM kick-offs still to come.
The Blades are next in action on Tuesday night away at Bristol City. And then there’s the return to Bramall Lane with the small matter of a Steel City derby waiting in the wings next Sunday afternoon.