Brighton Put Five Past Relegation Bound Blades
Coming into Sundays two o’clock kick off, Sheffield United will have been looking to capitalize on last Saturday’s 3-1 win away at Kenilworth Road. After securing their first win in seven, the Blades needed to make it two from two with the certainty of relegation looming.
However, the travelling Brighton team, as inconsistent as they are, will be no pushover for the South Yorkshire side. Robert De Zerbi and his team know just how easy it is for teams to pick up three points at Bramall Lane and would have been eager to make a statement coming into Sunday’s game.
Pre-game, Chris Wilder stated in his press conference that “we need to show consistency,”. Also reminding his players that given the position that they are in they cannot get too excited over just one decent result and that they must back it up the following week. “The message to the players is to not get carried away if we get one decent result.”
Wilders message showed; in the first ten minutes The Blades started off on the front foot and were certainly bringing the game to Brighton. However, all efforts were to be wasted, as in the 11th minute, January loanee Mason Holgate was shown red.
Immediately on the back foot for the rest of the game, Brighton managed to put five past United.
Team News
Sheffield United started the game having made two changes from last weeks game. Yasser Larouci came into the back line to replace Rhys Norrington Davies, whilst William Osula replaced Cameron Archer, who missed todays matchday squad.
De Zerbi continued the rotation of his goalkeeping pair; Bert Verbruggen replaces Luke Steele after last weeks 2-1 loss to Spurs.
Simon Adingra made his way back into the starting XI after featuring in the AFCON final last week, replacing veteran midfielder Adam Lallana. With centre-back stalwart Adam Webster also featuring back amongst the starting side.
How It Unfolded
Straight out the blocks, Sheffield United started the game off on the front foot. With a high attacking press, The Blades started with a purpose, and it just took two minutes for winger Jayden Bogle to test the Brighton Keeper with a shot from the edge of the area.
Chris Wilder’s game plan had started off well, they had the ball consistently in Brighton’s half, looking to make amends of the south coast sides poor clean sheet records. Until 11 minutes in, when new loanee Mason Holgate decided to take out Kaoru Mitoma, in what was described as by pundits as a horror challenge. Completely missing the ball, Holgate’s right leg followed through landing on the winger’s knee. Holgate had ruined Wilder’s plans.
The direction of the game changed quickly. Just seven minutes later, Lewis Dunk had the ball in the home sides area, aiming to find Welbeck, the home side luckily managed to deflect the ball for a corner in what seemed a nailed-on goal had the striker connected.
The resulting set piece led to the start of a disappointing day for The Blades. A deep corner sent to the back post had found Dunk, who unselfishly headed back across goal, finding the feet of Facundo Buonanotte. A scrapy goal but one fans have seen to often this season.
It took only four minutes for The Seagulls to make it two. A ball whipped across the face of the goal from 25-yards out landed at the feet of Mitoma who blasted a shot at goal forcing Foderingham into a great save, which unfortunately fell to the feet of Welbeck, who smashed home from five yards.
As the first half went on, it was Brighton who had the chances. Wingers Mitoma and Adingra had the defending teams’ fullbacks running out of ideas.
It wasn’t until the dying minutes of the first half where Wilder’s 10 men finally found some rhythm again. With some smart attacking work, they found themselves with a corner in the 43rd minute, where the resulting ball in would seemingly find it’s way into the back of the net all however for the referee to disallow it on the spot for a foul on a Brighton defender.
The second half was soon underway, with both teams hesitant to make a move and the fast-attacking nature of Brighton in the first half seemingly slowed down, the opening 15 minutes of the second half were very slow.
Karoua Mitoma was first to provide any entertainment in the second half; just past the hour mark, he skilfully made his way past the defence ending up one on one with Foderingham yet again but the Blades number one ended up winning the battle.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, the home side was building slight momentum. Wilder’s side were on the hunt for a comeback.
However, it was heartbreak for the home fans. Just five minutes after looking comfortable and in control, a Mitoma cross was turned in by centre half Jack Robinson. The three points were heading down south.
Just only three minutes later, the misery was piled on. As the home fans were pouring out of the stadium, Simon Adingra managed to find the net after a cross from Pascal Gross in the 78th minute.
As the ground looked desolate, a familiar sight this season, Brighton were out to make a statement. Seven minutes later, with five minutes left of the game, Adingra netted again to score a brace. His seventh goal of the campaign.
A very disappointing day for Chris Wilder and his team. A result which could have looked totally different if it wasn’t for Mason Holgate being sent off after 11 minutes. The home side now sit at the bottom of the league on 13 points and are seven points behind Luton who sit in safety.
Brighton are now back in seventh place; after being out of form recently with one win from five before today’s game, they will now look to iron out their consistency issues as they face struggling Everton next week.
