Blades Boss Highlights Sheffield United’s “Courage and Personality” in Hard Fought Win at Stoke | OneFootball

Sheffield United showed resilience to see out a narrow 2-1 victory against ten-man Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium on Monday evening, continuing their stop-start festive form with an immediate return to winning ways.

The Blades began on the front foot and almost fashioned the perfect opening inside the first few minutes. An early corner set the tone, with United pinning Stoke back through sustained pressure. Slick build-up play involving Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell freed Harrison Burrows inside the area, but Ben Gibson was well positioned to block the initial danger. Burrows remained heavily involved and went close again shortly afterwards, dragging a shot wide at the end of another dominant spell.

Despite controlling large periods of the first half, United were unable to find a breakthrough before the interval. That changed almost immediately after the restart. Just two minutes into the second half, Burrows’ free-kick was kept alive following a scramble in the box. When a Stoke defender attempted to clear Bindon’s low effort, the ball squirmed underneath Johansson and Jairo Riedewald reacted quickest to poke home on the line, finally giving United the lead their performance deserved.

Momentum stayed firmly with the visitors and they doubled their advantage on 53 minutes through another well-worked set-piece. A cleverly worked short corner ended with Burrows delivering a deep, inswinging cross to the back post, where Tom Cannon arrived unmarked to sweep home and put the Blades in control.

Blades Looked Shaky at the Back Again

However, familiar defensive issues resurfaced. Having struggled with crosses in their previous outing, United again failed to deal with a long throw on 65 minutes. The loose ball fell kindly for Ben Wilmot, who rifled a finish off the underside of the bar to reignite Stoke City’s hopes.

The home side pushed for an equaliser, but the decisive moment arrived two minutes from time. Ben Pearson was shown a straight red card after hauling down Bamford just inside the Stoke half, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity following a clipped ball forward from Burrows.

The dismissal effectively ended any chance of a late City comeback and allowed United to see out the result. The win continues Sheffield United’s festive “flip-flop” pattern of alternating victories and defeats, while Stoke City have now suffered five losses in their last seven matches.

Chris Wilder Hails Sheffield United Performance

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 29: Thomas Cannon of Sheffield United scores their second goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Stoke City and Sheffield United at Bet365 Stadium on December 29, 2025 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

After the game, Blades boss Chris Wilder was full of praise for his players’ overall display, particularly their dominance for much of the contest.

“It was very rewarding, we got our rewards,” Wilder said to SUTV. “I don’t think people should really zone in on maybe the last 15-20 minutes because that was the end bit. The first 65-70 minutes was outstanding.

“And then when we had to show a bit of courage and personality, which I questioned, we showed it. They’ve got to stop putting me through the ringer, me and 3,000 Sheffield United fans!

“There’s a lot of work to be done, but it’s nights like these, moments like this, you’re always chasing that winning feeling and we got it. I thought in the first 20 minutes we were outstanding, the first half we were excellent.”

Wilder also reflected on United’s control and their brief wobble after conceding.

“We played so much decent stuff first half, really good, controlled every part of the game without finding that finish. Then we score off a wide free kick and a scruffy goal from Jairo, but we take them.

“Great second goal, set play, worked well, and then we go on looking for the third. Then we have a little bit of disappointment. We just have to deal with the chaos a little bit better.

“The goal obviously galvanised them, because they were nowhere in the game at all up to 65 minutes, and we should have been out of sight. But I think the noise around the place and the territory they got into was bigger than it actually was, no clear-cut chances missed, no big saves from Coops, no goal-line clearances.”

Sheffield United are next in action at home against mid-table Leicester City on New Year’s Day hoping to finally string back-to-back wins together.