“Pretty Comfortable” – Blades Boss Dissects Win Against Oxford | OneFootball

Sheffield United showed their resilience and class as they came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory over Oxford United at Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening, extending their formidable home form.

The Blades set their stall out early and nearly found a sensational opener inside the first few minutes. Sydie Peck spotted goalkeeper Jamie Cumming well off his line and, without hesitation, attempted an audacious lob from the halfway line. The effort drifted narrowly wide, but it was a clear signal of United’s attacking intent.

Despite that bright start, it was the visitors who struck first on 14 minutes. Michael Cooper could only parry a fierce 25-yard strike from Cameron Brannagan, and Myles Peart-Harris was quickest to react, turning home the rebound to hand Sheffield United an early setback.

United responded with patience and control, gradually asserting themselves as the half wore on. From another partially cleared set-piece, Oliver Arblaster demonstrated real quality, slipping a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Harrison Burrows. The full-back kept his composure and squared the ball for Peck, who finished tidily on 41 minutes to restore parity and send Bramall Lane into the break level.

After half-time, the sense around the ground was that a second goal was coming. Sheffield United pressed higher, moved the ball with greater tempo, and began to stretch the Oxford back line. That pressure told on 66 minutes when Andre Brooks put the Blades ahead. The 22-year-old academy graduate showed tremendous determination, beating Cumming despite being off balance, to cap a fine individual moment.

With Oxford increasingly stretched, United looked dangerous on the counter, and the decisive moment arrived on 83 minutes. Gustavo Hamer once again pulled the strings, splitting the defence with a superb through ball to find the run of Chiedozie Ogbene. The winger showed both pace and composure to finish confidently and settle the contest seven minutes from time.

The win makes it eight straight home victories for Sheffield United, who will look to carry that momentum into next Monday night’s clash with Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane.

Wilder Reflects on Another Sheffield United Home Win

Reflecting on the result, Chris Wilder was pleased with both the performance and the professionalism shown by his side.

“It was always going to be a difficult one, I never underestimate an opposition,” Wilder said to SUTV. “I thought it was a pretty comfortable evening apart from the first 15-20 minutes. We gave them a little bit of a handout with the first goal, but after that we kept doing the right things, kept moving the ball and kept creating chances.

“These are awkward midweek games and these nights are the nights you have to nail. I was delighted with the performance and the contribution of everybody, including the punters.”

On his side finding space and scoring three times, Wilder added: “There wasn’t a lot of room to play in early on. The thing that really pleased me was that the players never got frustrated. The young boys showed real maturity, we created our chances and got the correct result.”

Wilder also praised Ogbene’s impact off the bench: “It’s a brilliant finish. He can finish. It’s difficult when he comes on and they’re doubling up and there’s no space, but he’ll get better and we’ve got good competition all over the pitch.”

There was a note of concern regarding Pat Bamford, who missed out through injury. “We lost Pat yesterday and that’s a blow,” Wilder confirmed. “We’ll have to wait and see on that one. It might be two or three weeks, which is a big blow for us.”

The victory for Sheffield United now puts them eight points behind sixth-placed Wrexham.