Sheffield United 1-2 Southampton: Blades Narrowly Beaten in Action-packed Game Which Saw Chris Wilder Sent Off | OneFootball

Sheffield United were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Southampton in what was an action-packed affair under the Bramall Lane floodlights.

Tyrese Campbell drew first blood in the first half with a superb strike into the top left corner from an acute angle. Ross Stewart pulled the visitors back on level terms after a near post header glanced off the bar and into his path at the far post. A few minutes later, Stewart was celebrating in front of the away end again, this time he dropped the shoulder to evade a challenge and then drilled his shot into the top left corner from around 25-yards out.

Lineups

Blades: Cooper, Tanganga, Hamer, O’Hare, Burrows (McCallum 85), Mee (Ings 82), Ogbene (Seriki 82), T. Davies (Matos 70), Campbell (Cannon 70) McGuinness, Peck.

Unused: A. Davies, Bindon, Soumare, Barry.

Southampton: McCarthy, Manning (Roerslev 74), Armstrong (Downes 74), Azaz (Robinson 45), Stewart (Archer 85), Edwards, Wood, Quarshie, Fellows (Fraser 45), Jander, Charles.

Unused: Bazunu, Harwood-Bellis, Scienza, Jelert.

First Half

Tyrese Campbell scores the opening goal for Sheffield United against Southampton at Bramall Lane. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

The Saints made the brighter start and nearly capitalised on a defensive lapse when Ross Stewart closed down goalkeeper Michael Cooper, almost forcing a tap-in after the Blades stopper fumbled a back-pass.

Sheffield United weathered the early storm, but on 28 minutes Tyrese Campbell broke the deadlock in style. Moments after being denied by a brave block from Quarshie, the striker rounded his marker and rifled an inch-perfect effort into the far top corner to send the home fans into raptures.

Southampton, however, refused to let their hosts settle. Two powerful headers from Stewart brought smart saves from Cooper before the Saints were handed a huge chance to level in first-half stoppage time. Stewart tangled with Cooper and won a penalty, but Adam Armstrong blazed the spot-kick over the bar as justice appeared to prevail.

The controversy didn’t end there. Immediately after the half-time whistle, Chris Wilder was shown a straight red card. The Blades boss had kicked a loose ball into the stands, which accidentally struck a home supporter. Though Wilder apologised to the fan, referee Herczeg brandished the red card, leaving United to face the second half without Wilder on the touchline.

Second Half

An excellent save from Alex McCarthy denied Callum O’Hare from doubling United’s lead after a clever free-kick routine involving Gustavo Hamer.

Just minutes later, Southampton hit back. Armstrong easily beat Sydie Peck at the near post and his header from Ryan Manning’s corner cannoned off the bar, with Stewart reacting quickest to drill the rebound into the bottom corner.

A few minutes later, the away side troubled the Blades again from a corner. With virtually the exact same corner routine from the other side, Armstrong rose highest at the near post up against Peck, but the striker saw his header fly wide.

United tried to respond positively, with Campbell going close again after combining with O’Hare, but before the hour Stewart turned the game on its head. The Saints forward went past Mark McGuinness with ease and unleashed a thunderous strike from distance that arrowed into the top left corner to complete the turnaround.

Chasing an equaliser, United threw on fresh legs with Tom Cannon and Danny Ings among those introduced. Their late pressure seemed to have paid off in the final minute when Peck rose highest at the far post to nod home from Hamer’s corner, but the celebrations were cut short as referee Herczeg ruled the goal out because Cannon needlessly impeded the goalkeeper.

Sheffield United remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship as they prepare to travel to Hull City for a Saturday midday kick-off, where they’ll come up against some familiar names such as Oli McBurnie, John Lundstram, John Egan and Regan Slater.