Sheffield United 3-0 Oxford United: Blades Cruise to Top of The League After Comfortable Home Win | OneFootball

Sheffield United comfortably sealed a 3-0 home win against Oxford United on Tuesday evening.

An early first half goal from Callum O’Hare in the tenth minute marked his first goal for the club, and it started off what would end up being a long night for the travelling team. 16 minutes later, the man of the moment, Tyrese Campbell doubled United’s lead after latching onto a superb Gustavo Hamer pass to side step the keeper and tap home into an empty net. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi added a third goal of the evening just before the hour mark following some excellent teamwork involving Vinicius Souza and Gustavo Hamer.

Despite talk of injuries, Chris Wilder only made three changes to the starting eleven which saw both full-backs, Harrison Burrows and Alfie Gilchrist, drop to the bench in place of Sam McCallum and Femi Seriki. Anel Ahmedhodzic began his three-game ban after being sent off against Coventry City, and Jack Robinson returned to the starting eleven.

Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United dribbling with the ball against Oxford United midfielder Will Vaulks in the game at Bramall Lane. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Lineups

Blades: Cooper, McCallum (T. Davies 87), Souttar, Hamer (Norrington-Davies 77), O’Hare, Rak-Sakyi (Brooks 63), Robinson, Souza, Campbell (Oné 63) Seriki, Peck (Shackleton 77).

Unused: A. Davies, Gilchrist, Burrows, Marsh.

Oxford: Cumming, Long, Brown, Vaulks (McEachran 74), Placheta (El Mizouni 63), Brannagan, Goodrham (Dale 74), Rodrigues (Phillips 56), Leigh, ter Avest, Scarlett (Harris 74).

Unused: Ingram, Goodwin, Ferdinan, Thorniley.

First Half

Oxford United made a bright start to the game which saw them flood bodies forward early on, but the best chance they could conjure up was a snap shot which flew over the bar from Goodrham at an acute angle.

With a great pace to the opening stages of the match, the Blades broke the deadlock on ten minutes. After a long throw-in launched into the box from Robinson, Souttar flicked it on to the back post where Campbell cut the ball across to Callum O’Hare for a simple tap-in, marking his first goal for the club.

16 minutes later, Tyrese Campbell was involved once more, this time his role switched to finisher. Hamer found a large pocket of space in the number ten position, and he neatly guided a pass into Campbell, who timed his run on the last shoulder to perfection. In full control of the ball, the in-form striker displayed total confidence as he rounded the goalkeeper and tapped home into an empty net from 15 yards.

The Blades were in full control of the game at this point and they searched for more goals. A training ground routine almost paid off in the 37th minute as Peck’s floated corner to the edge of the penalty area was brought down and struck beautifully by Hamer, only for the keeper to match the effort.

Sheffield United striker Tyrese Campbell celebrates his goal against Oxford United at Bramall Lane, which gave the home side a 2-0 lead in the first half. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Second Half

Sheffield United had confidence oozing through their veins starting the second half, and they almost added a third of the night in the 50th minute when O’Hare received the ball with his back turned on the edge of the box, and he wasn’t far away from side-footing it into the top right corner at the Kop end.

A few minutes later, Rak-Sakyi had to hit a quick shot in a tight area just inside the box, but his left-footed effort flew wide of the goal. The winger was not to be denied however, and he got his fourth league goal of the campaign and what was one of the best attacking moves of the season from the home side.

In a crowded space, McCallum checked inside to find Souza in space 25 yards out with the Brazilian looking to shoot. Instead, he faked everyone out and rolled it to Hamer with the underside of his foot, and Hamer threaded the ball through the tiniest of gaps to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who span on the ball inside the penalty area and completed a wonderfully crafted team move from the Blades.

Almost a minute after scoring a third, the home side were denied a fourth as the Oxford keeper saved Campbell’s attempt, in what would be the forward’s final contribution to the game before being replaced by Ryan Oné in the 63rd minute. Andre Brooks also replaced Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in the same substitution stoppage.

Oxford United then made a triple change: former Owls midfielder Will Vaulks would make way for Josh McEachran, Dane Scarlett was replaced by Mark Harris, and Tyler Goodrham was swapped for Owen Dale.

Despite the outcome of the result already being settled, barring a disaster, the away side almost had something to cheer about when substitute Idris El Mizouni unleashed a powerfully placed shot towards the top right corner, but Michael Cooper was determined to keep his tenth clean sheet of the season and he stunningly tipped the shot over the bar.

As the game ticked down towards the 90th minute, Tom Davies got a run out for the Blades, making his first appearance since early March.

The game concluded and Sheffield United’s 3-0 home win means they now sit top of the Championship table on 35 points, after Sunderland’s goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion. And the Blades welcome third place Sunderland to Bramall Lane on Friday evening. This game also means Chris Wilder’s men have now won seven consecutive home matches without conceding a single goal in the process.

Leeds United have a chance to knock the Blades off of top spot with three points needed on Wednesday evening when they host Luton Town.