Burton Albion 1-2 Sheffield United: Moore Scores Winner With Last Kick of Game During John Brayford’s Testimonial | OneFootball

Sheffield United claimed victory in rather fortuitous fashion on Tuesday evening against Burton Albion, in what was the toughest test in pre-season so far.

Jake Beesley opened the scoring as Burton took the lead inside 20 minutes in this pre-season match that was also a testimonial game for the former Blade, and Burton legend John Brayford.

Ryan Oné continued his fine form in front of goal, poking the ball into the roof of the net to get the Blades level in the second half. Then, after several changes, Kieffer Moore scored the winner with the final touch of the game to keep United’s winning run alive.

Ruben Selles decided to give his players around 70 minutes this time before substituting the entire team except for Anel Ahmedhodzic.

Lineups

Burton Albion: Amissah (Dudek 75); Sibbick (Akoto 60), Moon (Delap h/t), Vancooten (Sraha h/t), Godwin-Malifé (Trialist h/t), Chauke (Whitfield h/t), Webster (Williams h/t), McKiernan (Gilligan h/t), Armer (Taroni h/t), Beesley (Newall h/t), Tavares (Kalinauskas h/t).

Blades: A. Davies (Grbic 71), Bindon (Sasnauskas 71), Hamer (Marsh 71), O’Hare (Hampson 71), Brooks (Ukaki 71), Burrows (McCallum 71), Robinson (Ahmedhodzic 45+2), Campbell (Moore 71), Oné (Cannon 71), Seriki (Curtis 71), Peck (Caceres 71).

Unused: Faxon.

First Half

Former Sheffield United and Burton Albion fan-favourite John Brayford given guard of honour before Burton Albion vs Sheffield United pre-season game. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Before kick-off, there was a moment of recognition for a true club servant. Albion first team coach John Brayford, a former captain of Burton Albion and a fan-favourite at both the Brewers and the Blades, was given a guard of honour.

When the action got underway, it was the home side who nearly made an immediate impact. Godwin-Malife’s early cross escaped United goalkeeper Adam Davies and bounced dangerously into the six-yard box, but fortunately for the Blades, it landed safely at a defender’s feet.

Albion kept up the early pressure, with Tavares and McKiernan testing the defence after some accurate long balls over the top before the breakthrough came on 19 minutes. A lapse at the back from United, namely Gustavo Hamer, gifted Jake Beesley a chance he couldn’t miss, sliding the ball past an exposed Davies to give Burton the lead.

The Blades slowly grew into the game. Ex-United stopper Jordan Amissah was called into action, pushing away a driven shot from Brooks, before Callum O’Hare’s clever flicked header from a Harrison Burrows cross drifted just wide.

Second Half

After the break, United came out with greater purpose. Brooks did well to fashion an opportunity for Sydie Peck, only for Amissah to again deny his former teammate with a strong save. But from the resulting corner, the equaliser finally arrived. After a spell of pinball in the box, Tyrese Campbell and others helped recycle the ball before Ryan Oné prodded home into the roof of the net on 50 minutes.

Burton almost responded immediately. Moon picked out Godwin-Malifé with a precise ball down the right channel, and the defender whipped in a low cross to Beesley. The forward stretched but couldn’t keep his shot down, sending it over the bar.

The Blades pushed back with intent. Burrows connected sweetly from the edge of the area, only to be denied by a goal-line clearance from Finn Delap. Campbell then forced another save from Amissah, and though the rebound fell to Oné, his follow-up was heroically blocked by Akoto.

Manager Ruben Selles made sweeping changes in the second half, but United maintained their pressure. Ehije Success Ukaki’s whipped ball across the face of goal deflected dangerously off Sraha, with Delap again on hand to clear at the near post.

As the clock ticked down, United kept searching for a winner. Cannon dragged a shot-come-cross wide of the far post, and Burton threatened on the break with Whitfield flashing an effort across goal, so far wide that it actually went out for a throw-in. But it was the Blades who had the final say.

In the dying seconds, Marsh saw a strike turned around the post before playing a key role in the decisive moment. After an exceptional clipped ball from Sam McCallum on the corner of the penalty box which found Louie Marsh, a neat bit of skill to beat his man at the byline then saw him cross from the left which was fumbled by Dudek. The ball then ricocheted off Moore and over the line, forcing the winner home with virtually the last kick of the game.

Sheffield United will face Chesterfield on Saturday afternoon in what is currently pencilled in as the final pre-season match, though there are expected to be another one or two added.