Southampton 1-0 Sheffield United: Blades Suffer Another Narrow Loss | OneFootball

Sheffield United suffered back-to-back narrow defeats away at Southampton on Wednesday evening.

The only goal of the game came early in the first half when Leo Scenzia cut inside from the left on his right foot and unleashed a shot which inevitably took a big deflection off captain Oliver Arblaster and flew into the back of the net.

Lineups

Southampton: Peretz, Downes, Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Azaz (Charles 78), Stewart (Armstrong 61), Scienza (Robinson 78), Fellows, Jander, Welington (Manning 78) Jelert (Wood 90).

Unused: McCarthy, Quarshie, Archer, Matsuki.

Blades: Cooper, Arblaster, Cannon (Ings 78), O’Hare (Hamer 66), Hoever (Seriki 66), Burrows, Mee, Campbell (Bamford 59), Chong (Brooks 59), McGuinness, Peck.

Unused: A. Davies, McCallum, Ogbene, T. Davies.

First Half

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 21: Flynn Downes of Southampton passes as Sheffield United’s Oliver Arblaster closes in during the Sky Bet Championship match between Southampton and Sheffield United at St Mary’s Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Southampton were quickly out of the blocks and took the lead inside seven minutes. Welington challenged Ki-Jana Hoever on the flank and the loose ball was worked into the path of Scienza, who beat Michael Cooper with a composed, placed effort. The shot took a significant deflection off the retreating Oliver Arblaster, leaving the Blades goalkeeper wrong-footed as the ball found the net.

The Saints almost doubled their advantage after 20 minutes when Ross Stewart met a corner with a powerful header, only for Arblaster to redeem himself by diving back to clear the ball off the line.

Five minutes before the break, Southampton threatened again through their dangerman Scienza. A slip from Hoever allowed the winger to break down the left, cut inside and fire off a close-range effort, but Cooper was well positioned to produce a strong block and keep United in the contest at half-time.

Second Half

Sheffield United began the second half with renewed intent. Tom Cannon had a header saved following a cleverly worked short corner, setting the tone for a spell of sustained Blades pressure. From another set-piece, McGuinness rose highest at the back post to meet Sydie Peck’s free kick, but Southampton keeper Peretz was equal to the effort and pushed the header away.

At the other end, substitute Armstrong and then Scienza both had sights of goal with headers inside the penalty area, the latter forcing Cooper into a sharp reflex save to prevent a second Saints goal.

As the clock ticked down, United pushed Southampton deeper in search of an equaliser. Gustavo Hamer’s corner deliveries caused moments of anxiety for the hosts, but the decisive moment went Southampton’s way in the final minute of normal time. Patrick Bamford appeared poised to level after a mix-up between Harwood-Bellis and Jelert, yet Peretz stood tall and produced a crucial save to preserve Southampton’s slender advantage and secure the victory.