Sheff Utd 0 Brighton 5
Sheff Utd sit rock bottom of the table and the chances of them escaping the drop zone is looking more a flight of fancy than a possibility. They welcomed Brighton to Bramall Lane, like every week, hoping they can find their Premier League form.
Having won last weekend against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, Chris Wilder’s side went into this game in a slightly more positive mood. Still eight points from safety, time is running out for the newly promoted side to put a run of form together.
If you were to write the script for a horror show, it would probably include some explosive action early on to draw in the audience. Exactly what Mason Holgate thought. The Sheff Utd defender lunged into a wild challenge on Mitoma, leaving the player on the floor in pain.
The referee showed him a yellow card but he was ordered to go to the monitor. As you watch the replay, the challenge looks even worse. He caught the Brighton winger just below the knee area and there was no doubting that this was a straight red card.
Credit: @OfficialBHAFC
As a corner was whipped into the box, Dunk met it at the back post with a header before Buonanotte forced it towards goal. The hosts tried to hack the ball clear on the line, nobody was any the wiser as to what had happened. Eventually, the referee awarded the goal.
With the man advantage, The Seagulls were dominating the game. Gross clipped a ball into the back post where Mitoma’s shot was parried by Foderingham but Welbeck was on hand to smash the ball home and double the visitors’ lead.
Wilder’s side thought they had found a way back into the game as they had the ball in the back of the net. Sadly for The Blades, Osborn was adjudged to be offside in the build-up and a VAR review disallowed the goal.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side continued to press and as Mitoma put a dangerous cross into the box, the hapless Jack Robinson turned the ball past his own keeper to make it three-nil. At this stage, Sheff Utd were sure their fate had been sealed.
Gross then put a pinpoint cross into the box, volleyed home by Adingra to make it four. By this stage, the home fans were fearing another scoreline like when Newcastle came to town earlier in the season. They seemed powerless to keep Brighton out.
Fati looked to get a shot away from the edge of the box but it was blocked, with the loose ball breaking to Adingra in the box. He immediately shot, taking a big deflection, looping over Foderingham into the far corner of the goal.
Credit: @premierleague
By this point, even the celebrations of the travelling Seagulls’ fans seemed a bit more downbeat as this was proving too easy. Chris Wilder looked punch-drunk on the touchline, already thinking of the obvious tough questions he would face from the media.
De Zerbi’s side took all the points in a comprehensive win, with the hosts looking well out of their depth in the Premier League. It is hard to see a reality where they avoid relegation, they will be playing Championship football once again next season.
In 25 games this season, The Blades have conceded a staggering 65 goals. There is simply no way you can concede that many goals and expect to be winning football matches. They say the best form of defence is attack, Wilder’s side would need Salah, Haaland and Mbappe up front.
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