Sheff Utd 1 Brentford 0
Sheff Utd faced Brentford at Bramall Lane with new manager Chris Wilder looking for his first win as manager, trying to claw their way off the bottom of the table. His opening game ended in defeat against Liverpool in midweek.
The visitors were without the influential Bryan Mbeumo who had injured his ankle against Brighton. Having played every minute for The Bees this season, contributing seven goals and four assists, his absence left a big hole in Thomas Frank’s attack.
As the rain belted down in Sheffield, the game got off to a feisty start. Archer went down under a challenge and took some time to get up but as play continued Onyeka put a heavy challenge in on Souza. It left the player reeling on the floor in pain.
The referee immediately produced a yellow card but looking at the replay the decision should have been red. Onyeka was the player who initially fouled Archer but the challenge on Souza was a definite leg-breaker.
Credit: @SheffieldUnited
VAR reviewed the incident and stuck with the onfield decision, which just baffles as to what goes through the mind of these incompetents manning the monitors. They just do not seem to know the rules of the game, which is worrying and ruining matches.
The hosts were to create the first chance of the game as the ball was worked to Osula in the box but his effort did not test Flekken in the Brentford goal as he sliced it wide. The striker should be at least working the keeper from that position.
Brentford then started flexing their attacking muscle as they streamed forward with the ball cut back to Maupay in the box. Taking one touch to control it, he got his shot away, only to see it deflected narrowly passed the post.
Sheff Utd came forward and as the move seemed to break down, Brentford failed to clear their lines as the ball was cleared into the back of their own player. It ricocheted back to The Blades, who worked it out wide.
McAtee picked it up, dropped his shoulder and cut onto his favoured left foot. Without even looking up he got a shot away and it flew straight into the top corner with the keeper only able to watch it bend into the goal.
It was his first goal for Sheff Utd since signing for the club in the summer from Man City. They should have doubled their lead early in the second half when Anis Ben Slimane met a cross, only to see Flekken make the save. Either side of the keeper and it was a goal.
Credit: @SheffieldUnited
The Blades continued to press as Brooks crossed to Archer but a sliding challenge from Mee prevented the effort from troubling Flekken in the Brentford goal. Chris Wilder’s side were looking in attacking mood and getting closer to doubling their lead.
For most of the season, Sheff Utd had looked so far out of their depth in the Premier League, you had felt there should be a lifeguard intervening. In this game, they looked right at home against a side who had become a mainstay of the top-flight.
Thomas Frank’s side were struggling to create anything of note but as the ball dropped to Wissa on the edge of the box, the striker got a volley away, which brought a first save from Foderingham. Brentford were showing that they still had the potential of a sucker punch against the run of play.
Archer did well to win the ball just inside the visitors’ half and got through on goal but his shot was too close to Flekken, who managed to parry the ball away. It was a big chance for the Sheff Utd striker to put the game to bed.
Brentford were having to resort to lumping the ball into the box but in the final moments as a group of players challenged for the ball, they appealed for a penalty for handball. As The Blades’ fans bit their nails, VAR reviewed it and decided there was nothing doing.
Chris Wilder’s side held on for the win, only their second of the season, to put them within touching distance of the two sides above them. Brentford meanwhile, sit in mid table, with few worries about the teams at the bottom.
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