Sheff Utd 3 Fulham 3
Chris Wilder has struggled to make any difference to the job Paul Heckingbottom was doing at Bramall Lane. Even the most ardent of Blades’ fans could not see their side getting out of the bottom three with ten games remaining.
Fulham were the visitors, looking to build on an emphatic victory against Tottenham last time out. While Marco Silva’s side sat comfortably in mid-table, there was little to separate them and the sides above them. A good run could see The Cottagers challenge for Europe themselves.
The first chance of the game fell to Muniz but he was denied by a good save from Grbic as he tipped his effort onto the post from close range. The Fulham striker was the first to the rebound but tried an outlandish cross from the byline, much to the annoyance of Iwobi who was free in the box.
Sheff Utd were struggling to get out of their own half in the early stages. Pereira picked the ball up out wide and put in an inch-perfect cross to pick out Muniz at the back post. His header had Grbic beaten but struck the far post and came back out into the hands of the keeper.
Credit: @SheffieldUnited
It was a game that was severely lacking chances and the home fans were beginning to get a bit disgruntled. After more than an hour of play, they had failed to give the Fulham keeper anything to do. He could have been sat in the dugout with the manager.
Against the run of play, The Blades capitalised on an error from Tosin and McBurnie picked out Brereton Diaz in the middle. He did not need a second invite as he slotted the ball past Leno to give the hosts an unlikely lead. Marco Silva looked like he wanted to hit someone.
They say you are at your most vulnerable after scoring a goal, but it has been a state that Sheff Utd have displayed for most of the season. As a Fulham corner came in, Palhinha had a free header at the near post and guided the ball into the far corner to equalise.
It seemed like the same old story for Sheff Utd. However, Wilder’s side took a free-kick quickly and Brereton Diaz got to the byline before squaring it for McBurnie to slot home. Bramall Lane erupted as they dreamt of a much-needed victory.
Marco Silva will have some things to say to his defenders as they switched off, allowing the hosts to take full advantage. Sheff Utd were not finished there as Hamer played a ball into the back post for Brereton Diaz to poke home and double their lead.
The Blades were full of confidence now as Traore gave away a free kick on the edge of the box. As Fulham failed to clear the ball, it came back to McBurnie, who passed the ball into the bottom corner. The home fans erupted as it seemed they had sealed victory.
Credit: @premierleague
One thing we have learnt this season is that VAR can take the joy out of any football game. As they reviewed the goal, it was decided that there was a Sheff Utd player stood in an offside position, blocking the view of Leno and it was disallowed.
With a two-goal lead and only minutes remaining, The Blades just simply had to protect their own goal. The ball broke to De Cordova-Reid outside the box, whose shot arrowed into the bottom corner of the net. Surely not again for Chris Wilder.
As the fourth official held his board up, the home fans were amazed to see there were to be 14 minutes of added time. It seemed like this was some sort of prank show with Ant and Dec sat in a room somewhere in Bramall Lane.
Traore crossed from the right wing and picked out Muniz who acrobatically volleyed the ball into the bottom corner, giving Grbic no chance whatsoever. With over ten minutes of added time remaining, it now seemed like Sheff Utd could lose this game with Fulham in the ascendency.
Marco Silva’s side tried to find a winner but Sheff Utd managed to hold on for a point. It does not do them many favours in their plight for survival, but losing this game could have crushed their players’ confidence and condemned them to relegation.
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