Deadbat_DB
Vital Squad Member
Another week, another win as the Blades saw off Bournemouth to move up to 5th in the Premier League after United came from behind to beat the Cherries in a wet and windy Bramall Lane. United were not quite at their best but battled back from Callum Wilson’s goal to level via Billy Sharp and then after an improved second half, the Blades got the vital late goal when John Lundstram scored after a lovely team move in the build-up before the midfielder successfully converted past former United keeper Ramsdale.
It was a difficult afternoon for both teams in testing weather conditions but in the end the two sides managed to ensure there was a decent game of football played out. In the end, it was a vital three points for the home side who did just about enough to get the deserved three points.
United kept an unchanged team to start the game with Sander Berge making his home debut. Retsos was on the bench along with the returning McGoldrick. Bournemouth had two former Blades, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal and Simon Francis captaining the visitors.
The game began with both sides trying to adjust the difficult weather but United made inroads with a decent move which saw O’Connell find McBurnie whose pull back to Fleck saw his shot blocked by Francis. Fraser nearly got in at the other end but Baldock blocked his effort. Wilson then headed over from a decent chance. The same player screwed wide after a free kick effort came in as the visitors started to come into it. United had been sloppy on the ball and the away side had started to advance deep into the Blades territory. It was not a massive surprise when Bournemouth took the lead. Berge gave the ball away and Rico’s cross was stabbed goalwards by Wilson and the whilst the first effort was blocked CALLUM WILSON was first to the rebound to steer into the roof of the net.
Straight from the kick off Egan gave the ball away and the visitors were nearly in again as the home crowd began to voice their frustration but slowly the Blades started to come back and after Stevens got on the end of McBurnie’s ball, Sharp had a snap shot into the side netting. United started to finally find some life and some decent football led to a corner. Egan headed across but O’Connell nodded over. Soon after, a decent move saw Stevens and Sharp involved and it fell for McBurnie whose effort was saved by Ramsdale as it looped to the far post.
Stevens was booked for a fairly innocuous foul on Harry Wilson whose penchant for hitting the deck was frustrating the Blades fans. United had started the game slowly but were finishing the half strongly and a decent spell saw Norwood’s deflected effort deflected just went wide. McBurnie then had an effort saved from Ramsdale as the Blades really started to turn the screw and it was no surprise when United got level. From a corner, Berge kept it alive, Ramsdale’s punch did not get enough distance and Stevens drilled his cross over and McBurnie’s first effort was blocked. SHARP reacted first and slammed it home and United were level.
After this, the home side surged forward and appeals for a free kick on Baldock were waved away as United ended the half in the ascendancy before the half time whistle came.
United had ended the first half strong and continued in the same vein as the early pressure came from the Blades. McBurnie’s header saw Sharp onto the ball but his low shot was saved by Ramsdale for a corner. Basham and Baldock combined and McBurnie could not quite get on the ball across as the Blades really started to turn the screw. A flashpoint occurred when Egan and Gosling challenged and manager Wilder got involved in the ensuing fracas as he took umbridge to Surman’s theatrics in the melee. Both player and manager were booked.
Lundstram came on for Berge as the Norwegian departed to warm applause after his home debut.
Bournemouth had offered little but a rare chance saw Ake fire wide from a corner and then an even better chance came as Harry Wilson and Callum Wilson combined and Fraser hit a powerful effort which Henderson did brilliantly to beat away.
King came on for Harry Wilson before Sharp gave way to Mousset as the game entered the final 15 minutes. The sub almost had an instant impact when Baldock did well crossing over and both McBurnie’s effort was blocked and then Mousset reacted to the rebound but his shot was also blocked.
With six minutes remaining, the vital breakthrough came from the Blades. It came from a throw in from Stevens who returned passes with Fleck and then fed Mousset whose pass found LUNDSTRAM whose first touch with his right foot, switched it onto his left foot for the lovely side foot finish with his right foot past Ramsdale and into the corner of the net. The Kop went berserk behind the goal as United fans celebrated a huge goal in terms of point to maintain their place at the top level and the race for European places!
Stanislas was on for Fraser and Solanke for Surman as the visitors tried to salvage something from the game. Bournemouth won a free kick from a Mousset foul and yellow card. Henderson punched clear and then Mousset sliced over his own bar and Ake headed wide from the set play. The game entered a final four minutes stoppage time.
United saw time out well and McBurnie’s lung bursting run saw Francis scythe him down to kill more time. Soon after the final whistle went and the Blades players and fans alike celebrated another huge three points as the incredible season carried on with no end in sight for this remarkable journey.
It was a difficult afternoon for both teams in testing weather conditions but in the end the two sides managed to ensure there was a decent game of football played out. In the end, it was a vital three points for the home side who did just about enough to get the deserved three points.
United kept an unchanged team to start the game with Sander Berge making his home debut. Retsos was on the bench along with the returning McGoldrick. Bournemouth had two former Blades, with Aaron Ramsdale in goal and Simon Francis captaining the visitors.
The game began with both sides trying to adjust the difficult weather but United made inroads with a decent move which saw O’Connell find McBurnie whose pull back to Fleck saw his shot blocked by Francis. Fraser nearly got in at the other end but Baldock blocked his effort. Wilson then headed over from a decent chance. The same player screwed wide after a free kick effort came in as the visitors started to come into it. United had been sloppy on the ball and the away side had started to advance deep into the Blades territory. It was not a massive surprise when Bournemouth took the lead. Berge gave the ball away and Rico’s cross was stabbed goalwards by Wilson and the whilst the first effort was blocked CALLUM WILSON was first to the rebound to steer into the roof of the net.
Straight from the kick off Egan gave the ball away and the visitors were nearly in again as the home crowd began to voice their frustration but slowly the Blades started to come back and after Stevens got on the end of McBurnie’s ball, Sharp had a snap shot into the side netting. United started to finally find some life and some decent football led to a corner. Egan headed across but O’Connell nodded over. Soon after, a decent move saw Stevens and Sharp involved and it fell for McBurnie whose effort was saved by Ramsdale as it looped to the far post.
Stevens was booked for a fairly innocuous foul on Harry Wilson whose penchant for hitting the deck was frustrating the Blades fans. United had started the game slowly but were finishing the half strongly and a decent spell saw Norwood’s deflected effort deflected just went wide. McBurnie then had an effort saved from Ramsdale as the Blades really started to turn the screw and it was no surprise when United got level. From a corner, Berge kept it alive, Ramsdale’s punch did not get enough distance and Stevens drilled his cross over and McBurnie’s first effort was blocked. SHARP reacted first and slammed it home and United were level.
After this, the home side surged forward and appeals for a free kick on Baldock were waved away as United ended the half in the ascendancy before the half time whistle came.
United had ended the first half strong and continued in the same vein as the early pressure came from the Blades. McBurnie’s header saw Sharp onto the ball but his low shot was saved by Ramsdale for a corner. Basham and Baldock combined and McBurnie could not quite get on the ball across as the Blades really started to turn the screw. A flashpoint occurred when Egan and Gosling challenged and manager Wilder got involved in the ensuing fracas as he took umbridge to Surman’s theatrics in the melee. Both player and manager were booked.
Lundstram came on for Berge as the Norwegian departed to warm applause after his home debut.
Bournemouth had offered little but a rare chance saw Ake fire wide from a corner and then an even better chance came as Harry Wilson and Callum Wilson combined and Fraser hit a powerful effort which Henderson did brilliantly to beat away.
King came on for Harry Wilson before Sharp gave way to Mousset as the game entered the final 15 minutes. The sub almost had an instant impact when Baldock did well crossing over and both McBurnie’s effort was blocked and then Mousset reacted to the rebound but his shot was also blocked.
With six minutes remaining, the vital breakthrough came from the Blades. It came from a throw in from Stevens who returned passes with Fleck and then fed Mousset whose pass found LUNDSTRAM whose first touch with his right foot, switched it onto his left foot for the lovely side foot finish with his right foot past Ramsdale and into the corner of the net. The Kop went berserk behind the goal as United fans celebrated a huge goal in terms of point to maintain their place at the top level and the race for European places!
Stanislas was on for Fraser and Solanke for Surman as the visitors tried to salvage something from the game. Bournemouth won a free kick from a Mousset foul and yellow card. Henderson punched clear and then Mousset sliced over his own bar and Ake headed wide from the set play. The game entered a final four minutes stoppage time.
United saw time out well and McBurnie’s lung bursting run saw Francis scythe him down to kill more time. Soon after the final whistle went and the Blades players and fans alike celebrated another huge three points as the incredible season carried on with no end in sight for this remarkable journey.