Sheffield United 3-0 Blackburn: Late second-half splurge give Blades a win
Sheffield United scored thrice in the last 20 minutes to beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at Bramall Lane this afternoon. This result cements their fourth position in the table, just two points behind third-placed West Brom and four behind second-placed Norwich City. Billy Sharp scored a brace while David McGoldrick netted the other to win three points for the home side.
Both teams went down to ten men when the game was scoreless. Chris Basham was the first one to go, in the 51st minute. He got a second yellow card for handball. Meanwhile, Richi Smallwood got the sending off in the 71st minute for his challenge on Sharp.
It was an even game until the home side got the opening goal. Blackburn had chances, kept more of the ball and created problems for Chris Wilder’s men. However, they never had enough to score a goal or two to really put the hosts under pressure.
Sheffield United led through Sharp as he finished his chance with aplomb in the 73rd minute, two minutes after Blackburn’s player got the red card. Sharp then put his team in front with a firing effort that beat David Raya in the 77th minute.
McGoldrick put the icing on the cake with a well-timed chested finish. The cross came from Jack Fleck. Despite the scoreline sounding one-sided, the game was anything but, meaning credit needs to go to the away side too.
However, the home fans would be delighted by this result. Here’s how they reacted on Twitter after this victory:
Not quite a Sheffield double, but close enough!
— Simon Jenkins (@FLC1889) December 29, 2018
What a great second half blades!great win!Sharp with 219 goals!!staying 4th tonight!What a time to be a blade!UTB!⚔⚽🔴⚪🔴
— Nathan Kelsall (@Nathan_sufc20) December 29, 2018
GREAT JOB LADS #GOALS #3points #HappyBladesNewYear ❤️⚔️🖤💯🤘 #twitterblades #sufc #UTB!!!
— Donna DeBoer (@DRLDeBoer) December 29, 2018
Down to 10 men and a paid off ref by @Rovers and still 3 points 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 great job lads
— H Hallis (@HHallis) December 29, 2018
Awesome way to end 2018 UTB. Here’s to a good 2019 🎉⚽🍾
— Emz (@DJEmz1990) December 29, 2018
Literally cannot get over that refereeing performance. Tried his best to ruin the game but Sir William just gets the job done. #sufc #UTB
— Liam Johnson (@LiamJoh15860837) December 29, 2018
Dizzy returning the favour and pushing @billysharp10 out in front to lap up the buzz of the kop 👌🏻 What a team 🙌🏻
⚔️🔴⚪️⚫️
— Stewart Booth (@Stewart_Booth) December 29, 2018