The battle of the bottom sides went the way of the Blades at a wet and cold Bramall Lane on Tuesday evening. Today had seen a dolloping of snow around Sheffield and the foul weather continued throughout the game, but United showed fight and resolve to come back from a half time deficit to win the game. Matt Phillips first-half goal against the run of play had seen the Blades with effectively 45 minutes to save their season. The second half saw United give it a real go and force West Brom back. Goals from Bogle and skipper Sharp turned the game round and with Fleck and Basham inspirational; the home side got the vital three points.
Chris Wilder made two changes to the side that started their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday. David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp start in attack as Oliver Burke and Rhian Brewster dropped to the bench that included youngsters Iliman Ndiaye and Zak Brunt. West Brom made three changes with Conor Townsend, Matt Phillips and new striker Mbaye Diagne all starting.
Kieran Gibbs, Darnell Furlong and Conor Gallagher all drop to the bench. Blades nemesis Robert Snodgrass started for the Baggies.
The game started with the temperature valve showing 3 degrees around S2. The bitterly cold conditions seemed to affect the home side as West Brom started the game well and a long throw showed their intent to get the ball in the box. Norwood then gave away a cheap foul and the free-kick was not cleared despite several opportunities to get it away. Ramsdale punched the corner clear and this led to a Lundstram break but Sharp took way too long to make a decision and West Brom got back.
Basham did well to rob Pereira and come away with it but generally, West Brom had begun better and were quicker to the ball with Sharp again not quick enough to a ball forward. Bogle finally got United going with good work and linked with Fleck and the wing-back was clipped by O’Shea. The free-kick represented an excellent chance being just outside the box and the message had to be to get it on target with the conditions but Norwood fired it high and wide.
Report by Deadbat_db
At the other end, Robinson was away and, on the angle, but pulled his shot wide. It was a good break and United had left gaps for their former player to exploit. McGoldrick then brought a ball down and turned beautifully to come away but his shot was straight at Johnstone in United’s first effort on goal. United was starting to edge back into the game and had a good spell of possession. Fleck was fouled but the free-kick was cleared by Bartley.
The next period saw the Blades dominated the ball but often it was in front of West Brom and finally, any ball in was headed clear easily. It was a better phase but it was too slow and deliberate and the Baggies coped with ease. McGoldrick tried to play in Bogle but he could not get it under control before Baldock linked with Basham but Robinson got his foot in.
Ampadu then went forward and with no one denying the ball, tried a shot from range which was comfortable for Johnstone and was maybe one for the cameras but still one he had to push away. Norwood then had two corners pushed away from Johnstone as United kept West Brom locked into their own area but they had not really threatened.
Baldock was then brought down by Snodgrass and Fleck’s delivery was dangerous but well dealt with by Townsend. Lundstram then put a cross over that Sharp got on the end of but under pressure and up early headed wide.
Sharp could not hold the ball up and Norwood failed to win it as it broke through and West Brom was away. Robinson again was in space with Basham and Baldock nowhere near him and the ex-Blade cut in and got a shot away which Ramsdale palmed away but back into the danger area. Diagne was first to it and looked set to score but his effort was saved by Ramsdale (Ampadu behind ironically may have cleared but the keeper was not to know) and PHILLIPS smashed home from close range. It was a massive goal in a game that United had to win.
The Blades had been the better side with the ball but had not created much at all and West Brom had looked dangerous on the break. It was a bit of a sucker punch but West Brom via Bartley ahead of Sharp and the midfield challenge where Norwood lost out – saw the visitors clear. Twice after Ramsdale’s saves, West Brom reacted quicker.
McBurnie came on for Norwood as United knew they had to go for it and McGoldrick played just behind the front two. Basham got in down the right but Bogle took a touch and maybe denied Lundstram a chance when the midfielder may have had the better chance.
United definitely looked to have upped the tempo and they kept men well up the pitch. It paid rewards when they got level. Sharp put over a dangerous cross that finally caused some panic and as the ball was only half-cleared, Basham got on it and seemed to shimmy past a defender but then came back inside with a Cryuff turn as the defenders converged on him. BOGLE took over though and buried it with a firm left-footed finish into the near post. United had got level relatively early in the 2nd half and it was most definitely game on!
The Blades continued to push West Brom back and Fleck was often the architect as he drove down the left with another god run. His pull-back was into the path of McBurnie and his shot was blocked before it fell for Lundstram who took too long and West Brom threw bodies in the way.
United had been completely dominant this half and was looking more likely to score but a break from West Brom saw Phillips put in a superb ball that Robinson met from close range and it seemed a certain goal but Ramsdale made a superb save to deny him. A huge moment in the game although replays showed the striker may have been offside if it had gone in.
United recovered quickly from this let-off and was back on the attack. Basham was driving forward at every chance and his cross was cleared by Ayari. Basham was then back on the attack rampaging through again and carrying the fight. Ramsdale had to punch clear though after a free-kick as the game still remained in the balance. West Brom had certainly been hanging on though and Allardyce put on Robson Kanu and Grant for Diagne and Robinson.
Fleck then threaded a ball down the inside-left channel that Lowe ran onto and won a corner before soon after this Lundstram put a cross in that Ajayi cleared with a brave header under pressure from Egan. Sharp then was the next to put a cross in but Bartley cleared. United kept coming though and Basham, McBurnie linked up to feed Bogle whose shot looped over for another corner.
On 72 minutes the pressure finally told. Fleck and Basham combined and the cross that came over was not cleared and as Egan challenged the defender the ball dropped and SHARP reacted quickest to fire home with the outside of his foot. It was only a half chance but the captain reacted superbly to do what he does best.
Sharp had been about to be withdrawn with Rhian Brewster readied but the young striker was sent back to the bench to put his tracksuit top on after the goal!
Gallagher came on for Phillips in the final West Brom change but United kept trying to go forward and Lowe’s cross was dangerous but Bogle could only head over under pressure. The game entered the final 10 minutes and West Brom started to gamble.
Substitute Gallagher was brought down by Fleck as he ran through in what was a good foul and booking to give away after Ampadu had initially given it away. McGoldrick then took a booking as he then stopped O’Shea from getting clear.
The free-kick dropped to Pereira but his shot sliced well wide before Sharp came off for Burke. The sub’s first contribution was to give away a silly foul. West Brom was now getting it forward whenever they could with long throws and balls pumped int the box forcing United back. However, a foul throw gave the ball back to stop another chance coming in.
The game ticked into three minutes of stoppage time and United did well to stem the flow with Ampadu picking up a knock and then Burke showing great control. A final chance when the otherwise impressive Basham gave a foul away but the free-kick dropped and United scrambled clear. The final whistle came soon after. A huge three points for the home side to at least keep their hopes alive of an improbable escape.