The Blades’ excellent start to the season continued with another resounding victory at Bramall Lane. For the second consecutive home game, they faced the league leaders but as with the game against Blackburn Rovers, there was only one winner from almost start to finish as United dominated a startled Reading side who were completely overmatched. In an almost perfect performance, every single United player was at the top of their game. Goals came from McBurnie, Ahmedhodzic (x 2) and Ndiaye but it could have been even more emphatic such was the domination from the home side.

Manager Heckingbottom made two changes with Doyle in for McAtee and Ahmedhodzic in for Basham and injury/illness doubts Foderingham and Khadra both back involved with the latter on the bench. Reading started with former Wednesday man Joao leading the line after success in his last appearance at the Lane last season. They had experience throughout the side in Hoilett, Hendrick and Ince, along with new signing Naby Sarr who scored the winner at the weekend at the Den. The Royals had been one of the surprise outfits of the new season and came into the game leading the division, just ahead of the home side they faced tonight.

United started well on top with Norwood and Berge prompting from midfield and Ndiaye and McBurnie’s work rate and link play causing problems for the Reading defence. McBurnie was proving a real handful and his clever play and step-over created space for Doyle with Ndiaye involved also. Lowe and Baldock were well forward and Reading, much like Blackburn, in the last game found it hard to stem the tide. Ndiaye was tripped as he advanced with a run forward and Norwood tried from a similar range to the free kick, he scored from in the previous home game but this time it went over the bar.

Sheffield United 4-0 Reading
Tuesday, 30th August 2022
SkyBet Championship
Report by deadbat

The opening goal was not long coming and it came after 11 minutes with swift and quick interchange as the ball was played to Doyle who moved it onto Lowe and he hit a first-time cross that was superbly headed home by MCBURNIE who powered past Lumley. It was the striker’s second goal in consecutive games and a reward for his improved performance.

United was full value for this lead and continued to come in waves as Reading had no answer. Doyle was busy and Norwood dictating the play and with the front two dovetailings nicely in terms of hold-up and link play, Reading was struggling to stop the tide. McBurnie had an effort deflected into the keeper after a lovely build up and then McBurnie intelligently headed back and Ndiaye had his shot blocked after Norwood had centred.

Reading had barely been in the game but did improve around the 25th minute and had a spell of possession and Norrington Davies did well to block Joao as Reading had numbers on the break. Ince then dragged a shot wide after Reading broke out of a few challenges and started to win some of them loose stuff for the first time in the game.

United broke out of this and Ndiaye continued to find gaps and weave his way into dangerous areas, but Reading made a few final tackles to deny the dangerous Senegalese forward. However, the striker had a great chance to make it 2-0 when he ran onto Doyle’s clever pass to beat the offside trap but pulled his shot wide. He had another opportunity just before the break when Lowe once again put an excellent first-time cross in, but Ndiaye fired over with the instinctive first-time effort which he also should have done better with. The Blades had been the far better side despite Reading having a brief spell and were excellent value for their lead.

After the break, Fornah came on for Sarr as Reading tried to get a foothold by putting an extra man in the middle of the field, but the Blades began strongly again. United won a corner after McBurnie’s clever work led to the ball being cleared behind. Doyle took it and put it right on the centre spot and AHMEDHODZIC absolutely buried it with a volley that left Lumley motionless. It was the centre-back’s second goal of the season and showed his innate ability to not only defend but look a threat going forward too.

Reading won a corner but this was cleared by Egan and soon after Lowe and Norrington Davies did well to get to the ball and stop any chance of any comeback before Berge cruised through the thirds.

Long came on for Joao who got a less than positive reaction as he trooped off with the former Wednesday man cutting a forlorn figure in a Reading side that was second best throughout. However, the game was effectively sealed when the third goal came just after the hour. Norrington Davies did well to make an interception and Lowe carried the ball on and fed Berge whose pass found NDIAYE. There was still a lot to do but he came inside and worked space before curling a superb effort almost into the same place as his goal the previous home game and once again the keeper had no chance. The Kop saluted the new darling of the Lane who kissed the turf before moving back to halfway as the crowd chants of ‘I…I…Ili…Ili…I’ cascaded down from the terraces.

Khadra came on for Ndiaye and Brewster for McBurnie shortly after with both players who departed getting standing ovations from all sides of Bramall Lane as an appreciation for their efforts and goals. United had further chances as Doyle fired over after clever work from Norwood. Brewster then nearly got in after Berge powered forward, but the ball did not quite sit for the substitute.

Basham and McAtee replaced Baldock and Doyle for the Blades as manager Heckingbottom opted to keep rotating players with the game seemingly in the bag. Reading put on Loum for Craig in their final change (third separate substitution anyway meaning they could not use anymore). United nearly got a fourth when McAtee sent over an inviting cross that Basham attacked and headed down, but Lumley tipped over with a great save at full stretch. However, the fourth goal was not long coming. More excellent build-up saw it switched around with more swift probing football and Norwood sent over an inviting cross that AHMEDHODZIC was able to stoop and position his header into the net for his second goal.

Hutchinson had a header blocked and Hoilet fired over as Reading tried to find a consolation goal but United looked more like scoring again as they pressed and harried all over the field and forced more mistakes. Brewster and Khadra nearly got in and then Berge fed Basham whose cross was blocked. Ahmedhodzic then tried an ambitious shot from fully 30 yards as the crowd shouted ‘Shoot!’ in an attempt to persuade the new crowd favourite to try and go for a hat trick!

The additional four minutes of time were played out with total comfort with the verdict being decided sometime before the final whistle went as United cruised to another excellent win.