United 2 Norwich 1 - report
The Blades made it back to back wins as they got their first win at the Lane with a late, late winner to beat Norwich City. United had taken the lead thanks to a John Egan header that was adjudged to have just crossed the line but were pegged back when Owls loanee Jordan Rhodes scored. The second half saw United control things but an officiating error saw City in and Dean Henderson made a crucial save. The visitors also hit the post soon after but the home side regained their composure and kept plugging away and late reward came when Sharp bundled home in the final minute of stoppage time to win the game.
United had made changes from the last league game with one enforced with Duffy being declared unfit due to illness and Woodburn making his first league start. United also opted to go with Basham O’Connell and Egan at the back as Norwood made his league bow for the Blades too. He partnered Fleck in the heart of midfield. Norwich had Jordan Rhodes up top and also featured dangerman Abel Hernandez who has scored 2 and assisted on 3 other goals. Manager Daniel Farke stood on the side-line overseeing his sides performance, perhaps misjudging the Sheffield sunshine as he was adorned in a large rain jacket!
United began on top with Norwood dictating play and Fleck busy. Woodburn won a corner with Sharp lurking. O’Connell won two key tackles and Egan also came onto a key header as United forced the pace. Fleck had a shot wide and then from a corner the ball was cleared. Stevens and Freeman were also looking to attack at every chance and pin the dangerous wing man Norwich possessed back into their own half. In the 9th minute they went ahead from a corner, Norwood took it and his delivery was headed downward by EGAN and despite being hacked away it seemed clear it was over the line. A quick look at his watch and referee Bond signalled it was over the line and the celebrations ensued to mark the first goal for the new signing.
Norwich had offered little but Pukki hit a shot over when drifting inside. City gradually came back into it and Rhodes headed wide from a corner. The visitors were coming back into the game but United seemed to be having most of the ball. Fleck again found Stevens whose cross was blocked and then Clarke was nearly in on a cute ball from Norwood.
Norwich had not really threatened much but suddenly they were level after a rare attack to stun the home side. Hernandez went one way and then the other drawing Basham out of position before squaring into the box and RHODES swept the ball in. His celebrations in front of the United Kop were perhaps to be expected as he held his hands aloft and cupped his ears to the annoyance of the home fans.
United tried to respond and after Woodburn made space and crossed, Clarke was in but his effort was saved from point blank range which summed up the big striker’s luck so far this season. Pukki was then booked for a crude foul on Sharp not long before the break.
At half time Wilder made a change replacing the ineffective Woodburn with Leonard who went straight into midfield.
United started the better again but Krul saved from O’Connell’s effort at the far post and then Klose had a header wide at the other end. Stevens got in well again but his cross evaded everyone. McGoldrick then came on for Freeman, as Basham went wide right as the Blades manager showed his attacking intentions.
Just over the hour mark, Norwich were in on goal after a fortunate ricochet but it seemed a mile offside but the attacker was inexplicably allowed to go on and with men either side Leitner opted to go alone but Henderson stood up big and made a terrific reaction save. Soon after this poor defending saw Rhodes flick his header goalward but onto the post and Pukki blazed over.
Buoyed by these let offs, United came onto the offensive again. Leonard header over when he really should have scored from a Norwood corner and then another delivery from the same man saw Egan head narrowly wide. United were now the side looking the more likely and Sharp was in on the angle and chipped goalward but it was scrambled clear. City were getting deeper and deeper and United won another corner. City gained a free kick and a chance for an unlikely winner but Marshall’s effort was poor and hit the wall. The game entered three minutes of stoppage time and the home side pushed forward once again. The additional time was ending when Basham sent a deep cross over which McGoldrick turned back into the box and the predatory SHARP was on hand to turn home. The players celebrated in front of a jubilant Kop to salute the ***** late goal. The scorer came off for Stearman almost immediately and Norwich sent one final ball forward but it was cleared and Clarke almost fed McGoldrick for another before the final whistle came seconds later.
United – We deserved to win today and it may have come late but it was a fair score overall. A ***** win and great scenes on the late goal. First half I felt we were better and scored and then had other chances but they scored out of the blue and then it became scrappy. Second half was kind of similar. We were the better team and the stats show on possession, chances, corners etc, we had much more of the game but at times struggled in the final third. Still we had enough chances really with Egan, Clarke and Sharp all close and numerous balls across the box.
I actually felt the change in us going for it disjointed us a bit and I am normally all for going for the win but we ended up with 3 attackers and lost some ground in the middle. Basham going wide helped us restore the momentum. Still, we had an almighty let off when they went through and Henderson made a superb save when they were 3 on 1! It was clearly offside. Soon after though more poor defending and they hit the post and then smashed the rebound over.
We came back after this and got control again. We started to pin them back and had a number of half, if not clear chances. Still you felt like the game was up until the late drama with Billy on the spot to get the crucial winner. After all the games last year at home (Norwich, Villa, Bristol City, Cardiff, Millwall etc) where we had controlled the games but conceded silly goals or late on; it felt like a bit of justice.
It was not perfect today and the performance became a bit scrappy just before the break and for a spell second half. Negatives I would detail we would be that it seemed we lost our shape and the 3 forwards did not always work really but, in the end, I suppose it did work in terms of bodies in the box, McGoldrick assisting for Sharp.
I felt there were some things we could do better as we took too long to move it on at times and the build-up was a bit slow but at times we showed good interchange and play amongst this. Woodburn did not make much impact and Clarke still is very hit and miss for me and still to score. I also felt at the back we were caught ball watching a few times with runners and this was evidenced on the goal and a few other openings.
The positives were that Henderson again made a crucial save. The wing backs did ok; especially the much-maligned Stevens. I also felt Egan had another improved game. Mainstays O’Connell and Fleck got back to the standards they have set and Norwood carried on from the week. The front line was ok but still too static for me but Clarke and Sharp at least kept plugging away and Sharp showed how dangerous he is in terms of poaching goals.
It was nice for us to win a game at the end instead of lose one which has happened too often since we came up. If we had drawn, 4 points from 12 would not have been great but now 6 points and back to back wins and the poor start is kind of forgotten. Bolton have had a good start but are due a slip up and we should go there with confidence next week. We still need a striker and it seems Johnson may come up to give us options wide left when Boro get another player or so in. Overall, things are a lot more positive than they were just over a week ago. The last-minute winning feeling is something that never grows old and was great to do it against a team we have had history with recently. As I say, not a classic performance but we did enough to win in the end; albeit it happening right at the end!
