The Blades finally got off the mark for the season as they saw off QPR at Loftus Road with come from behind victory. After falling behind to an Eze strike, United stayed in the game thanks in part to some good saves from Dean Henderson and got level thanks to ace predator Billy Sharp after a well worked move involving the returning Duffy and Freeman. The second half saw David McGoldrick introduced and he won; and then converted a penalty to complete the turnaround. The Blades stood firm and were able to hold onto the three points with a resolute and determined performance. In truth, the game was far from a classic but United were able to ensure they got the crucial three points.

Manager Wilder, who had shuffled his pack in the week moving out Lee Evans to Wigan, ahead of some imminent transfers inbound; brought back Freeman, Stearman, Duffy and Sharp into the line-up. Lundstram and McGoldrick were on the bench and Baldock missed out with an ankle problem. Rangers surprisingly left striker Matt Smith on the bench but Blades target Luke Freeman started.

The game started with United playing away from their 2,000 fans resplendent in the new bright yellow away shirt. The Blades started well with Fleck and Stevens linking to win a corner but Stearman’s header came to nothing. Freeman had a shot deflected wide as the home side slowly came back into it but the first effort on goal was from the visitors as Fleck had a bouncing half volley saved comfortably. Eze was drifting into good spaces and linking well with Freeman as Rangers slowly started to find more of the ball in the key areas. Henderson made smart save low down from the dangerous Eze who drifted away from Stearman and Egan. Soon after, United failed to heed the warning and some decent interchange saw the ball played into EZE’s feet and with no challenge incoming, he fired a low and hard shot into the corner past Henderson’s despairing dive to give the home side their first goal of the season.

United were rattled and the home side came again and Eze this time fired a shot across the goal as the supporters behind Dean Henderson’s goal started to become frustrated. However, out of nowhere United suddenly were level. From a decent move down the right Duffy found Freeman who ran down the right and put over the cross that found SHARP unmarked and he converted from close range. There was a suspicion of offside but the goat stood. It was a relatively simple goal in its origin and eventual conversion. The equaliser was crucial after a ragged spell where the home side had threatened to get away from the Blades.

After the break, United came out buoyed from the leveller and Clarke managed to hook the ball away from his defender to create a chance from himself and as the ball fell he hit a shot that seemed goalbound but Ingram did well to dive to his left and push the ball away. Fleck had a shot deflected wide from the resultant corner. Sharp came off for McGoldrick on the hour and soon after the substitute was involved in a crucial moment. Stevens ball came over and the striker tussled with Bidwell and Lynch and it was hard to see who was the offender and was certainly a surprise when the referee, Scott Duncan gave the award to the Blades pointing to the penalty spot. After a number of appeals and a booking for Lynch, McGOLDRICK was entrusted with the responsibility and casually rolled it into the far corner in front of the United fans.

Rangers knew they had to have a go after a poor start to the second half and that man Eze had a decent effort again saved by Henderson before Luongo headed wide. Woodburn came on for Duffy and Smith came on for the home side who started to go more direct as a result. The United back line stood firm and after a spell of retreating and going to deep; managed to have a spell with the ball. McGoldrick had taken a kick and gone down twice before finally succumbing and the sub was subbed with Leonard coming on for the goal scorer.

Eze had another shot saved from Henderson low down; a save you would expect him to make, but a save non the less. Scowen then forced the keeper into a save as the time started to tick down. Fleck and Leonard did well to keep the ball for a spell as the game entered an additional 5 minutes of stoppage time. In this spell United saw the game out skilfully and indeed Leonard had a powerful suing run inside the right-hand channel forcing Ingram into a turn around the post for a corner. Soon after Rangers final punt forward was too late; and the final whistle went signalling many United players to punch the air. It was not a classic performance but a gutsy, workmanlike showing that showed great courage to come from behind to win.