Sheffield United vs West Ham – Premier League: Live score, lineups and updates
Sheffield United #SheffieldUnited
Sheffield United’s long wait for a victory goes on. It has been a torturous four months since Chris Wilder’s side fired three past Chelsea in midsummer and defeat at home against West Ham leaves them with just one point from nine games.
They have lost 11 of their last dozen, stretching back into the end of the last campaign. There are valid reasons but they are deep in trouble. Last season’s breath of fresh air have gone stale.
For West Ham the win brought some sense of revenge for a point lost to a controversial VAR decision in January and, more importantly, further evidence of the progress under David Moyes this season.
West Ham United’s Sebastien Haller (left) scores his side’s first goal of the league game
Haller is surrounded by his West Ham team-mates after breaking the deadlock in second half
Haller fired a thunderous effort into the back of the net in the 56th minute of Sunday’s clash
Haller thundered a right-footed shot from outside the box and it proved to be the winner
They are look balanced and cohesive with Declan Rice outstanding at the heart of the contest and Sebastian Haller stepping forward when required in the absence of Michael Antonio.
Haller scored the only goal of the game, early in the second half. Ollie McBurnie smashed a shot against the bar late on, although West Ham might easily have scored more. Rice also headed against the bar and Tomas Soucek missed a sitter in the first half.
Wilder’s Blades start brightly, with wing-back George Baldock quickly taking advantage on the space behind Arthur Masuaku. Baldock sprinted forward onto a long pass by John Egan, but his low drive was blocked at the near post by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS
SHEFF UNITED 3-5-2: Ramsdale 6.5; Basham 6 (Lundstrum 76, 6), Egan 6, Ampadu 6 (Robinson 62, 6); Baldock 6.5, Berge 6, Norwood 6 (Brewster 65, 6), Fleck 6, Lowe 5.5; McGoldrick 6.5, McBurnie 5.
SUBS NOT USED: Verrips, Jagielka, Burke, Osborn
MANAGER: Chris Wilder 6
WEST HAM 3-4-2-1: Fabianski 7; Balbuena 6, Ogbonna 6, Cresswell 7; Coufal 7, Rice 8, Soucek 7, Masuaku 6.5; Bowen 7 (Noble 90+2), Fornals 6 (Lanzini 76, 5); Haller 7.5.
SUBS NOT USED: Randolph, Johnson, Diop, Snodgrass, Benrahma
GOALS: Haller 56,
MANAGER: David Moyes 7
REFEREE: Martin Atkinson 6
Advertisement
West Ham’s Polish ‘keeper was forced to make another save to keep them level. Baldock, causing more problems for the visitors, found McBurnie in front of goal. It was an excellent chance but Fabianksi saved at a comfortable height.
McBurnie made him work harder with a terrific header, four minutes before the half-time interval. Chris Basham delivered the cross and the Scotland international climbed high and sent the ball on an arc towards the top corner.
Fabianski sprang to his left and pushed it wide. From the corner, McBurnie won the ball in the air and nodded it down to David McGoldrick, who turned it against a post. The flag went up as Sander Berge tried to pounce on the rebound.
West Ham dominated in between these two first-half flurries, with Declan Rice again impressive yet again in the heart of midfield, and created two wonderful chances.
The first fell to right wing-back Vladimir Coufal after a surge forward on the left flank by Masuaku and a link-up through Jarrod Bowen. Coufal arrived on the overlap and fired low across goal only to find Ramsdale, alert and down quickly to save.
The Blades scrambled away rebound. Soucek missed an even better opportunity. Haller, continuing to deputise up front for the injured Antonio, headed down a cross from Pablo Fornals to Soucek. Unmarked and six yards from goal, the Czech midfielder somehow missed the target as he tried to side-foot past Ramsdale on the half-volley.
Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie went close with a header but Lukasz Fabianski saved it
Haller tries to beat Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in tight encounter
Sheffield United’s Ethan Ampadu (left) battles for ball with West Ham’s Pablo Fornals (centre)
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek misses the target in the first half, which ended goaless
Soucek headed over again before the interval and West Ham seized the initiative early in the second half. Ramsdale saved at the feet of Haller soon after the restart but could not keep out a ferocious strike by the same player.
A tackle on Fornals spilled to Haller on the edge of the penalty area and he promptly lashed it into the top corner. It is turning into a good month for Haller, who made his debut for Ivory Coast and scored against Madagascar during the international break.
Blades boss Wilder sent on Rhian Brewster and took more risks in search of a goal. McGoldrick fired over from distances but the Hammers remained threatening.
Haller might easily have scored a second at Bramall Lane, turning wide from a cross by Masuaku after a swift counter-attack. Rice headed against bar from corner before McBurnie broke away and rattled the woodwork at the other end.
It was not to be for Sheffield United. They have not won in the Premier League since a 3-0 win against Chelsea in July. The bottom four in the top flight are already becoming cut adrift and the Blades are struggling at the very bottom.
Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck returned for the visit of West Ham on Sunday afternoon
West Ham manager David Moyes (right) and Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder (left) watch on
McBurnie shows his frustration as Blades went in search of an equaliser in the second period
Moyes with West Ham’s match winner Haller following the 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane
Relive all the action as it happened with Sportsmail…
Advertisement
Share or comment on this article: