A wonderful goal by James McAtee was enough for Sheffield United to beat Brentford and give Blades manager Chris Wilder a first win since his return to the club. The Manchester City loanee’s first Premier League goal lit up a rainy Bramall Lane in first-half injury time as he cut inside onto his left foot and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner.
Blades sub Anis Ben Slimane missed a great chance to make it 2-0 after 56 minutes but shot straight at Mark Flekken in the Brentford goal. Brentford, without top scorer Bryan Mbeumo through injury, struggled to create many openings as they fell to a fourth defeat in their last five games.
The win is only Sheffield United’s second in the Premier League this season and came in Wilder’s second match back in charge following the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in midweek. It was also the Blades’ first clean sheet of the season but it was not quite enough for them to jump off the foot of the table as they remain bottom on goal difference from Burnley, with both sides on eight points from 16 games.
It was a strong start by the hosts with Auston Trusty seeing an shot deflected wide by Frank Onyeka’s block and Andre Brooks involved in the early exchanges on his second Premier League start. Trusty was shown the first yellow card of the game after 17 minutes for a lunge on Keane Lewis-Potter, who was one of three changes made by Thomas Frank after the midweek defeat at Brighton.
Ben Mee had a header comfortably dealt with by Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham in heavy rain during an opening half-hour in which neither goalkeeper was really tested. Onyeka was cautioned for a tackle on Vini Souza with the high challenge checked for a potential red card by the video assistant referee but it remained a yellow.
The game suddenly sprung to life in the closing moments of the first half as Sheffield United forward Will Osula hit the side-netting after being played through by Gustavo Hamer before Brentford’s Neal Maupay was denied by Jack Robinson’s block.
McAtee’s goal came after the visitors made a mess of clearing the ball and Hamer found the 21-year-old who stepped inside and hit a shot which gave Flekken no chance. The hosts had a great chance to double their lead shortly before the hour mark when Cameron Archer won possession from Mee and crossed for the arriving substitute Slimane but he shot straight at Flekken from close range.
The Bees threatened intermittently but failed to build-up any real momentum with Yoane Wissa, who has one goal in his last 14 games, twice seeing efforts saved comfortably by Foderingham.
Slimane missed another chance to make the win more comfortable by shooting into the side netting and there was one final scare for the home fans as Brentford claimed for a late penalty for handball but it was not given, allowing them to celebrate a much-needed win.
Source Mbaretimes
