UK Edition
Sheffield United deal Leeds major promotion blow with narrow win in tense derby
Leeds 0 Sheffield United 1
Under-pressure throughout, out-played for most of it, but Sheffield United emerged from this high-stakes Yorkshire derby inflicting a raw psychological blow on Leeds United in the Championship promotion race.
There is no doubt this was a monumental result for Chris Wilder’s side, who have leapfrogged Leeds and move up into second in the table, but neither is it the disaster it may appear for Marcelo Bielsa’s team.
Leeds played well, created more than enough chances to win and were the more dynamic of the two promotion chasers. To have 17 shots on goal and for none to be on target is inexcusable, they only have themselves to blame for the defeat, but if Leeds play like this in their remaining seven games, they should win them all.
“Nobody can say this is a crucial result because there are still 24 points at stake” said Bielsa, whose post-match press conference was carried out with a fire alarm ringing loudly in the background. “I don’t want to under-estimate their victory, but if you analyse the game, we can’t be unsatisfied, even if we can be disappointed with the result. We created a lot of chances against a very good side.”
That is not to downplay the significance of Sheffield United’s victory. If they had lost, they would be five points behind Leeds and preparing for the play-offs. Instead, they are one point clear and automatic promotion is now in their own hands. On such fine margins are fates sealed.
They are a remarkable team, built on a defence that repels pressure like an air bag. This was their seventh successive clean sheet and while it owed much to good fortune this time, they are a horrible side to play against because they are so resilient. There is not a tougher nut to crack in the division.
“It was a great performance, I’m not going to be embarrassed to come here and win like that,” said Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder. “We have smashed some sides this season and not got what we deserved.
“It was a tough afternoon, a tough test and I’m delighted we have come away with a great result against the run of play. I’ve always said this wouldn’t be season defining, but I think that has sealed our play-off place. We want a little bit more than that though."
The principle behind Sheffield United’s success is a simple one. If you do not concede, you cannot lose and when the chance came to deliver the punch to the solar plexus, they took it with ruthless precision. Billy Sharp pounced on a mistake by Leeds captain Liam Copper, before squaring to the onrushing Chris Basham, who guided a low, first-time shot into the bottom corner.
It was enough to settle one of those scrappy, unattractive games that prove the idea of a derby is generally far more exciting than the reality. Everything was tense and rushed, it was all a little manic, but slowly but surely, Leeds began to dominate.
They were quicker, sharper and far more imaginative going forward. Unfortunately, they were far less composed in front of goal.
Patrick Bamford failed to take two chances when he should have done better, Jack Harrison missed another, although both feet were off the ground when he tried to meet Matt Klich’s cross. Tyler Roberts headed wide when he should have hit the target at the far post and Ezgjan Alioski also fired over the bar before half-time.
The more chances that were not taken, the more nervous the home crowd became, two soft penalty appeals, when Pontus Jansson and Bamford fell over inside the area, the first sign of desperation.
Sheffield United sensed it and finished the half strongly, finally creating some pressure with a succession of corners. Basham will feel he might also have done better, taking too long and going too wide when he rounded goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.
Leeds were wobbling, but a half-time team talk steadied them. Sheffield United were put under the cosh again and Roberts was desperately unlucky not to score when his side-footed shot came back off the post with goalkeeper Dean Henderson beaten.
The missed chances created unnecessary pressure on the Leeds defence and one mistake was enough. Cooper lost the ball to Sharp, when he should have just booted it clear and Basham finished clinically.
Celebrating in front of the delirious travelling supporters, Sheffield United knew the damage they had done. Leeds did not give up, the chances kept coming and going, Jansson somehow putting the ball wide from inside the six-yard box, Roberts unable to control the ball when in on goal.
Moments later and after another mistake by Cooper, aided by the otherwise impressive Kalvin Philips, Leeds were down to ten men when Casilla brought down Sharp outside of his area, forcing Jansson to go in goal in injury time.