Sheffield United 3-0 Sunderland
Sunderland produced a lacklustre Boxing Day display at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United claimed a comfortable win.
John Lundstram opened the scoring before the break and Richard Stearman and George Baldock found the net following the restart, on a day to forget for Chris Coleman’s men.
ENFORCED CHANGES
Sunderland were dealt a hefty blow ahead of kick-off as top scorer Lewis Grabban was ruled out due to a calf injury. The on-loan AFC Bournemouth striker has found the net on 12 occasions this season, including one in last week’s draw with Birmingham City, with his absence resulting in a recall for Aiden McGeady. Bryan Oviedo was also recalled to the starting XI as Donald Love dropped to the bench, but Didier Ndong wasn’t included in the matchday squad.
BLACK CATS UNDER PRESSURE
Sheffield United bossed the early play and their powerful frontline of Leon Clark and Clayton Donaldson put the Black Cats under immediate pressure. With five minutes on the clock, Donaldson beat the offside trap with ease but Robbin Ruiter was quick off his line to close the angle and the striker was only able to clipp the ball over the Dutchman and to safety. The Blades continued to play at a similar tempo with their high-pressing style not giving Sunderland an inch, as James Vaughan and Aiden McGeady remained isolated.
BLUSHES SPARED
Donaldson, who scored two goals in the Blades’ 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light in September, continued to menace and with 14 minutes on the clock he missed a glaring opportunity. Mark Duffy’s sumptuous cross put the ball on a plate for the striker inside the six-yard box, but he put it well wide before his blushes were spared by an offside flag. Sunderland, meanwhile, were sloppy in possession and their carelessness on the ball ensured they were unable to apply any sustained pressure at the opposite end.
DUFFY PULLS THE STRINGS
Duffy remained the chief orchestrator within the Blades’ ranks and it seemed inevitable that the home side would open the scoring before the break – and they did exactly that with the midfielder playing a pivotal role. With 36 minutes on the clock, Duffy picked out Lundstram and the midfielder steered a low finish through the bodies and into the corner to hand the home side a deserved lead. And the Black Cats were fortunate not to find themselves further behind before the break, as Jack O’Connell glanced a towering header inches wide of the post.
GAME OVER
Sunderland switched to a 4-4-2 formation with the ball in the second period, as Ty Browning moved to right-back and Adam Matthews pushed forward, and they showed more signs of intent in the final third. But it wasn’t enough to test the home side and off the ball they let themselves down with 58 minutes on the clock, as United doubled their lead. Duffy’s free-kick curled into the danger area and the Black Cats failed to react accordingly, allowing an unmarked Stearman to head in via the post. And it went from bad to worse within four minutes as Baldock’s bullet header gave Ruiter no chance to make it 3-0 before the Blades strolled to victory.
Attendance: 30,668 (2,213 away)
Sheffield United: Moore, Baldock, Stevens, O’Connell, Basham, Lundstram, Clarke (Lavery 84), Donaldson (Lafferty 89), Carter-Vickers, Stearman, Duffy (Carruthers 75).
Subs not used: Thomas, Sharp, Wright, Blackman.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Matthews, O’Shea, Browning, Wilson, Oviedo, Gibson, Honeyman (McManaman 79), Gooch (Asoro 67), McGeady, Vaughan (Maja 79).
Subs not used: Steele, Love, Embleton, Jones.
