18 FEBRUARY 2024 -
SHEFFIELD UNITED 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 5
PREMIER LEAGUE - at BRAMALL LANE, SHEFFIELD.
The Albion were back in Sheffield for the second time in 2024, this time for a Premier League encounter with Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, "live" in front of the Sky Sports cameras and broadcast by BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Previously, the Albion had lost 1-2 at Tottenham Hotspur on the 10 February and for the visit to Sheffield Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made three changes to his starting line-up from the Tottenham game, with Bart Verbruggen, Adam Webster and Simon Adingra replacing Jason Steele, Pervis Estupinan and Adam Lallana. Adingra had just returned from the African Cup of Nations where he was a member of the Ivory Coast team who won the competition and he was also voted best young player.
Last time out Sheffield United had won 3-1 at Luton Town in the Premier on the 10 February and for Albion's visit Manager Chris Wilder had to make two enforced changes to his starting line-up from the Luton game, with Yasser Larouci and William Osula coming in for Rhys Norrington-Davies (injured) and Cameron Archer (injured).
Sheffield achieved promotion to the Premier after finishing runners-up to Burnley last season. Head Coach Paul Heckingbottom was sacked in late November 2023 and replaced by former Manager Chris Wilder. The Blades have been in the relegation zone all season. In the reverse fixture at the Amex on the 12 November 2023, the teams played out a 1-1 draw, with the Seagulls goal coming through Simon Adingra (6m) and the Blades goal was an Adam Webster own goal (74m).
Albion's FA Cup visit to Bramall Lane on the 27 January 2024 ended in a 5-2 win for the Seagulls and progression to the Fifth Round of the competition.
Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen was called into actioin in the first minute, making a fine save when deflecting Jayden Bogle's low shot. On 12 minutes Sheffield were down to ten men when Everton loanee, defender Mason Holgate felled Kaoru Mitoma with a dreadful knee-high challenge. Initially Referee Stuart Attwell showed Holgate a yellow card but VAR intervened and after looking at the pitch-side monitor the Referee quickly changed the card from yellow to red and off went Holgate.
It was a miracle that Mitoma was able to continue. The Seagulls now had the bit between the teeth and took the lead on 20 minutes when Pascal Gross's corner was headed by Adam Webster across goal and Facundo Buonanotte was on hand to bundle to bundle the ball into the net. 1-0.
Four minutes later the Albion scored a second when Mitoma's shot was parried by Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham into the path of Danny Welbeck, who gratefully smashed the ball home. 2-0. The visitors were now inn full flow an further efforts by Simon Adingra (twice), Gross and Welbeck went close to increasing Albion's lead.
Just prior to the break Ben Osborn appeared to have pulled a goal back for the Blades when scored from a corner but the goal was disallowed by Referee Attwell and which decision was confirmed after a VAR intervention.
Half-time 2-0.
The Seagulls started the second-half brightly and efforts by Welbeck and Mitoma were saved by keeper Foderingham. Substitute Evan Ferguson then saw his header from Gross's corner saved by Foderingham but on 75 minutes along came Albion's third when Mitoma's cross was diverted into his own net by Blades defender Jack Robinson. 3-0.
With 78 minutes on the clock the Seagulls scored a fourth when Gross's cross was volleyed home by AFCON hero Adingra. 4-0. The Seagulls went nap on 85 minutes when Gross and substitute Ansu Fati set-up Adingra whose shot deflected off a defender and lopped over Foderingham into the net. 5-0. The Seagulls had certainly made the one-man advantage count.
Final-score 5-0.
Match stats:
The Albion had 24 attempts at goal, with 10 on target and won 10 corners, free-kicks conceded - 5.
Sheffield United had 6 attempts at goal, with 1 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 3.
SUMMARY -
A resounding win for the Albion ands their first away in the Premier since the 25 November 2023 when they won 3-2 at Nottingham Forest. It also helped that Sheffield went down to 10-men as early as the twelth minute. It also helped that the Albion had Simon Adingra and Kaoru Mitoma playing on the flanks.
It's Everton at home next on the 24 February.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart Verbruggen; Adam Webster (Igor Julio 46), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Tariq Lamptey (Jakub Moder 46); Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour; Simon Adingra, Facunda Buonanotte (Evan Ferguson 66), Kaoru Mitoma (Ansu Fati 76); Danny Welbeck (Pervis Estupinan 81).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Joel Veltman, Carlos Baleba, Benicio Baker-Boaltey.
Sheffield United line-up (3-5-1-1):- Wes Foderingham; Mason Holgate, Anel Ahmedhodzic (Capt), Jack Robinson; Jayden Bogle, Gustavo Hamer (Tom Davies 79), Vinicius de Souza, Ben Osborn (Oliver Norwood 79), Yasser Larouci (Andre Brooks 63); James McAtee (Rhian Brewster 79); William Osula (Auston Trusty 30).
Subs not used: Iyo Grbic (G/K), Oliver Arblaster, Oliver McBurnie, Billy Blacker.
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).
Red Card: Sheffield United: 1 - Mason Holgate,
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 4 - Bart Verbruggen, Tariq Lamptey, Billy Gilmour, Facundo Buonanotte.
Sheffield United: 1 - Tom Davies.
Possession: Albion - 79%. Sheffield United - 21%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Simon Adingra (Albion).
Attendance: 29522.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
24 FEBRUARY 2024 - EVERTON - home - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
28 FEBRUARY 2024 - WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS - away - Emirates FA Cup,
Fifth Round - kick-off 19.45. "LIve" on BBC1.