Chris Basham is often one of the Blades players who goes under the radar but following his display at Wolves today, that should be no more.
The centre-back was simply superb in the back three for the Blades. After dominating in the main for an hour or so, United came under siege after Matt Doherty equalised.
However, Basham, along with Jack O’Connell and John Egan, repelled wave after wave of Wolves attacks to keep the home side at bay. Indeed, Basham’s performance was analysed after the game by analytics specialist, Blades Analytics.
Those stats on their own are enough to highlight just how good Basham was today. However, it’s been a similar case for Basham throughout the season.
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Much is often made of the defender and his marauding runs forward. He did do that today at times, teasing in a ball for David McGoldrick that the striker narrowly failed to get on the end of.
Brilliantly for Basham, it was his defensive qualities that were highlighted today. John Egan and Jack O’Connell are usually the ones to be given the limelight. But today, it was almost all about Basham.
Chris Basham deserves his shot at the big-time again
For a player who used to work in McDonalds, it’s been quite the rise for Basham. He’d briefly played in the top flight with Bolton Wanderers but never got going.
A move to Sheffield United from Blackpool back in 2014 proved to be a turning point. Despite a rough few seasons under the likes of Nigel Adkins, Basham found his way under Chris Wilder. Indeed, we covered this not so long ago.
Basham has proven time and again this season he is worth his place in a Premier League team. His display at Wolves today not only proved he can put the graft in, but crucially, showed he is just as adept at defending as his often lauded teammates.
Chris Basham showed once and for all at Wolves that he is indeed the real deal, mixing with and exceeding the performances of some of the Premier League’s best.
Blades fans will be hoping the rise of ‘Bashambauer’ continues for a little while yet.