Sam Allardyce says West Bromwich Albion would have “killed” Sheffield United had it not been for Aaron Ramsdale’s “wonderful” save.
Matt Phillips gave West Brom a half-time lead in the relegation battle at Bramall Lane, before Jayden Bogle equalised after the break.
Yet the Baggies broke once more and it looked like Callum Robinson would put them back ahead against his former club. However, Ramsdale produced a superb stop to keep Robinson’s shot out, allowing Billy Sharp to score the all important winner for the Blades.
Allardyce thinks if that effort had gone in, it would have been a very different outcome.
“We expected for Sheffield United to have more possession,” the 66-year-old told BBC Sport after the game. “But when it came to chances – particularly the chance from Callum at 1-1, that would have been 2-1 to us and I don’t think we’d have lost this game.
“Just a wonderful save from the goalkeeper. I don’t know quite how he did it, but he did.
MORE UNITED STORIES
“And at that stage of the game I think that would have killed Sheffield United, killed their momentum. And I think we certainly wouldn’t have lost the game.”
Allardyce could be right as Ramsdale excels again against West Brom
Ramsdale has received his fair share of criticism this season after returning to United from Bournemouth last summer.
Some of it has been justified, but manager Chris Wilder has stuck by the goalkeeper throughout.
Wilder spoke at length about Ramsdale following Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City.
Although they lost, the 22-year-old kept the Blades in it with some fine saves – including a fingertip effort to deny Gabriel Jesus late on.
Following this up with another excellent display against West Brom shows Wilder was justified in sticking by his man.
With United having struggled for goals so far this term, going 2-1 down to the Baggies could have been tough to come back from.
They did enjoy much more possession, but struggled at times to break a resolute defence.
Ramsdale is just one of the many players chipping in to this revival, which now reads five wins in seven matches in all competitions.
And long may it continue.