Sheffield United got their second point of the season with a hard-fought and well-earned point at Brighton today.
The Blades were down to ten men after just over half an hour but took the lead when Jayden Bogle’s deflected effort found its way into the roof of the net. However, a late Danny Welbeck equaliser ensured the season remains a winless one for Chris Wilder’s men.
But, there was plenty to be upbeat about again, while there were still some lingering problems that seem to be hindering our progress.
With that, here’s a look at some of the positives and negatives from the Blades’ performance at Brighton today.
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
Positive – Oliver Burke is a huge threat
Despite missing the golden chance to win the game for United near the end, the threat Burke possesses in behind shouldn’t be understated.
We haven’t had a player with the raw pace and power Burke shows for some time now. If he can just get that final bit right, then Chris Wilder might have pulled off a masterstroke here.
Positive – Aaron Ramsdale fights back
No, it wasn’t the perfect performance from Ramsdale but he showed great character to come roaring back from the errors in midweek.
A misjudged cross aside, Ramsdale was more or less in command and couldn’t do much about the goal from Welbeck. He’d have loved the clean-sheet, but this performance will boost him nonetheless.
Negative – What has happened to John Fleck?
It pains me to say this, but is John Fleck now someone in the first XI whose place is under threat? It certainly looks that way.
Take today away, where he wasn’t involved at all before Wilder took him off, and Fleck has looked a shadow of what we saw last season and before.
It’s a huge blow as well. On his day, he’s our best player but at the moment, we aren’t seeing anything from the Scot. It is, in a nutshell, very worrying.
Positive – David McGoldrick….again
Talk about standing up and being counted for in a time of need.
McGoldrick has stepped up to the plate and continues to show the fight, desire, and crucially, the quality needed to ensure we remain at least within a chance of survival.
Everything good we did came through ‘Didzy’ and he has to be the first name on the team-sheet at the moment.
Negative – It’s just not falling for us at key times
Yes, Oli Burke should have scored his chance but last season, we take that chance and win the game comfortably.
Likewise, Chris Basham gets his head to the ball and it falls straight to Danny Welbeck to lash home. Those fine margins are just holding us back at the moment and we need a bit of luck to change.
Of course, we got fortunate with Jayden Bogle’s goal to an extent but we could do with a bit more rub of the green.
Positive – Plenty of fight
Not that getting rid of Wilder is even up for debate, but the players have shown enough in the last two games to suggest they are still right behind the Blade boss.
It’s good to see and gives fans the smallest bit of hope that this could well end up being a season where we pull a miracle out of the bag.
A manager is as good as gone when his players stop working for him and on this week’s evidence, there is not a single sign of that from this Blades group.
