It ended 0-0 at Bramall Lane this afternoon as Sheffield United were held to a draw by promotion chasing Bournemouth in the early kick-off in the Championship.
Both sides gave it a good go and United probably should have won it, or at least had the chance to win it, from the penalty spot. Morgan Gibbs-White was chopped down by Nat Phillips only for referee, Dean Whitestone, to wave away the Blades forward’s calls.
Bramall Lane was far from impressed either, and it’s not the first time a big decision has gone against the Blades this season. And despite Filip Uremovic missing a golden chance at the end to win the game, the big talking point will be the non penalty. Certainly, Oli McBurnie wasn’t prepared to let it go at full-time.
As the final whistle went, McBurnie was straight over to referee Whitestone. The big United striker was remonstrating with the official, clearly shocked at the decision to not award a pen. It carried on for a while, too, with the cameras panning away for a good minute before going back to the ref, who was still being hounded by McBurnie.
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And while we don’t condone giving the referee abuse, it certainly summed up how United fans felt. It was a blatant penalty and one of the worst calls of the season. Whitestone will surely see it back and wonder how he’s not given it.
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Obviously, we have to get there, but if the Blades can land a top six spot then we are a team to watch. Yes, we are struggling for goals with no Billy Sharp. But McBurnie is contributing, Gibbs-White looks a threat alongside him, and the team as a whole remains solid.
Players like Fleck and Stevens are looking sharper, and all in all, it’s looking like a team ready to make a big push.
Bournemouth were a tough test, and United did more than enough to win it.
