Sheffield United produced one of the shocks of the season as the Premier League's bottom side recorded a 2-1 win over title chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.
It was an energetic, tireless, cohesive performance from the Blades, reminiscent of the displays that they had turned in on a weekly basis last season.
Chris Wilder's side took the lead after 23 minutes, former Manchester City academy product Kean Bryan rising highest to head home from a corner.
Kean Bryan Vincent Kompany
— Man City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 27, 2021
?
Scoring headers vs United
to keep #ManCity
top of the league pic.twitter.com/iVInT8x1Iy
Sheffield United strike first at Old Trafford. ?#MUNSHU pic.twitter.com/LvEeivVj0j
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 27, 2021
Txiki sold City Academy’s Kean Bryan to Sheffield United, who scores to help defeat Man United at Old Trafford, which keeps #ManCity Top Of the League.
— City Chief (@City_Chief) January 27, 2021
Ladies and gents, he has done it again. pic.twitter.com/V4l6FyMytd
However, the goal was not without controversy, with Billy Sharp not penalised for a nudge on David de Gea in the buildup. Minutes later at the other end, a foul was awarded against Harry Maguire following a similar incident.
How Maguire's challenge on Ramsdale is given as a foul when Sharp gets off Scott free for his foul on De Gea is beyond me #mufc #sufc
— James Ducker (@TelegraphDucker) January 27, 2021
How was it not a foul on De Gea but it was a foul by Maguire? ?#MUNSHU pic.twitter.com/Fo2YmZYSRo
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 27, 2021
It was the only complaint United could muster after a flat first half performance.
It's easier to cancel an Amazon Prime account than it is for MUFC to find a way through Sheffield United's defence. Poor first half for MUFC.
— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) January 27, 2021
But the Red Devils fought back and found an equaliser in the 64th minute, former Sheffield United academy product Maguire escaping the attentions of the excellent Phil Jagielka and powering home a header.
That is an absolutely immense bit of "captain's goal"/"get on with it" goal celebrating from Maguire, great arc on the run too, although arguably ran back a *bit* too quickly
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) January 27, 2021
3 - All three of Harry Maguire's Premier League goals for Manchester United have been headers from corners. Slabhead. pic.twitter.com/40lV2ym0zy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 27, 2021
The Red Devils have made a habit of coming back to take all three points from losing positions this term - but instead it was the visitors who found a second wind.
United twice failed to clear their lines and Oliver Burke was presented with all the time and space in the world inside the box to fire towards goal, and his effort deflected in off Axel Tuanzebe.
It was a glorious piece of completely calamitous defending from the Red Devils.
We just let Oli Burke have all the space he wanted in the box. Twice.
— Casey Evans (@Casey_Evans_) January 27, 2021
Get. A. Defensive. Coach. At. United. Now.
evergreen tweet https://t.co/RobDmbF8gt
— Ella Brockway (@ellabrockway) January 27, 2021
That defending for Burke’s goal is embarrassing. Failed once and then did the exact same thing again #MUNSHU
— Hunter Godson (@HunterGodson) January 27, 2021
It was calamitous defending against a side with just one Premier League win and ten Premier League goals to their name prior to Wednesday evening.
2 - Both Kean Bryan and Oliver Burke have scored their first Premier League goals tonight - it's the first time two players have netted their first PL goal against Man Utd in the same match since Esteban Cambiasso and Jamie Vardy did so in September 2014 for Leicester. Timing. pic.twitter.com/CRRzHRbLIA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 27, 2021
33% of Sheffield United’s goals this season have come against Manchester United. #MUNSHU
— Tom Dutton (@TomDutty) January 27, 2021
It was ultimately a poor performance from Manchester United, who missed the opportunity to return to the Premier League summit and brought an end to their unbeaten top flight run.
The result and manner of the defeat also led to fans questioning their title credentials.
Manchester United making a supposedly routine fixture far too hard for themselves, it’s just like old times.
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) January 27, 2021
Sir Alex Ferguson's here and that Sheffield United performance might remind him of the 'obscene' effort from relegated West Ham at Upton Park in 1992. Sheffield United still destined for the Championship, which makes this such a demoralising defeat for #mufc. They were poor.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) January 27, 2021
You can do nothing but laugh at this, by the way. It’s genuinely quite funny. United weren’t ever winning this league but they had to choose a game against the worst team in PL history to date to confirm it ?
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) January 27, 2021
We had fun with it as fans, but this Manchester United squad can't win a title. Too many so called 'big' players hide in crunch time.
— Rich (@utdpotential) January 27, 2021
What a brilliant result for Chris Wilder and Sheffield United - and an absolute shocker for Manchester United.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) January 27, 2021
But take nothing away from Sheffield United, who produced a stunning performance from front to back. The midfield three of John Lundstram, Oliver Norwood and John Fleck were absolutely everywhere, while their three centre halves were absolutely imperious.
These Bladesmen. ❤️
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) January 27, 2021
Our first win at Old Trafford since December 1973. ? pic.twitter.com/vN8IFWv2q7
Source: 90min
