'You have to enjoy days like today' - Wilder

5 months ago 95
James McAteeJames McAtee's first Premier League goal helped the Blades to victory over Brentford

A wonderful goal by James McAtee was enough for Sheffield United to beat Brentford and give Blades manager Chris Wilder a first win since his return to the club.

The Manchester City loanee's first Premier League goal lit up a rainy Bramall Lane in first-half injury time as he cut inside onto his left foot and curled a beautiful shot into the far corner.

Blades sub Anis Ben Slimane missed a great chance to make it 2-0 after 56 minutes but shot straight at Mark Flekken in the Brentford goal.

Brentford, without top scorer Bryan Mbeumo through injury, struggled to create many openings as they fell to a fourth defeat in their last five games.

The win is only Sheffield United's second in the Premier League this season and came in Wilder's second match back in charge following the 2-0 defeat against Liverpool in midweek.

It was also the Blades' first clean sheet of the season but it was not quite enough for them to jump off the foot of the table as they remain bottom on goal difference from Burnley, with both sides on eight points from 16 games

Relive text commentary of Saturday's Premier League games hereHow did you rate Brentford's performance? Have your say hereWhat did you make of Sheffield United's display? Send us your views here

It was a strong start by the hosts with Auston Trusty seeing an shot deflected wide by Frank Onyeka's block and Andre Brooks involved in the early exchanges on his second Premier League start.

Trusty was shown the first yellow card of the game after 17 minutes for a lunge on Keane Lewis-Potter, who was one of three changes made by Thomas Frank after the midweek defeat at Brighton.

Ben Mee had a header comfortably dealt with by Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham in heavy rain during an opening half-hour in which neither goalkeeper was really tested.

Onyeka was cautioned for a tackle on Vini Souza with the high challenge checked for a potential red card by the video assistant referee but it remained a yellow.

The game suddenly sprung to life in the closing moments of the first half as Sheffield United forward Will Osula hit the side-netting after being played through by Gustavo Hamer before Brentford's Neal Maupay was denied by Jack Robinson's block.

Sheff Utd v BrentfordThe Blades earned a first clean sheet of the season in the win over Brentford

McAtee's goal came after the visitors made a mess of clearing the ball and Hamer found the 21-year-old who stepped inside and hit a shot which gave Flekken no chance.

The hosts had a great chance to double their lead shortly before the hour mark when Cameron Archer won possession from Mee and crossed for the arriving substitute Slimane but he shot straight at Flekken from close range.

The Bees threatened intermittently but failed to build-up any real momentum with Yoane Wissa, who has one goal in his last 14 games, twice seeing efforts saved comfortably by Foderingham.

Slimane missed another chance to make the win more comfortable by shooting into the side netting and there was one final scare for the home fans as Brentford claimed for a late penalty for handball but it was not given, allowing them to celebrate a much-needed win.

Player of the match

McAteeJames McAtee

with an average of 8.29

Sheffield United

Squad number28Player nameMcAtee

Squad number8Player nameHamer

Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane

Squad number35Player nameBrooks

Squad number10Player nameArcher

Squad number19Player nameRobinson

Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza

Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic

Squad number32Player nameOsula

Squad number18Player nameFoderingham

Squad number3Player nameLowe

Squad number20Player nameBogle

Squad number42Player namePeck

Squad number5Player nameTrusty

Brentford

Squad number5Player namePinnock

Squad number11Player nameWissa

Squad number37Player nameOlakigbe

Squad number6Player nameNørgaard

Squad number16Player nameMee

Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter

Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard

Squad number14Player nameGhoddos

Squad number33Player nameYarmoliuk

Squad number27Player nameJanelt

Squad number7Player nameMaupay

Squad number1Player nameFlekken

Squad number26Player nameBaptiste

Squad number15Player nameOnyeka

Line-ups

Sheff Utd

Formation 4-1-4-1

18FoderinghamBooked at 90mins20BogleBooked at 82mins15Ahmedhodzic19RobinsonBooked at 90mins5TrustyBooked at 17mins21de Souza Costa28McAteeSubstituted forPeckat 81'minutes8Hamer35BrooksSubstituted forLoweat 73'minutes10Archer32OsulaBooked at 51minsSubstituted forBen Slimaneat 53'minutes

Substitutes

1Davies3Lowe11Traoré14Thomas25Ben Slimane26Oné27Larouci38Seriki42Peck

Brentford

Formation 4-3-3

1Flekken14Ghoddos5Pinnock16Mee27Janelt15OnyekaBooked at 29minsSubstituted forYarmoliukat 45'minutes6Nørgaard26BaptisteSubstituted forDamsgaardat 65'minutes23Lewis-PotterSubstituted forOlakigbeat 66'minutes7Maupay11Wissa

Substitutes

4Goode13M Jorgensen21Strakosha24Damsgaard25Peart-Harris30Roerslev33Yarmoliuk37Olakigbe42Adedokun

Referee:Stuart Attwell

Attendance:28,509

Live Text

Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Brentford 0.

Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Brentford 0.

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Gustavo Hamer.

Yoane Wissa (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United).

Wes Foderingham (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.

Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).

Attempt blocked. Ben Mee (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Max Lowe.

Attempt missed. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Jack Robinson following a fast break.

Jayden Bogle (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.

Neal Maupay (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).

Attempt missed. Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right.

Substitution, Sheffield United. Sydie Peck replaces James McAtee.

Attempt saved. Cameron Archer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Anis Ben Slimane with a headed pass.

Attempt saved. Yoane Wissa (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner.

Offside, Sheffield United. Cameron Archer is caught offside.

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