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Sheffield United 1-0 Blackburn Rovers: Davis winner gives 10 man Blades crucial win to boost play off hopes

Substitute Ben Davies scores the only goal for ten men Sheffield United, as they beat Blackburn Rovers in injury time at Bramall Lane to boost promotion bid.

United were left with 10 men deep into the second half, but perseverence prevailed, as Davies, who came on late into the game, was left completely unmarked following Sander Berge’s corner, who poked home in injury time to secure a huge three points for the Blades.

The hosts game out firing, peppering crosses into the Rovers box, but couldn’t find a breakthrough. Oliver Norwood came the closest form a corner, but couldn’t convert his striker

George Baldock forced Kaminski into a smart save as Berge and John Fleck both dribbled past the Blackburn midfielders. Billy Sharp then flicked the ball over the head of the Rovers defence for Berge to chase, the midfielder forced Kaminski into a low save, the rebound was then bundled in by Rhys Norrington-Davies who was correctly ruled offside.

The best chance of the first half fell to Sharp who after a quick breakaway led by Berge crossed the ball in where Sharp had peeled away from Jan Paul van Hecke and fired his header wide of goal.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23: Blackburn Rovers’ Darragh Lenihan battles with Sheffield United’s John Fleck during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane on February 23, 2022 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Dave Howarth – CameraSport via Getty Images)
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The second half started in fine fashion as Sande Berge again dribbled from his own box and carried the ball to the by-line where he teed up Fleck who smashed his shot straight at Kaminski in the Rovers goal. The resultant save was spilled to Morgan Gibbs-White, but the Belgian was able to recover and stop the effort.

The game was then flipped on its head, after referee, Matthew Donohue, brandished a red card to Charlie Goode on his debut, after a rash challenge on Reda Khadra. Staff and players scuffled over the decision, but it was clear as day for Donohue, with Blades manager, Paul Heckingbottom, left in disbelief.

Rovers’ game just got better, as Khadra’s skilled dribbling was interrupted by a John Egan handball. Egan had his keeper to thank though, as Khadra couldn’t capitalise and Wes Foderingham produced a great stop to keep the game at a stalemate.

2022 CameraSport SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 23:Blackburn Rovers’ Reda Khadra takes his penalty which was saved during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane on February 23, 2022 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Dave Howarth – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Heckingbottom was lucky that Sande Berge wasn’t also sent off with the Norwegian who was already booked for a poor tackle on Pickering in the first half, then pushed the same player and bundled him to the ground in the second half.

Foderingham once again kept his team in the game, after a great stop deep into the game, before the Blades would finally find what they were looking for. Kaminski failed to deal with a corner deep into injury time and with the ball falling to Jack Robinson, he was able to tee up Davies to seal the three points.

The win puts Sheffield United in 6th place, just one point behind Blackburn with a game in hand on the Rovers. Blacburn face QPR in the early kick off at 12;30 this Saturday, with the Blades travelling to the capital to face Milwall at 3pm on the same day.

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