Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder says his side “have to wise up quickly” after they were beaten by Southampton in a tight game at Bramall Lane.
Saints summer signing Moussa Djenepo scored the deciding goal as he brilliantly weaved through the Blades defence before firing home midway through the second half.
But prior to falling behind, the hosts saw a goal ruled out for offside by the video assistant referee when Oliver McBurnie thought he had put them in front shortly after the break.
The Blades have now won just one of their opening five games on their Premier League return.
“This is a game we should have definitely got something from – at minimum a draw,” Wilder told BBC Sport.
“We have got to wise up quickly. With the amount of chances we created, we can’t come away not scoring – it is absolutely ridiculous.
“We want to win games and we have to open up, so for us to create 17 chances shows we’re playing in a way to try and win games of football. We will always do that.”
As well as seeing a goal disallowed, the hosts also saw second-half substitute Billy Sharp sent off late on for a rash challenge on Stuart Armstrong, while they were denied a penalty when James Ward-Prowse appeared to handle the ball in the area.
The hosts were the better team for large periods and Blades striker David McGoldrick will rue a string of missed chances, although Angus Gunn was impressive in the Saints goal, making four good saves.
However, Ralph Hassenhuttl’s team held firm and had chances of their own before summer signing Djenepo broke the deadlock, notably through Che Adams, who saw his headed effort acrobatically saved by home keeper Dean Henderson.
“I have got to get used to the Premier League, it seems a different game we are involved with. I thought he was correct with the VAR decision [to disallow McBurnie’s goal],” Wilder added.
“But I don’t understand the handball one, I think Ward-Prowse has handled it when three of our boys are right round it. That has gone against us today but in about four weeks’ time we will have someone come out and say ‘we got that one wrong’.
“Other bits and pieces I have got to get used to; players going down before there is contact, looking to give the referee a difficult decision. But I have no qualms about Billy’s sending off – it was just disappointing because his impact on the game was great.”
Victory for Saints means they have claimed back-to-back away league wins for the first time since March 2017 following their win at Brighton prior to the international break.
It also sees them climb to 10th while the Blades slide to 13th.
Djenepo’s moment of magic
For two sides so closely matched, it is perhaps fitting that it took a moment of magic to separate them, supplied by Djenepo.
The tricky forward displayed his strength to hold off Blades skipper Norwood before exhibiting impressive agility to go past both John Egan and Jack O’Connell, to leave him in space inside the opposition penalty box.
Then, all that was left was the finish, and he delivered it emphatically.
But Hassenhuttl’s side were made to work hard for their win, which was only their second in their past nine league games, and central defenders Jannik Vestergaard and Maya Yoshida more than played their part as the hosts applied heavy pressure as the game drew to a close.
“We showed we can switch the shape immediately and key today was we were good from the beginning,” Hassenhuttl told BBC Sport.
“We had two big chances in the first half, a bit unlucky and first 15 minutes of the second half the pressure was high from Sheffield. After that we were a little bit better and we tried to calm the game down with possession.
“VAR did a fantastic job, it’s fantastic that such a technique is available in the league. Moussa – I must say a big compliment to our physios, they did everything they could for him to play today and he scored a fantastic goal so everybody loves him.”
Blades lack finishing touch
The foundations of United’s success on their return to the Premier League have been built on hard work and they had that in abundance on Saturday.
They could not, however, find a goal.
In the first half, McGoldrick was denied by Gunn after being sent clear by his strike partner McBurnie.
And then the Republic of Ireland striker put wide from close range when sliding in to meet Norwood’s deep free-kick.
Midfielder John Fleck was also guilty of spurning chances, the Scotsman heading over and hitting the side-netting in the opening 45 minutes.
And while they looked to have opened the scoring on 52 minutes, McBurnie’s effort was rightly ruled out as VAR showed Egan to be in an offside position when the ball came into the box.
They did not let that setback dampen their spirits, though, and they continued to put Southampton under pressure even after Djenepo’s goal.
But it was not to be for Wilder’s side, who had four recognised attackers on the pitch at one stage as they pushed for an equaliser, before Sharp’s reckless lunge saw him receive the second red card of his career.
Man of the match – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton)
‘The guys believe in what we are doing’ – what they said
Southampton boss Ralph Hassenhuttl on BBC Sport: “We had a difficult start at Burnley then Liverpool, but the guys believe in what we are doing. We knew we could play better than in their first two games but these seven points are very important for us.
“Two away wins in a row is good for us and gives us self-confidence. We have more quality in front this season, we have more options and even Nathan Redmond is injured and he can make a difference.”
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder on BBC Sport: “I was unhappy with the first half performance because it wasn’t us, was not us but that is our performance today. It’s risk and reward, the goal we conceded is nothing to do with shape or tactics, it is a ball given away in the middle of the park.
“We are an open side, that’s why we created 17 chances and should have scored, no doubt about it.”
First-half droughts continue for both sides – the stats
- Sheffield United have lost consecutive home Premier League matches for only the second time, also doing so in March 1993 under Dave Bassett.
- Southampton have won three away games in a row in all competitions without conceding a goal for the first time since March 1986.
- Sheffield United and Southampton remain the only two sides in the Premier League yet to score a first-half goal this season.
- Summer signing Moussa Djenepo’s second Premier League goal for Southampton came courtesy of just his third shot on target in the competition.
- Southampton’s Sofiane Boufal has registered two assists in his last three Premier League appearances, as many as he managed in his previous 51 in the competition.
Next up
The Saints will now prepare for the visit of Bournemouth on Friday night (20:00 BST) while the Blades travel to Goodison Park to face Everton the next day (15:00 BST).
