Sheffield United 3-3 Manchester United
With around 10 minutes remaining in the first half of this Premier League encounter, I received a message from Manchester United’s official app.
It said something along the lines of, see which player is most influencing the match.
I’m surprised the club sent it out because it was clearly not one of their own. In fact, at that point, the side had not even managed a single effort on target.
The message summed up to me everything that United have become under the stewardship of CEO Ed Woodward.
A business first, a football club second. Looking in from the outside, it appears to be an organisation where lucrative commercial partners off the pitch seem more important to some than matters on it.
After producing one of the Premier League news stories of the season, my apologies to Sheffield United because in many ways the focus should all be on them and Chris Wilder and his players deserve all the plaudits that come their way.
Yet I will leave that to others.
For the newly promoted Yorkshiremen did not even need to be at their best to seal a draw with United – that is what supposedly the biggest club in England have become.
Yes, it would be easy to cast the blame at the door of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, an inexperienced manager who – while no doubt has an eye for talent (perhaps he has a role elsewhere in the club) – is clearly struggling as a manager at this level.
But that was always the case, long before he was appointed.
Sacking Solskjaer would simply mask the problem that Woodward has helped create and United have become.
Even when they didn’t always win, since when have United allowed a newly promoted team to be sharper and hungrier than them?
Since when have United been overrun and lacking in urgency?
‘A lot’ in recent times is the answer and the men currently at the helm either don’t seem to care or, if that seems a harsh assessment, do not have the ability to turn things around.
This game was proof of that.
United will continue to go nowhere near the top under the current stewardship.
Highlights of the game
It said much that despite recording five wins in their last six games in all competitions, United went into this match behind Sheffield United in the table after their impressive start to life back in the top flight.
Even accounting for inconsistencies, it was a scenario few, nor the SBOBET Premier League betting odds, would have predicted at the start of the season.
They would also have been well aware of the need to show real desire and strength in this one – especially as their recent win at Norwich was their only success on the road in 10 attempts.
The hosts were hampered from the outset by the fact their goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, who has had an impressive campaign to date, was ineligible to face his parent club as part of the deal in his loan from United.
It meant a Premier League debut for Simon Moore but he was a mere observer for large parts of the first half as his opposite number, David De Gea, saved United – although even he was unable to prevent John Fleck’s opener after keeping out an initial effort from John Lundstram.
When Lys Mousset played a 1-2 with Fleck and unleashed a superb long-range effort beyond De Gea seven minutes after the restart, few could argue Sheffield United deserved their advantage.
Then, after 70 minutes of little more than a woeful showing, came the turnaround.
Solskjaer deserves some credit for tactically getting United back in it as they produced a captivating response scoring three times in seven minutes.
He also deserves credit for giving so many youngsters an opportunity – all of United’s Premier League goalscorers so far this season have been aged 23 and under.
However, even a stirring fightback only papered over the cracks as substitute Oliver McBurnie rifled in a last-minute equaliser to cap a six-goal thriller.
A thrilling contest but this was nowhere near good enough for the biggest club in the land.
Sheffield United are going on an upward trajectory.
Man Utd are going nowhere fast.
Key Statistics
Sheffield United were victorious against Manchester United on the opening day of the inaugural Premier League season in 1992. Brian Deane scored the first ever Premier League goal in that match.
However, until today, the Blades had since lost all five subsequent Premier League meetings, and the last seven in all competitions, by an aggregate score of 14-1.
Sheffield United are unbeaten in six Premier League games (won two, drawn four).
This is the latest in a season that the Blades have started a match in the top five of the top flight since January 1972.
The Red Devils have triumphed in only one of their last 11 Premier League away fixtures (drawn four, lost six).
United’s tally of 17 points is their lowest after 13 fixtures of a top-flight season since 1988-89.
They have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 matches on the road. United have not conceded in 12 consecutive top-flight away games since a run of 15 in the 1985-86 campaign.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, United have lost six of their 20 away Premier League games against promoted sides (won 11, drawn three); just one fewer than in 62 such games under the Scot.
They have not won consecutive Premier League matches since March.
What’s next?
Sheffield United are at Wolves a week today.
United host another newly-promoted club in Aston Villa on the same day but first travel to FC Astana of Kazakhstan in the Europa League on Thursday (November 28). They have already qualified for the last 32.
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