Sheffield United 1-0 Brentford: James McAtee’s strike seals Chris Wilder’s first win as returning Blades boss… but it’s not enough to lift them off the bottom of the Premier League table
- Sheffield United picked up their second win of the season on Saturday.
- Chris Wilder picked up his first win since returning as Blades manager in midweek.
- Manchester City have gone downhill but Gary Neville is WRONG when he says they are complacent – listen up It all begins
With one sumptuous swing of his expert left boot, James McAtee started Sheffield United’s fight against relegation.
The Salford-born midfielder is on loan from Manchester City for the second season in a row after helping the Blades to promotion last season.
He struck on the stroke of half-time after gaining possession on the right side of Brentford’s 18-yard box and firing a brilliant shot into the far corner of Mark Flekken’s goal.
On a muddy day of incessant rain and strong winds, the quality of play was very poor until 21-year-old McAtee, nicknamed Salford Silva, took matters into his own hands.
It was his first Premier League goal and a fitting victory that delighted Blades manager Chris Wilder.
James McAtee opened the scoring early on in the break as Sheffield United finally scored
McAtee cut through the Brentford defense with his left foot to score the only goal of the game.
Blades manager Chris Wilder celebrated his first win since returning to the club in midweek.
It was United’s first clean sheet of the season and Wilder was pleased with his first win since returning to the club earlier this week.
The childhood Blades fan said: “It was very emotional because that first win means a lot to everyone.
“The word ‘suffer’ is often used and the club has suffered this season.
“At the national level, we all know what storytelling is.
“We’re not stupid, we listen to the pundits, commentators and media that we can’t stop listening to because we all love the game and want to stay connected to it.”
“The narrative is what it is, and it’s our job to try to change that.
“McAtee found the moment – the big moment – and he decided what a tight game it was.”
Even after this win, only their second in 16 games, the Blades remain bottom.
But Wilder’s return – after Paul Heckingbottom was sacked following last week’s miserable 5-0 defeat to Burnley – has reinvigorated the Blades.
Wilder was furious after Brentford’s Frank Onyeka caught Viny Sousa with a terrible challenge in the first half, outdoing the United midfielder with his studs.
Referee Stuart Attwell referred the decision to VAR, where Robert Jones deemed the challenge worthy of a booking.
But as half-time approached, Gustavo Hamer found McAtee to decide the match.
Brentford’s Frank Onyeka managed to avoid a red card after a VAR review.
Thomas Frank was helpless to prevent his side from slipping to their seventh defeat of the season.
Sheffield United have a long way to go before Premier League safety can be guaranteed next season.
Wilder emphatically celebrated as Bramall Lane breathed a sigh of relief in the main game
Brentford suffered an away defeat on a gloomy night for the west London visitors.
Brentford offered little in the absence of the injured Brian Mbeumo and United had further chances during a largely dominant second-half performance.
Encores boss Thomas Frank insisted: “I saw a lot of effort from the players, I can’t complain about that.
“It was like a game whose outcome was to be decided by one major action.”
Luckily for Wilder and the Bramall Lane faithful, McAtee provided it.