Brighton smashed 10-man Sheffield United 5-0 at Bramall Lane on Sunday as the Blades’ awful season took another ugly twist.
Mason Holgate was sent off for a ridiculously dangerous tackle just 12 minutes in and that set the tone for Sheffield United.
Facundo Buonanotte and Danny Welbeck soon had Brighton 2-0 up and although Sheffield United recovered well to stay in the game, they tired badly in the final stages and conceded three more.
First the excellent Kaoru Mitoma had a cross deflected into his own net by Jack Robinson, then Simon Adingra volleyed home and then had another shot which looped off Auston Trusty and in to make it 5-0.
It’s the second home game in a row where Sheffield United have lost 5-0 as Chris Wilder’s side are seven points from safety with 13 games to go. Brighton move on to 38 points and are pushing for a top six finish.
Sheffield United on track to be worst-ever Premier League team
The Blades sold their two best players (Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge) from their promotion winning season. They failed to reinvest properly. They changed managers a few months into the season after several damaging defeats and went back to a former manager who left in a sour manner. And the damaging defeats have continued with injuries not calming down either. Two 5-0 home defeats in a row, and the fact they’ve conceded more goals (65) than any Premier League team in history after 25 games of a season, tells you the true story. This Sheffield United team is simply not good enough for the Premier League. Their fans, players and staff all know it. It really is as simple as that. But now the main aim, with a brutal run of fixtures coming up, is to not be dubbed the worst team in Premier League history. Derby County have the record low points tally of 11 for a single PL season, where they had just one win, so Sheffield United have surpassed that total with 13. But they are still on track to set a bunch of unwanted records and will concede more than that Derby side if they carry on at the rate they’re conceding. When you look at their remaining schedule there are only two games, at home against Burnley and Nottingham Forest, which you can make a serious case for them to win. Strange things can happen but the Blades should now start to rebuild for next season in the second tier.
Sheffield United vs Brighton player ratings
Mitoma, Adingra and Welbeck caused chaos with their movement while Gross pulled the strings from midfield as Brighton enjoyed themselves mightily in the Steel City. You can see via our friends at FotMob.com that Sheffield United’s defense had a torrid time with Brighton coasting to victory.
What’s next?
Sheffield United head to Wolves on Sunday, Feb. 25, while Brighton host Everton on Saturday, Feb. 24.
How to watch Sheffield United vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 9am ET Sunday
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Stream via NBC.com
Sheffield United vs Brighton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Sheffield United vs Brighton final score: 0-5
Buonanotte 20', Welbeck 24', Robinson OG 75', Adingra 78', 85'
Full time: Sheffield United 0-5 Brighton
That was a miserable afternoon from start to finish for Sheffield United as Brighton secured a huge away win and they could have scored 10.
Another for Brighton - Sheffield United 0-5 Brighton (85th minute)
Adingra’s shot deflects off Trusty’s foot and loops in.
Adingra gets in on the act - Sheffield United 0-4 Brighton (78th minute)
Simon Adingra with a lovely volley on the turn as the AFCON winner is back in action for Brighton and back among the goals. The Seagulls can really run the score up now.
Mitoma’s cross deflects in - Sheffield United 0-3 Brighton (75th minute)
Mitoma whips in a dangerous cross and Robinson is under pressure and tries to clear but he directs the ball into his own net. That is game, set, match.
Blades having a go
Well, this is unexpected. Sheffield United have almost got in with a couple of route one attacks. First Foderingham finds McAtee but Brighton clear at the last moment, then another attack causes some problems which leads to a long throw but Brighton aren’t troubled. 10-man Sheffield United are hanging in there and their fans really appreciate it.
Training exercise for Brighton now
The Seagulls are dominating possession and are wearing Sheffield United down. Adingra is the latest to get a sight of goal but his shot is straight at Foderingham.
Half time: Sheffield United 0-2 Brighton
That was a very lively first half. Holgate’s red card put the Blades in a terrible position and Brighton pounced through Buonanotte and Welbeck and could’ve scored more. That said, Sheffield United did settle down and created a few chances themselves at the end of the half. Still, the Seagulls are sitting pretty.
Osborn’s goal disallowed by VAR for offside
A lengthy VAR check rules out a goal from Ben Osborn as he was offside as the ball hit Buonanotte before Osborn scored. As it wasn’t a deliberate action from Buonanotte, Osborn was offside. Initially the referee on the pitch said Osborn had fouled Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen but that wasn’t the case. VAR then checked for offside and it was ruled out.
Brighton pushing for a third
Adingra smashes one over and it is all Brighton as they pushed hard for a third before half time. USMNT defender Auston Trusty is off the bench as Sheffield United have selected damage limitation mode. Smart choice.
Danny Welbeck smashes home - Sheffield United 0-2 Brighton (25th minute)
A second goal for the Seagulls as a cross into the box from finds Mitoma and his shot is saved but then the ball drops to Danny Welbeck and he hammers home. This could be another home hammering for Sheffield United.
Blades almost level it
Right away Sheffield United almost make it 1-1. Hamer cuts in from the right and wriggles into the box but his effort across goal is deflected out for a corner. So close for the hosts as Hamer could have squared it to a few of his teammates.
Brighton are ahead as Dunk heads in - Sheffield United 0-1 Brighton (20th minute)
After Welbeck and Buonanotte almost got on the end of a cross, the ball goes out for a corner and Dunk heads the ball towards goal and Buonanotte nudges it over the line.
Mason Holgate sent off for an awful challenge
Everton loanee Mason Holgate lunges in towards Mitoma and his foot is high and catches the Japanese winger on the knee. VAR takes a look at the challenge and the decision is simple: red card for Holgate after 13 minutes. Safe to say Chris Wilder isn’t happy.
Brighton dangerous at the other end
Adingra takes a ball down perfectly and his cross is into a dangerous area with Ahmedhodzic stretching to clear he diverts the ball towards his own goal, but Foderingham is down to claw the ball away.
Almost the perfect start for the Blades
Jayden Bogle is found on the right and his shot towards the far corner is going in but Bart Verbruggen pushes it clear. Really positive start for Sheffield United.
Sheffield United lineup
Foderingham; Bogle, Holgate, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Larouci; Osborn, Hamer, Souza, McAtee; Osula
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen; Van Hecke, Dunk, Webster; Gross, Buonanotte, Gilmour, Lamptey; Adingra, Mitoma; Welbeck
Sheffield United focus, team news
Wes Foderingham’s had a rough year for the Blades between the sticks but is coming off one of his best performances in a while. With transfer Ivo Grbic still dealing with the effects of a concussion, can Foderingham stake a stronger claim to keeping his place?
OUT: John Egan (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), George Baldock (undisclosed), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Gustavo Hamer (thigh), Oliver McBurnie (calf), Ben Brereton Diaz (thigh), Ivo Grbic (concussion)
Brighton focus, team news
Pascal Gross leads the Seagulls in goals (4) and assists (8), and the club will feel its only going to get better with Simon Adingra returning from his starring role in the Ivory Coast’s AFCON triumph. Will he be ready to return on Sunday?
OUT: Joao Pedro (hamstring), Julio Enciso (knee), Solly March (knee), James Milner (thigh), Joel Veltman (knee), Jack Hinshelwood (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Simon Adingra (international duty)
