West Ham walked away from Bramall Lane with just a point on Sunday, as David Moyes’ men coughed up a 2-1 lead deep into stoppage time and drew last-place Sheffield United 2-2.
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The result extends West Ham’s (37 points - 6th place) current unbeaten run to five games in the Premier League (3W-2D-0L), but sees them remain five points behind 5th-place Tottenham and move just three above 7th-place Manchester United. Sheffield United (10 points) remain bottom of the table, seven points from safety with 17 games left to play.
After weathering an early storm of pressure by Sheffield United, West Ham settled in to dominate the majority of the first half and eventually got their reward just before the half-hour mark. Danny Ings received a cross atop the penalty area and wiggled free to fire a shot; it was blocked, but made its way to Maxwel Cornet lurking at the back post. The ball bounded over two Blades defenders to find Cornet, and Cornet found a small window in the bottom corner to score his first West Ham goal.
West Ham looked like going into halftime 1-0 ahead, but a massive wing of momentum saw Sheffield United take the reins and nearly the lead before halftime. James McAtee sprayed a cross-field ball to Auston Trusty, who headed it back across the penalty area toward the far post. William Osula’s diving header was saved by Alphonse Areola, but the rebound fell to January signing Ben Brereton Diaz, and the English-born Chile international smashed it through a sea of bodies for 1-1.
The balance of play was quite even in the second half, with James Ward-Prowse’s 79th-minute penalty kick so nearly the deciding factor on the day. Danny Ings danced his way into the penalty area and Gustavo Hamer clipped the back of his leg as he darted toward goal. Ward-Prowse hammered the spot kick straight down the middle to wrestle back the three points.
Both sides finished the game with 10 men after a pair of stoppage-time red cards. Rhian Brewster was shown a straight red for a sliding challenge on Emerson in the 92nd minute, followed by a second yellow shown to Vladimir Coufal in the 96th. The two red cards meant even more time was to be added on, above the original six minutes, which left just enough time for Areola to clatter Oliver McBurnie on a cross. The penalty was given immediately and McBurnie beat Lukasz Fabianski, who came off the bench as the penalty-saving specialist, in the 102nd minute.
Sheffield United’s tactical switch pays off
Even putting the result aside, Sheffield United were massively improved in terms of their performance on Sunday. Chris Wilder moved to a back-four, which gave the Blades another body to join in possession and attack. For a side that has scored the fewest goals in the PL this season (17 in 21 games now, still four fewer than anyone else), it was a welcome change. Having taken over midseason and finally having had two full weeks to train and prepare, it appears that Wilder is finally putting his stamp on his team (again), but it’s still a long, long way back.
What’s next?
Sheffield United will host Brighton in the fourth round of the FA Cup next Saturday and return to Premier League play with a visit to struggling Crystal Palace the following Tuesday. West Ham, who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Bristol City in a third-round replay, will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 1, when they host Bournemouth.
Player ratings - Sheffield United vs West Ham
Sheffield United vs West Ham, final score: 2-2
Goalscorers: Maxwel Cornet (28'), Ben Brereton Diaz (44'), James Ward-Prowse (79' - PK), Oliver McBurnie (90'+12 - PK)
28th minute - GOAL - Maxwel Cornet smashes home from a tight angle for 1-0
44th minute - GOAL - Ben Brereton Diaz fires home a rebound to make it 1-1
79th minute - GOAL - James Ward-Prowse converts from the spot
90th minute +12 - GOAL - Oliver McBurnie equalizes late in stoppage time
How to watch Sheffield United vs West Ham live, stream link, time
Kickoff: 9 am ET, Sunday (Jan. 21)
TV channel: USA
Online: Watch via NBCSports.com
Sheffield United starting lineup
Foderingham — Ahmedhodzic, Robinson, Trusty — Bogle, McAtee, Souza, Hamer — Diaz, Brooks, Osula
West Ham starting lineup
Areola — Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Emerson — Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Fornals — Bowen, Cornet, Ings
Focus on Sheffield United, injury news
OUT: John Egan (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Max Lowe (undisclosed), Anis Ben Slimane (international duty), Yasser Larouci (international duty) | QUESTIONABLE: Auston Trusty (undisclosed), Anel Ahmedhodzic (undisclosed), George Baldock (undisclosed), Jayden Bogle (concussion)
Focus on West Ham, injury news
OUT: Lucas Paqueta (calf), Nayef Aguerd (international duty), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Michail Antonio (knee), Pablo Fornals (foot) | QUESTIONABLE: Jarrod Bowen (ankle), Edson Alvarez (calf), Vladimir Coufal (undisclosed), Konstantinos Mavropanos (knock)
