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Tom Davies’ late winner proved to be the difference Sheffield United romped through a fascinating and often chaotic battle with promotion rivals Sunderland to send the Blades top of the Championship on a night when both sides had a man sent off.
Both sides have made a great start to the new season and are firmly in the promotion mix as December approaches. They each knew a win here would lift them above Leeds ahead of their game against Blackburn on Saturday, and although the game looked like it would be deadlocked for long periods, Davies’ strike came six minutes from time and ended up being decisive.
Sunderland were much the stronger side in a gripping first half, but after Patrick Roberts’ penalty was saved by Michael Cooper, the visitors were reduced to 10 men when Chris Mepham was sent off for a cynical foul on Tyrese Campbell. However, early in the half, the Blades also had a man dismissed when Harry Suttar picked up his second yellow of the evening.
The teams looked as if they would cancel each other out until the very end in a much tighter second half until a loose ball in the Sunderland area fell to Davies who fired past Anthony Patterson to earn the hosts the three points. It could be a career-defining night for the former Everton midfielder, who has made just 11 appearances for the Blades since joining them almost 18 months ago.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given that top spot was at stake, the opening quarter was incredibly tense. Neither side looked inclined to open up too much, but as the half wore on it was Sunderland who got into the contest quicker than the hosts. The Blades lacked their usual crispness in attack for most of a disappointing first half and were fortunate not to trail at the break.
But in the final 15 minutes of the half, the contest came to life with three crucial moments. First, Jack Robinson fouled Tommy Watson in the box after a wonderful break down the wing to concede a penalty – but Michael Cooper was on hand to make an outstanding save to deny Roberts the point and keep it goalless.
Watson and Wilson Isidore then had further chances as Sunderland continued to look the stronger of the two sides – but just when you felt the pressure was going to be too much for the home side to deal with, the game turned to a decisive incident in the other end five minutes from the break.
A rare mistake by Sunderland saw them concede possession in their own half and after Tyreece Campbell was sent off goal, Mepham hit the striker, leaving Gavin Ward with no choice but to show the defender a straight red card. The resulting free-kick was cleared by the Sunderland defence, but the drama was far from over as the Blades were reduced to 10 men in first-half injury time.
Isidore collected the ball on the halfway line and turned Sutar, who brought down the striker, picking up his second yellow of the half, having earlier been booked for another foul on Isidore. Suddenly it was back to level for both sides in the second half.
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That drama prompted the Blades to make a change at half-time, with Femi Seriki coming on and Alfie Gilchrist moving to centre-back and leaving the hosts without their two centre-half pairings given Anel Ahmedhodzic was suspended. However, both teams went back to rallying in the early stages of the second half, opting for caution amid the chaos that engulfed the final minutes of the first period.
Chances were few and far between, but just as in the early stages of the contest, Sunderland again looked the more threatening of the two sides. Isidore looked as if he would pounce on a mistake by the home side before firing wide of Cooper’s goal.
But as in the first half, the Blades finished strongly. Patterson made two superb saves to deny Siddi Peck and Vinny Souza but was powerless to stop Davies’ shot curling under his body in the final ten minutes to ensure Wilder’s side continued their unbeaten start at home this season.
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