Sheffield United ended a six-match winless run as they produced one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Championship. Iliman Ndiaye’s goal following a deft touch in the penalty area gave the Baggies the lead in the former Huddersfield manager Carlos Corberan’s debut game in charge (11). When Oli McBurnie caressed in his seventh goal of what is shaping out to be a successful campaign shortly after, they were given an even greater mountain to climb (23). With their first victory since September, Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades move up to fourth place, while West Brom remain at the bottom of the standings and are three points from relegation.
Just four days ago, Corberan was named Steve Bruce’s replacement at The Hawthorns, and he would have hoped to bring the storied new manager bounce with him. In six games without a victory, Sheffield United had other plans. The Blades gradually took control of the situation and, just as they were beginning to gain momentum, they took the lead when Ndiaye, who had time to take a touch and pick his place, pounced on George Baldock’s first-time cross after McBurnie had missed it. A little more than ten minutes later, Ndiaye led a counterattack while being flanked by two men. He then passed the ball to McBurnie, who took one touch to set himself up before putting the ball in the bottom right corner.
Actually, neither team appeared to be in position to score afterward. Jayson Molumby and John Swift, two Baggies substitutes, tried their luck with long-range attempts, while Brandon Thomas-Asante had a header cleared off the line in the 90th minute. Rhian Brewster’s hamstring injury less than 15 minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement was the one drawback on an otherwise successful afternoon for Sheffield United.
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