Birmingham City vs Sheffield United. Sky Bet Championship.
St. Andrew's StadiumAttendance18,853.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham and Sheffield United at St Andrew's as goals from Oli McBurnie and James McAtee sealed victory for the promoted Blades.
Monday 8 May 2023 19:29, UK
Premier League-bound Sheffield United rounded off their Championship campaign by beating Birmingham 2-1.
Oli McBurnie opened the scoring early in the second half before James McAtee doubled the lead soon after.
Dion Sanderson pulled a late goal back for Blues.
For much of the opening half the home side proved extremely hard to break down and they went close to taking the lead in the 14th minute when Lukas Jutkiewicz headed the ball against the bar.
Having lost three of their previous seven games in all competitions including a 1-0 defeat by Huddersfield last time out, it seemed United could be there for the taking.
But as the first half wore on they played their way in and Paul Heckingbottom's men were twice denied by the post in the 33rd minute.
The first chance arrived after some patient passing on the edge of area led to Iliman Ndiaye cutting the ball back for Tommy Doyle, who curled his effort against the frame of the goal.
Birmingham failed to clear their lines following Doyle's effort and fellow Manchester City loanee McAtee fired his attempt off the woodwork.
The Blades started the second half strongly and were ahead eight minutes in. Chris Basham found a pocket of space on the right wing and dinked a cross into an unmarked McBurnie to glanced his header into the bottom corner.
McActee doubled the lead only four minutes later. Jack Robinson curled a magnificent long ball in behind Birmingham's defence to Ndiaye and he unselfishly squared it across to McActee who tapped it home.
Birmingham halved the deficit with 11 minutes left when Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri sent a long free-kick into the box where fellow substitute Marc Roberts headed the ball down for Sanderson to volley home.
Birmingham’s John Eustace:
“I think it’s been an excellent season. It’s been very good. We were made favourites for relegation at the start of the season so to get 53 points, the highest number of points in six years, is good. There’s lots to build on of course there is but there’s been some fantastic memories throughout the season.
“I also said throughout the season there were going to be some really difficult moments which there were, but the way we stuck together and got through it was exceptional. To get the most minutes for Under-18 players in Europe is an exceptional achievement in the toughest league in Europe. To get the most minutes for Under-20s in the Championship is an exceptional achievement. To do that and stay in the league and be competitive in every game we play, I think we’ve done well.”
Sheffield United’s Paul Heckingbottom:
“I’m delighted the game was good and I’m pleased we won. It’s important to talk about how well everyone’s done all season, 28 wins, 91 points. I spoke to them (the players) before the game and usually we’ll talk about the opposition, but I just wanted to thank them for this season, thank them for the last 18 months.
“For the majority of us our journey started last November, and it’s taken us this long to achieve what we wanted. There’s been some moments from a footballing point of view when I’m on the sidelines I couldn’t be prouder, they’ll know what I mean. We’ve played well but also with a presence that has sacred teams to death and that’s been really pleasing.”
