Sheffield United vs Burnley. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Sheffield United and Burnley as Vincent Kompany's side throw away half-time lead to lose 5-2; Manuel Benson scored a first-half double to give them a 2-1 lead but Oli McBurnie scored twice in the comeback
Saturday 5 November 2022 17:54, UK
Burnley suffered a second-half capitulation at Sheffield United as the Championship leaders threw away a half-time lead to be thrashed 5-2 by the Blades for just their second league loss of the season.
Vincent Kompany's Clarets led 2-1 at half-time as Manuel Benson scored two goals gifted to him by Blades defender Jack Robinson. The left-back deflected the Burnley winger's effort past Wes Foderingham for the opener, before gifting Benson the ball to score on the stroke of half-time after Iliman Ndiaye had levelled for the home side.
But a bizarre drop in standards from Burnley led to some comical defending and four Sheffield United goals. Oli McBurnie headed the Blades level three minutes after half-time, before Robinson went from zero to hero by prodding home from close range at a corner.
Anel Ahmedhodzic made another set-piece count by finishing high into the net, before McBurnie rolled home his second of the afternoon to move the Blades three points behind beaten Burnley having played a game less than the Clarets.
Four of Sheffield United's goals came from set-pieces and, despite controlling possession and looking dangerous through Benson in the early stages, Burnley never looked settled at all from corners and long throw-ins put in by Robinson.
Kompany's side were given a warning when goalkeeper Aro Muric came and failed to collect two deliveries into the Burnley box, with an off-the-line clearance from Nathan Tella denying one Blades effort and McBurnie heading over from a corner at the other.
But it was Burnley who edged in front after 17 minutes when Ian Maatsen crossed to the back post for Benson, whose shot was heading straight for Foderingham but Robinson's header took it into the net.
The Clarets could have made it two as Taylor Harwood-Bellis put a free header over the bar at a corner, but it was from a set-piece at the other end where the next goal came from.
McBurnie flicked on a corner from the right into the path of Ndiaye, who prodded past Muric from close range to equalise.
Maatsen struck the bar for Burnley almost immediately and Harwood-Bellis denied McBurnie by clearing off the line but an end-to-end encounter went the visitors' way on the stroke of half-time.
Robinson was caught in possession by Benson as the Blades were playing out the back and the Burnley winger had the simple task of curling past Foderingham.
But Burnley were unrecognisable after the break as poor defending allowed the hosts to score three goals from set-pieces in the space of 16 bizarre minutes.
The first came from a cleared long throw as Ahmedhodzic flicked on Robinson's cross to McBurnie, who nodded in from close range just three minutes after half-time. Then Robinson made amends for his first-half horror show to finish from close range after Ahmedhodzic had struck the bar from a corner.
The game was put beyond doubt as centre-back Ahmedhodzic - who had earlier gone close again via a spectacular bicycle kick - crashed a shot high into the net, but questions remain as to whether the Bosnian defender was offside in the build-up.
Burnley's poor showing at the back was typified by George Baldock being allowed by Maatsen to go through on goal after Oliver Norwood's defence-splitting pass. Muric was equal to the defender's effort but the ball fell kindly to McBurnie to stroke home a result-sealing fifth.
Burnley manager Vincent Kompany:
"I asked as much as I can from the players. Our game is based around playing on the front foot and it makes it difficult when we're behind.
"The first half was very similar to most of our games. We had a lot of the ball and looked dangerous. It doesn't surprise me the first half was good and the second half didn't go so well. We couldn't regain momentum. United were on top and they took full advantage of that.
"A big part of our game disappeared and we couldn't go after them anymore. I could see in the lads' eyes it wasn't a lack of wanting. We went behind quite quickly in the second half, but my first thought isn't to make subs. I wanted the players on the pitch to get us back into the game.
"Maybe we needed this defeat. Burnley is a humble club, but as we've done well for a sustained period of time we have to make sure we don't get carried away and losses bring that home. We don't roll over, we will take the hurt but we move on and I look forward to the reverse fixture at Turf Moor."
Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom:
"The game went exactly how we thought it would. We knew Burnley would try and play on the front foot and win, they've got lots of good players.
"We weren't going to change our approach, we want to play on the front foot too. As well as Burnley have done, we've got good players as well.
"Of course we don't want to be behind against a good side, but I felt I saw enough in the first half that we would come back. I still expected us to win. We made mistakes, but if you feel sorry for yourself on a football pitch you're not going to get on it in the first place.
"We were always going to take risks and press them. I know how I want us to play and it's the right thing to do in my eyes. When you fall behind like we did, you have to take even more risks. The response after the second goal was key and we played our way back into it.
"It's good to see our frontmen scoring goals, but it's not about picking the best 11 players, it's about picking the team that is going to win the game."
Sheffield United are back in action on Tuesday night as they host Rotherham in a 7.45pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports Football Red Button and the Sky Sports app.
Burnley welcome Blackburn to Turf Moor next Sunday November 13 in the final Championship game before the World Cup. It's live on Sky Sports Football from 12pm, with kick-off at 12.30pm.
