MX23RW : Sunday, January 5 23:23:40| >> :120:76706:76706:

Sheffield United claim first win of the season as Bristol Rovers bow out

Scotland striker Oliver Burke scored his first Blades goal after joining from West Brom in September.

Sheffield United secured their first win of the season as they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 3-2 victory at Bristol Rovers.

Oliver Burke – with his first Blades goal since a September switch from West Brom – and Jayden Bogle added to an early Joe Day own goal as the Premier League's basement club led three times.

Rovers defenders Alfie Kilgour and Max Ehmer equalised from set-pieces for the Sky Bet League One hosts, but United held their nerve to finally win at the 19th attempt this season.

Blades boss Chris Wilder responded to growing speculation over his future by making only one change from the side beaten by Crystal Palace, although injury and Covid-19 had reduced his options.

Wilder named eight substitutes despite being allowed nine on the bench, but the visitors were out of the blocks fast and Day saved from Ben Osborn with Lys Mousset almost bundling in the rebound.

Mousset had been reminded about his responsibilities following an incident last weekend when images showing a smashed Lamborghini belonging to the French forward circulated on social media.

But Mousset was busy making positive headlines when meeting Osborn's sixth-minute cross with a fine header. Day got the faintest touch on to the crossbar, but was helpless as the ball struck him on the back for the most unfortunate of own goals.

Rovers were level with their first serious attack after 21 minutes as Kilgour met Zain Westbrooke's free-kick with a towering header from 12 yards.

United felt they had restored their lead through David McGoldrick, but referee Keith Stroud adjudged that John Lundstram had not kept the ball in play.

Rovers survived a penalty appeal when Luke Leahy and Bogle tangled and Day, part of Newport's run to the fifth round two years ago, denied Lundstram from close range.

The ball was soon in the home net again when Mousset tucked away a rebound after Day pushed out John Egan's effort.

Referee Stroud came to Rovers' rescue again by insisting Egan had climbed over Leahy to win the header.

Although the Rovers goal had led something of a charmed life, Kilgour's equaliser had provided them with no little self-belief and Ed Upson tested Aaron Ramsdale from the edge of the area.

Burke replaced Mousset during the early stages of the second half and the Scotland international should have scored with his first touch.

But Burke sliced Osborn's cross horribly wide before McGoldrick and Lundstram went close as the pressure began to grow on the Rovers goal.

Burke made amends for his earlier miss after 59 minutes, striding on to Oliver Norwood's measured pass as Rovers' complaints of a free-kick in their favour at the other end fell on deaf ears.

Rovers were level within three minutes as Jack Baldwin flicked on a corner to the far post where the unmarked Ehmer finished.

But parity lasted less than 60 seconds as Bogle started a move involving Burke and McGoldrick, and he maintained his run to stroke home his second Blades goal and ensure Wilder's men had the winning feeling at last.

ID:429863: cacheID:429863:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5917:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder pictured on January 2, 2021
Read Next:
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder ignoring speculation over his future
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe24156350262451
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield23135536191744
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2311483534137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Stevenage238781820-231
14Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
15Blackpool247983235-330
16Rotherham UnitedRotherham237792123-228
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!