How Sheffield United lost to Man City but still scored a victory of sorts

It was to Sheffield United’s credit, and intense frustration, that they discovered a new one at the Etihad Stadium on yesterday afternoon; gifting the Premier League leaders the only effort of the contest before, following more than an hour of industrious and cerebral football, going mighty close to finding the back of the net themselves.

A coach with an obsessive attention to detail whose team is as stylish as his touchline attire, Guardiola was so impressed by the visitors’ performance afterwards he admitted it was impossible to explain why they are propping up the rest of the table. But bottom they are so, as United prepare for a run of games which will decide if they are still a top-flight club next season, Chris Wilder felt compelled to remind his players that although they might not have taken any points from the fixture, Guardiola’s glowing testimony, coupled with the final scoreline, meant it still represented a victory of sorts.

“Pep told me he thought our organisation was incredible,” Wilder said, revealing some details of the touchline conversation he shared with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager when referee David Coote brought proceedings to a close. “I don’t want pats on the back for losing, and don’t think there’s going to be singing and dancing on the coach all the way home. There won’t.

“But, as Pep also mentioned, he was watching a group out there that was still alive. I’ve seen some really encouraging signs of late and I definitely agree. I think we’re alive too.”

A TELLING RESPONSE

Although it would be stretching the truth to suggest City were in danger of losing their grip on the match until the closing stages, when John Fleck saw a first-time shot fly inches past Ederson’s left hand post, a side which has beaten both Chelsea and Arsenal during what is now a run of 12 straight wins struggled to translate possession into clear cut chances. For precisely that reason, the manner in which they conceded was a source of major frustration for United, with Gabriel Jesus converting from close range after the otherwise faultless Ethan Ampadu and Jayden Bogle had failed to halt Ferran Torres’ progress.

“We were incredibly disappointed with how we fell behind,” Wilder said, acknowledging Torres should have been stopped before finding the Brazil international. “But there was a long way to go. We’ve seen them take better groups that us, take better managers than me, to the cleaners from those situations. I wish Pep and his men all the best, and I’m glad we don’t have to play them again this season.”

Although United’s defending before Jesus swept home left much to be desired, it was near perfect from that moment on. For all City’s probing, their tactical discipline and slavish adherence to the strategy Wilder had devised to try and combat opponents he later confessed are impossible to fathom - “They pop up in all sorts of weird and wonderful places, so you can’t really do any video analysis” - meant it was not until United opened-up late in the second period that Ramsdale was consistently called into action. Despite guessing correctly they would spend most of the match attempting to stifle City’s creativity, United prevented them from committing too many numbers forward by selecting the pacy Oliver Burke and Rhian Brewster in attack. And then, crucially, instructing them to stay upfield rather than retreat into midfield of defence. Indeed, they finished with three centre-forwards on the pitch; substitute Billy Sharp carving the opening which saw Fleck go close.

BRIDGING THE FINANCIAL DIVIDE

City’s squad is so laden with talent that, despite naming the likes of Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez and the vastly underestimated Joao Cancelo on the bench, Guardiola was still able to select a starting line-up of 11 internationals. Wilder, whose options have been limited by a spate of injuries in recent weeks, was finally able to select a full strength bench. But with no new arrivals expected to arrive before tomorrow’s transfer deadline, he will find it increasingly difficult to convince his audience in the dressing room that survival remains achievable when others at Bramall Lane appear to think differently. United, who face fellow strugglers West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday less than a week after recording a morale-boosting win over Manchester United, must claw back a double figure deficit in order to claw themselves to safety. But on the evidence of recent displays, and the unpredictable nature of this season’s competition, it could be possible. Guardiola certainly seems to think so, confessing “I don’t understand why Sheffield (sic) are where they are, really.”

THE DETAILS

City revealed their intentions beforehand when, despite the wet and windy North-West weather, they turned on the sprinklers ahead of kick-off. The press was high and strong, with Chris Basham forced to take evasive action early on after being closed down by Torres and Jesus, but Ederson was forced to save from Brewster while only a perfectly executed tackle from Ruben Dias prevent Burke from surging clean through before the break.

Although Bogle escaped with a push on Torres in the penalty box and Ramsdale produced fine saves to deny Oleksandr Zinchenko and Aymeric Laporte, acrobatically tipping the latter’s header over the crossbar, United’s big opportunity came three minutes from time when Sharp chested the ball into Fleck’s path. Ederson was flailing but the Scot’s first time effort was just off target.

“It was the game I expected,” Wilder, who later saw Ramsdale thwart Jesus, said. “But our season won’t be defined by this game. And I really believe we can get enough out of the next 17 or whatever to make it interesting.”

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Gundogan, Jesus, Zinchenko, Laporte, Silva, Torres (Rodrigo 90), Fernandinho, Foden. Not used: Steffen, Stones, Sterling, Mendy, Mahrez, Cancelo, Garcia, Bernabe.

Sheffield United: Ramsdale, Basham (McBurnie 78), Egan, Ampadu, Baldock, Bogle, Norwood, Fleck, Lundstram, Burke (Sharp 78), Brewster (McGoldrick 61). Not used: Foderingham, Mousset, Loew, Jagielka, Bryan, Gordon.

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). VAR: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire).

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