Tom Davies scored a fairytale winner on his return to the Sheffield United side as the Blades edged a tight contest against promotion rivals Sunderland at Bramall Lane tonight to go back top of the Championship. Both sides finished with 10 men while Michael Cooper saved a first-half penalty from Patrick Roberts.
But Davies was the hero late on after coming off the bench, finding a yard of space before firing past Anthony Patterson for the dramatic winner. It was only Davies’ second game back after troublesome hamstring injuries, having played a couple of minutes in midweek against Oxford United, and he was chaired aloft by jubilant teammates at the full time whistle.
Here’s how we rated the Blades on another dramatic evening at the Lane this season...
5. Harrison Burrows 7
Back in the side after being rested in midweek and was inches away from finding the opener seconds into the first half when he cut back onto his right foot and had a go, and watched the deflection drop just wide of Patterson's left-hand post with the 'keeper stranded. Made way late on for Norrington-Davies after another tireless display in which he was defensively sound as well as a threat going forward | Getty Images
6. Vini Souza 7
Tested Patterson's handling with a well-struck shot that swerved in front of the Sunderland goalkeeper before he parried it away. He had tried to play inside his own box under pressure from two men earlier in the game and was caught in possession, with Isodor smashing wide to let Souza off the hook. Full of energy and raced half the length of the field in a late break, although the final pass was found wanting on that occasion | Getty Images
7. Sydie Peck 7
Another impressive display from the 20-year-old in the middle of the park, up against a £20m-rated player in Bellingham but Peck was more than a match Photo: Andrew Yates
8. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi 6
Couldn't add to his good recent goal record as he drifted in and out of the game a little with its frantic nature not really helping a player of his style. There was one delicious bit of skill which saw him beat three or four players with a mazy run before being upended, before he made way for Tom Davies Photo: Bradley Collyer