Sheffield United beat Norwich City to take advantage of Middlesbrough slip-up

That billing might have been premature, given that the Championship season still has a month or so to run. But both they and Sheffield United, now six points clear in second place, certainly approached it with the manner of two teams playing for dizzyingly high stakes. There was plenty of huff. Lots of puff and occasional flashes of genuine quality. But it was only after Paul Heckingbottom’s men took the lead through James McAtee that both they and City appeared comfortable to completely commit themselves to this armwrestle of a contest.

“That’s a big win, at a very tough place”, Heckingbottom, the United manager said, after learning third placed Middlesbrough had suffered a shock defeat to relegation threatened Huddersfield Town. “I’m pleased with how we went about things. We were aggressive, on the front foot but couldn’t quite get our front three going together to begin with. I actually thought we looked more dangerous when we went in front because Norwich came out more.”

With the margins for error towards the top of the division now painfully slim, Heckingbottom was delighted to see all of his leading internationals report back for duty unscathed following last week’s round of qualifiers and friendlies shoehorned into an already busy calendar. It allowed him the rare luxury of selecting an unchanged starting eleven, with youngster Will Osula returning to the bench. Crucially, Heckingbottom was also able to introduce a flurry of experienced substitutes during the closing stages.

United deserved their victory, hitting the woodwork either side of McAtee’s finish. David Wagner, with the midfielder denting City’s hopes of reaching the play-offs, felt the effort should have been ruled-out for offside but conceded the visitors “were better than us.”

The opening skirmishes were tight. The rest even tighter, until McAtee broke the deadlock just past the hour.

Max Aarons went down in the penalty box, a little too easily for referee Darren Bond’s taste, after tangling with Max Lowe before Sander Berge headed wide from a corner at the other end of the pitch. Anel Ahmedhodzic went even closer, seeing his own attempt from a set-piece cannon back off the crossbar. Berge, making his 100th outing for United, should have done better.

Like Baldock, Aarons is one of those footballers who always seems to be searching out a row. So, when the pair came together near the dug-outs, it was no surprise whatsoever to see them end up in a wrestling match which ended with both being booked. Gabriel Sara saw yellow soon after, before immediately going dangerously close to collecting his second card of the contest before pulling out of a challenge on Ahmedhodzic.

City began the second period quicker than United, with Wes Foderingham forced to prevent a cross from Marquinhos reaching the heart of his box where Teemu Pukki was waiting to pounce.

McAtee also loitered with intent when Iliman Ndiaye foraged away on the edge of Angus Gunn’s area before, unlike the Brazilian, making the most of a promising situation when he toe-poked home from close range. Lowe provided the assist, before howling in frustration when substitute Billy Sharp saw a shot strike the post.

“Everytime we win,” Heckingbottom said. “It’s a big, big moment.”

Norwich City: Gunn, Aarons, Hanley ©, Gibson, Idah (Tzolis 70), Marquinhos, Sara (Gibbs 83), Pukki (Kamara 70), McLean, Sargent, Giannoulis (McCallum 83). Not used: Krul, Omobamidele, Sorensen.

Sheffield United: Foderingham, Baldock, Lowe, Robinson, Egan ©, Ahmedhodzic, Doyle (Basham 89), Berge (Norwood 69), McAtee (Fleck 85), McBurnie (Sharp 69), Ndiaye. Not used: Davies, Bogle, Osula.

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire).

Attendance: 26,801.