Sheffield United’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end at home to Norwich City this afternoon. The Blades picked up their first win in the Championship on Tuesday night but couldn’t follow that up with three more points at Bramall Lane.
There were some positive signs, though, even if they were indebted once again to Michael Cooper for keeping them in the game with some smart saves. Patrick Bamford had equalised after Anthony Musaba’s opener, before Mohamed Toure raced clear to restore their lead on the stroke of half-time.
Earlier debutant Liam Kitching had a header ruled out for an apparent foul on goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic, who seemed to run into Patrick Bamford and get the decision, and sub Mathias Kvistgaarden wrapped up the points on the rebound after Hamza Choudhury blocked former Blade Andre Brooks’ shot on the line.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on the afternoon...
5. Rhys Norrington-Davies 6
There seemed every chance that he would leave United in the summer but he remained post-deadline and has in recent weeks looked as fired up as ever to show that he still has a place at Bramall Lane. A great recovery tackle snuffed out the danger as the former Blade Slimane found a bit of space down the Blades right - and a bit of a send-off afterwards showed what Norrington-Davies thought of it as well. Booked in the second half for a rash foul on former teammate Slimane, after he'd given the ball away and Norwich looked to break. Replaced soon after by McCallum, to a good reception | The Star/getty
6. Jairo Riedewald 4
The Dutchman was given a chance to stake a claim in the middle of the park and didn't really take it, so it wasn't the biggest shock to see him replaced by Phillips at the break. Had a bit of a shaky start as he sold Peck short with a poor pass in midfield and Brooks had a chance to double Norwich's lead, but luckily he scuffed it. By then the away side were already ahead after Musaba, one of three Norwich men were given too much time on the edge of the United box, found the net and Riedewald was surely one of those in a position to get tighter to one of Musaba, Brooks and Mattsson before the former finished? He was turned a couple of times too easily and didn't reappear after half-time | The Star/Sport Image
7. Sydie Peck 5
The United man had something of a running battle with Mattsson in the first half after a foul apiece from both and Peck earlier had forced a save from Kovacevic in the away goal after some neat play from United. But neither he nor Riedewald could really gain the control of the game they would have liked as it bounced frantically from end to end, although he should have picked up an assist when his dangerous corner was headed home by Kitching but the whistle went for an apparent foul | The Star/Sport Image
8. Romelle Donovan 5.5
After his magic moment here a few days ago the question was whether Donovan could retain that level of impact and the answer was that he wasn't, as he dipped slightly in the way that young players so often do after such a high. There was no shortage of effort in his display though and what stood out most for me was his off-field tenacity, flying into tackles and often coming out of sticky situations with the ball at his feet. At one stage he raced back to block the cross from Musaba after he had got the better of Choudhury and although he's in the team for what he can do on the ball, that sort of stuff is important as well and it was recognised with a good ovation when he made way for Arblaster - even if boss Wilder was unhappy with him for switching off for Norwich's opening goal | The Star/Sport Image