Sheffield United player ratings v Portsmouth as 8/10 men break Blades ducks amid typical Gus Hamer class
Sheffield United player ratings v Portsmouth as 8/10 men break Blades ducks amid typical Gus Hamer class
Sydie Peck and Patrick Bamford scored their first goals in Sheffield United colours tonight as the Blades followed up Sunday’s Steel City derby delight with another 3-0 rout, this time of Portsmouth. The result saw United win back-to-back games for only the second time this season, and climb out of the bottom three.
United hit the front in a first-half arm wrestle after the game’s big moment, which saw Terry Devlin handle Japhet Tanganga’s goal-bound header on the line before being shown a straight red card. Peck converted the resulting penalty for his first senior goal, on his 66th appearance.
That helped calm a few nerves and Bamford followed suit in the second half from close range, after another Tanganga header had cannoned back off the crossbar. Sub Gus Hamer announced his return from injury in typical style with a stunning long-range effort for 3-0, before fellow sub Danny Ings saw a second ‘goal’ ruled out for offside in as many games.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on the night...
Michael Cooper 6
Had a nervy moment in the first half when he fumbled a corner under pressure from Swanson but Seriki was on hand to bail him out before the situation got worse, winning a free-kick in the process and potentially sparing his goalkeeper’s blushes. Apart from that it was another very comfortable 90 minutes indeed
Femi Seriki 7
One of those performances that highlight what a nightmare the United man must be to play against, a constant rolling force of pace and power who just keeps coming at you down that right flank and seemingly shows no fear whatsoever.
It doesn’t always work out but what’s arguably most impressive is Seriki’s ability to keep going and going and going, even after receiving a pretty hefty challenge late on with United 3-0 up. He’s unpredictable, sure, but that can be a weapon too
Japhet Tanganga 8
Unfortunate not to break the deadlock with a towering header to meet McCallum’s corner but it was the next best thing, forcing a penalty after Devlin handled on the line and was sent for an early bath as a result.
He then rose highest to meet a second-half header that cannoned off the bar and fell kindly for a tap-in for Bamford, sealing a double of unlikely assists for the Blades skipper who, at the same time, did the ‘day job’ of defending imperiously as well.
Ben Mee 7
A second game of three in a week facing the 36-year-old but he looked to handle it perfectly fine, albeit with a cast on his left hand that suggested some sort of issue. It didn’t seem to bother him too much however as a typical display of ‘proper’ defending kept another clean sheet for the Blades
Sam McCallum 6
A strange evening for the United man, who was heavily involved going forward and linked up nicely with O’Hare on a couple of occasions but had a tough time defensively at times too, with much of Pompey’s joy coming down their right hand side.
His set-piece delivery was always a threat from the Blades right, leading to United’s opening goal, and his long throw caused some issues on a few occasions too before he made way for Burrows around the hour mark
Sheffield United player ratings v Portsmouth as 8/10 men break Blades ducks amid typical Gus Hamer class
Sydie Peck 8 MOM
It’s been a long wait for a first senior goal for the young man in midfield but this evening, in his 66th game, it arrived from the penalty spot, a finish fired past Schmid after Devlin had handled Tanganga’s header on the line and been sent off.
It may have been from 12 yards but the celebration was if it was a 30-yard winner at Wembley, and deservedly so from a young man who wears his heart on his sleeve everytime he pulls on a red and white shirt.
It was just reward for another combative display from the 21-year-old and there was a moment in the first half that highlighted his growing maturity. He received the ball in the middle of the park and looked up to see Brooks and Seriki on the right but, crucially, with two Pompey players lurking and waiting to intercept any loose pass.
Many young players would have spotted the glory chance and tried to play it anyway but Peck put his foot on the ball and instead made a much more sensible decision to enable United to keep possession and not risk a chance of a Pompey break.
Jairo Riedewald 7
Kept his place from Sunday after a dominant display in the middle of the park and had what he thought was a chance to break the deadlock at the back post when he shot straight at Schmid in the away goal, but the whistle had already gone for something ref Doughty had spotted.
Solid rather than spectacular but that’s exactly what’s needed in the middle of the park sometimes and another 82 minutes in the tank will be a real boost for the Dutchman as he gets back up to speed with life in English football, before he was replaced by Soumare
Andre Brooks 6.5
The academy graduate’s laid-back style can attract frustration sometimes but in that right-wing role he can be a real threat and you can see signs of the telepathic link-up with Seriki honed over years in the academy.
Not everything he tried came off but importantly he didn’t hide and start playing safe, almost adding his name to the scoresheet with a good run from the right byline late on which saw him breeze past Swanson before forcing a save from Schmid
Callum O’Hare 7
A never-ending bundle of energy as he popped up almost everywhere on the pitch and wowed the crowd with a lovely pirouette turn in a crowded area just outside the Pompey box in the second half. One of the first names on the United teamsheet at the minute, even with Hamer announcing his return so spectacularly
Tom Cannon 7
Came into the starting line-up as one of two changes after his derby-day heroics and although he didn’t repeat that feat with a goal here, he can nonetheless be pleased with his contribution up top.
His relentlessly aggressive press helped set the tone for the Blades and as he kept working it was inevitable that a chance would come, duly arriving in the second half when Seriki picked him out in the middle but he couldn’t make sufficient contact to make it count. Earned a standing ovation as he made way
Patrick Bamford 8
The former Leeds man made his full debut for the Blades after an impressive cameo in Sunday’s derby and he capped it in the way every striker would want to, scoring in front of the Kop. It was a proper striker’s finish, bundling over from a few yards out after Tanganga’s header cannoned off the bar, but he wouldn’t have cared a jot as he wheeled away to celebrate his first goal in 19 long months.
It was no less than his performance deserved, linking up well with Cannon and dropping deep to link play in the type of way that Wilder has been crying out for all season from a No.9-type of player. He has one now, and he’s up and running in a United shirt
Subs: Gus Hamer 7
Came on for his second appearance since returning from injury and announced it in style, finding the far corner with a thunderous effort from around 25 yards out to put the Blades 3-0 ahead. What a player
Also used: Ings, Burrows, Soumare, McGuinness