“Inspired” 8/10 star leads Sheffield United player ratings v Watford as Blades show perfect blend of guts and guile
Danny Hall’s Sheffield United player ratings from Vicarage Road as Patrick Bamford’s brace seals a deserved win for the Blades over Watford
Patrick Bamford scored his 11th and 12th goals in a Sheffield United shirt as the Blades sealed a deserved victory at Watford on an afternoon of frustration for the home side. The Hornets were second-best throughout, with their fans making their feelings clear after both United goals.
United had to bide their time for the breakthrough despite dominating almost from the start, with Bamford’s first arriving in rather strange circumstances as he got a touch on Gus Hamer’s shot to wrongfoot Egil Selvik in the home goal.
But his second was nothing but class as he flicked Femi Seriki’s cross past the Watford goalkeeper to double his tally for the afternoon and show, once again, what an inspired decision it was to bring him in back in November.
Here’s how we rated United on the day at Vicarage Road...
Adam Davies 5
Didn't have his first save to make until the second half after being protected well by his defence for the first, but he had to be alert inside the opening minute after the restart to block Doumbia's effort down to his right at the near post.
There was a slight heart-in-mouth moment with a mix-up involving McGuinness in the second half but that was as difficult as it got for Davies in an otherwise comfortable display
Femi Seriki 7
Seriki survived a voiceferous penalty shout from the home players and fans inside the first minute after Tanganga tried to play the ball out and was robbed by Maamma, who was then barged over by Seriki but ref Busby waved away the appeals.
Seriki later earned a deserved rendition of his name from the away end after showing good anticipation and pace to get across and clear the danger after Selvik's throw threatened to send Irankunda free on goal, before again showing how dangerous he can be going the other way with a brilliant run and cross for Bamford’s goal
Japhet Tanganga 7
His manager insisted on the eve of this game that United did not lack any bravery in challenges and the skipper summed that up with a huge early moment as Irankunda looked to test Davies for the first time by skipping inside Burrows, before a huge block from Tanganga protected his goalkeeper and earned him a nasty knock to a rather sore area which required some running repairs.
Earlier he'd been a tad wasteful on the ball with a couple of passes intended for Brooks or Seriki down the right and was a tad fortunate that his concession of possession to Maamma didn't prove costly. But when it came to proper defending, as Wilder calls it, he wasn't found wanting in his block from Irankunda.
Even if his heart may have been in his mouth a tad when he had a grab at Maamma's shirt and he went down in the area before ref Busby waved away the appeals. Superb defending again prevented Doumbia putting Watford ahead as they had a rare foray forward and after his side went ahead, things became a lot more comfortable
Mark McGuinness 7
Continued in the side to the left of Tanganga over Bindon ahead of his return to Forest this summer and was dominant in both penalty boxes early on, leaping highest to meet Hamer's right-wing corner and forcing Selvik to tip his header over the bar.
He then survived big handball appeals when the ball struck his arm area with the Blades freshly 2-0 ahead but it looked like it would have been a tad harsh from this totally unbiased viewpoint and both McGuinness and United lived to fight another day.
It’s not been a memorable debut season for him at Bramall Lane, at least in the way he would have wanted when he arrived in the summer, but to be fair to him he won just about everything that came his way in the air and you can’t say he hasn’t taken the chance offered to him to impress
Harrison Burrows 6
A solid showing down the left from Burrows, who often has questions asked about his defending but showed a couple of good instincts in that area today to snuff out danger before it really developed.
One pinged pass across the turf out to Brooks on the right was absolutely lucious, and there were a few signs of his confidence coming back as he had a couple of cracks at goal which were blocked on that dangerous left foot. If the Blades get him back firing that could be huge next year
Jairo Riedewald 7
Back in the starting XI at Peck's expense and although this wasn’t a display that will be clipped up in a YouTube highlights reel, that isn’t to diminish its importance. Riedewald just oozes class, so often in the right position at the right time to just calm everything down and so often can be seen directing teammates as if he can see things a split-second before they happen. Replaced on 66 minutes by Peck
Joe Rothwell 6
We've still not seen a great deal of Rothwell in a United shirt but for me, there are already signs of how important he'll be next season. He keeps things ticking over, he’s always available and it’s clear that his teammates trust him with the ball in tight areas. His influence waned a little on the game as United changed tack before he made way for Arblaster after going down for some treatment
Andre Brooks 6
This wasn't the most dangerous the Brooks and Seriki partnership has looked this season but he still had moments down the right, including a pass to send Bamford through on goal that could have resulted in a goal for the former England man well before he eventually got on the scoresheet. Replaced just before the hour mark by Chong
Callum O'Hare 6
He won't get any credit for it in terms of the statistics but he played a big role in United's second here, playing a nicely-weighted ball to Seriki down the right and Bamford did the rest with the finish. There were a couple of bright moments from the United No.10 and even when it wasn't going his way he still buzzed about and looked to make something happen, doing his fair share of defensive work too
Gus Hamer 6
United’s most talented player is facing an uncertain future at Bramall Lane but he is showing no signs of taking things easy as the season winds down and looked right up for this one from early on.
He actually didn’t have his best game on the ball but still picked up yet another goal contribution when his cross-shot was turned home by Bamford. Replaced after 66 by Ings, to the acclaim of an ever-appreciative away end
Patrick Bamford 8
His 11th goal in United colours was by no means his prettiest but he wouldn't have cared a jot after the ball nestled in the Watford net following his touch on Hamer's shot after he cut inside and let fly.
Home 'keeper Selvik was caught as much by surprise as anyone else but he'd had a warning earlier on when Bamford raced onto a ball over the top and let fly first time, forcing Selvik into his first proper save down to his left. Bamford duly followed his 11th with his 12th and this was much more aesthetically pleasing, flicking home Seriki's cross. Whatan inspired signing he has been
Subs: Tahith Chong, Danny Ings, Oliver Arblaster, Sydie Peck, Tyler Bindon