Sheffield United booked their place in the next round of the EFL Cup as they opened up their season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Mansfield Town at Field Mill. Patrick Bamford, Mark McGuinness and Callum O’Hare were on target for the Blades.
Earlier the Blades were indebted to Michael Cooper for a big save to keep them ahead but the day wasn’t without its downsides as Tahith Chong limped off early on after being given the chance to impress from the start.
Here’s how we rated United’s players as they got their season up and running in the best possible way ...
1. Michael Cooper 6
Didn't have much to do but the sign of a top 'keeper is staying in touch with the game when that's the case and when called upon, coming up with a big moment. And Cooper sure did that just before the brace when he got down to his left to keep out an effort from Blake-Tracy that was inching towards the bottom corner and coming through bodies before Cooper got down well to keep it goalless | The Star/Sport image
2. Femi Seriki 6
Some good signs of a promising partnership with Chong which was cut short by an injury to the latter. Picked up a borderline harsh booking in the first half and was defensively solid enough, with a couple of timely interceptions and blocks at the back post. He got forward at will as well and his habit of buying free-kicks by sticking out his backside and inviting contact from the forward got him out of trouble a couple of times | The Star/Sport Image
3. Japhet Tanganga 6
Didn't have a great deal to do defensively but what he had to do he did it well and with the minimum of fuss | The Star/Sport Image
4. Mark McGuinness 6
A perhaps surprise starter in that he is free to leave Bramall Lane this summer but it was a chance for him to put himself in the shop window for a potential move away and he did those hopes no harm by getting on the scoresheet with a towering header in the second half from Peck's corner. Defensively he had a mixed time of it as McGoldrick got the better of him a couple of times but he didn't have too many minutes in the late stages of pre-season so that's perhaps to be expected | The Star/Sport Image