Tyrese Campbell’s QPR déjà vu feels almost scripted – but Sheffield United need the sequel to keep season hopes alive
Tyrese Campbell’s QPR déjà vu feels almost scripted – but Sheffield United need the sequel to keep season hopes alive
Last season, Tyrese Campbell rocked up to QPR and scored a screamer in Sheffield United victory to end a run of eight games without a goal. He went on to score four in his next five games. On Saturday - almost exactly a year to the day on - Campbell rocked up to QPR and scored a stunner in United victory, to end a run of 16 without hitting the back of the net.
The similarities are almost uncanny but it is the next part that is even more important for both the striker and for the Blades, as they look to build on a run of three victories in their last four games and give themselves a chance of gatecrashing the play-offs.
Former Stoke City man Campbell has not hit the levels he showed last season, when he finished as United’s top scorer and helped them to the play-off final, this time around but the Blades have worked hard with him in recent weeks and months, well aware of the player he can be when he reaches top fitness and form.
And in fairness there was no real sign of his barren spell in front of goal when the ball was played into his path at QPR, with a beautiful strike curling away from reach of Joe Walsh and into the bak of his net.
Campbell had also earlier missed what boss Chris Wilder believed was an easier chance, when a nice move involving Ki-Jana Hoever and Callum O’Hare saw the ball laid off invitingly for Campbell to curl one into the far corner. But he persevered and got his rewards. Now, that must be the start of something.
“The first was a great bit of play and that’s Ty’s stock shot, really,” said Wilder. “That easy one into the far corner. He’s just started it out too far. But the goal was a great strike. Two good goals from our point of view. Well crafted and well executed.
Tyrese Campbell’s QPR déjà vu feels almost scripted – but Sheffield United need the sequel to keep season hopes alive
“I believe we were in control for the first half. We just turned the ball over a little bit cheaply and loosely in the last 15 minutes, which sort of allowed them to come back into the game. I don't think there was anything from their point of view that carved us open or opened us up.
To get into the game, it was more us just being loose. But I always felt there was good energy about us after a disappointing Wednesday [in defeat to league leaders Coventry City.] “We have to learn from that, as we talked about in the presser on Friday.
“Reset, a lot of games to play still. Nearly a quarter of a season to play. A lot of points to be had as well. So we're not into the last two or three games. We're looking for that next three points, and we got them.”
One of the hallmarks of Campbell’s first season in United colours was goalscoring runs. Of his 10 regular-season strikes, the first six came in one eight-game streak and the other four - starting at QPR - in the space of five matches.
Asked if he was now hoping for a repeat from his striker, Wilder replied: “No, I'd rather he not score his goals in bursts. I'd rather he score his goals pretty regularly and frequently. But that's what happens. He's been good.
“I thought he was good when he came off the bench [against Coventry]. It's definitely a penalty, 100 per cent. I'm glad that somebody got a decision right today as well, for the goal that was disallowed [after Richard Kone had headed home from a corner.]
“We've been hurt by some refereeing decisions, and I think my head would have fallen off if that had been given as well. But good for Ty, good for the team, and good for us to roll into next week, at home to West Brom, in a positive frame of mind.”