Blades end promotion campaign in style with victory against Birmingham

Sheffield United make it five wins from their last six league outings while Birmingham fall to a third defeat on the trot.

With Sheffield United’s Premier League status already secured and Blues clear of any final day relegation drama,  a slow start to proceedings was somewhat to be expected. Manny Longelo and Oli McBurnie both saw efforts roll well wide of the mark before the hosts could conjure up the first real opportunity of the afternoon with 15 minutes on the clock.

A well-worked short corner routine from Juninho Bacuna saw the Blues no.7 curl a dangerous ball into the six-yard box, finding Lukas Jutkiewicz who couldn’t find the target, his header crashing off the crossbar much to the Blades’ delight. Bacuna once again caused issues for the visitors moments later, this time opting for the shot from distance but fell well wide of the target.

Iliman Ndiaye, meanwhile, looked to leave his mark on the EFL Championship with the Senegalese international at the heart of the United attack. The no.29 weaved past two Blues defenders before seeing his shot deflected up and over for a corner, the set-piece finding Tommy Doyle on the edge of area but his low effort couldn’t find its way through the crowded penalty box.

A moment of mayhem soon followed for the visitors too, Doyle and James McAtee finding plenty of space inside the Blues area before both hitting the post in quick succession with Blues thankful to go unpunished and go into the break on level terms.

Blades came out the blocks the stronger in the second period with the Premier League-bound club finding another gear to break the deadlock early doors. Chris Basham found himself in acres of space down the right, taking his time with the cross to cooly pick out Oli McBurnie, the Blades no.9 glancing the ball into the bottom-left corner, Neil Etheridge rooted. The promotion party in full swing in the away end.

A lapse in concentration at the back by Blues only added to their woes shortly after, Ndiaye beating the offside trap before rounding Etheridge, his heavy touch falling into the path of McAtee to roll into the empty net and end his time at the South Yorkshire club in style.

Sander Berge almost made it three shortly after the hour-mark, the Norwegian played through on goal but rushed the shot with the Blues keeper alert to the danger. Fellow substitute Will Osula also went close to adding to Blades’ tally soon after, red and white shirts finding space in behind the Birmingham defence with the 19-year-old whizzing narrowly wide of the post from a tight angle.

A perfect set-piece from John Eustace’s men, however, gaves Blues a lifeline. Hannibal’s searching delivery found the unmarked Marc Roberts at the backpost, heading ball across goal for Dion Sanderson to volley home past Davies.

A superb finish but ultimately not enough to salvage a result at St. Andrew’s as Birmingham finish 17th in the EFL Championship, nine points clear of the drop.

Line-Ups:

BCFC: Etheridge, Trusty, Bacuna, Jutkiewicz, Graham, Dean (c), Khadra, Longelo, Bellingham, Sanderson, Bielik. (Subs: Jeacock (GK), Roberts, Hannibal, Deeney, James, Chang, Sanusi.)

Sheffield United: Davies, Baldock, Stevens, Fleck, Basham, McBurnie, Egan (c), Robinson, Doyle, McAtee, Ndiaye. (Subs: Foderingham (GK), Berge, Sharp, Norwood, Osula, Brooks, Buyabu.)

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