A bright start for Sheffield United failed to come to fruition on Saturday, as the Blades fell to a 2-0 defeat against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Thomas Frank’s Bees had been slipping dangerously close to the bottom three, but now move seven points clear of the drop zone.
Oliver Arblaster was unlucky to find the back of his own net shortly after the hour mark had passed in West London, but the Bees netted again inside stoppage time as Frank Onyeka went on to confirm a crucial victory.
Sheffield United remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, and find themselves ten points adrift of safety with just six games left to play this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs it happened
Ben Brereton Díaz forced the best shot of the opening stages, and Sheffield United were perhaps unlucky not to take the lead as a result, when he broke away on the left flank. The Chilean forward scuffed his shot though, allowing Mark Flekken to breathe a sigh of relief.
Brentford grew into the game and began to dominate possession as the match wore on, but Thomas Frank’s side would be left to rue missed opportunities at half-time after Neal Maupay sent their best chance wide of the target.
Mathias Jorgensen found the back of the net around the hour mark but his joy was short-lived when the offside flag was raised, though Brentford’s blushes were spared when the young Oliver Arblaster turned Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross into his own net.
Embed from Getty ImagesDamsgaard thought he’d bagged a goal of his own just minutes later, although his volleyed effort from a Bryan Mbuemo free-kick was chalked off by VAR after a foul on Oli McBurnie was identified in the buildup.
The Blades tried for a late consolatory goal, but Chris Wilder’s side were unable to find one and remain ten points from safety with just six games left to play this season.
The lineups
BRE: Flekken; Reguilon, Collins, Jorgensen, Roerslev; Jensen, Janelt, Damsgaard; Wissa, Maupay, Mbuemo
SHU: Grbić; Trusty, Ahmedhodzic, Holgate; Larouci, Osborn, Arblaster, Hamer, Bogle; McBurnie, Brereton Díaz
