South Yorkshire Roundup: Blades Dent Red Devils Title Hopes

The Blades players celebrate together.

Sheffield United upset all of the odds to beat Manchester United 1-2 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night in the Premier League.

Kean Bryan gave the Blades a shock lead midway through the first half, glancing in a John Fleck corner at the near post.

The Red Devils did equalise just after the hour mark with Blades academy product, Harry Maguire, heading in an Alex Telles corner.

However it took just ten minutes for the Blades to go back in front with Oli Burke’s shot taking a deflection off Axel Tuanzebe onto the underside of the bar before finding the back of the net.

The hosts thought they had an equaliser in the first half, with Anthony Martial capitalising on a spill from Aaron Ramsdale, but the referee gave a foul against Maguire on Ramsdale.

Telles nearly earned Manchester United a point after his long range strike looped up off John Lundstram before landing onto the roof of the net.

The result means that Sheffield United move onto eight points, ten from safety.

Taylor Richards lets fly against AFC Wimbledon. (Credit: @DRFC_Official)

On Tuesday night, Doncaster Rovers cruised past AFC Wimbledon at the Keepmoat Stadium by two goals to nil.

Fejiri Okenabirhie scored the opening goal of the game inside the first ten minutes, slamming the ball from the edge of the box past the goalkeeper.

Rovers made it two just before half time when Taylor Richard’s speculative shot took a deflection, wrong footing the ‘keeper before nestling into the corner.

Ryan Longman nearly pulled a goal back for the visitors in the second half, but his side footed effort cannoned off the post following Ellery Balcombe’s parrying save.

Richards fancied another long range goal in the second half, but this time Sam Walker managed to beat the ball away.

Walker then made another two top saves, firstly to deny Elliot Simoes from close range and then a one-on-one stop against Reece James.

Donny sit fourth in League One but with at least two games in hand on the teams around them.

Mads Andersen enjoyed his goal against the Bluebirds.

Barnsley threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 at Oakwell against Cardiff City on Wednesday night.

The Tykes led on the stroke of 20 minutes when Mads Andersen was given a free header inside the Cardiff box; the big centre back powered the ball into the top corner giving the ‘keeper no chance.

Cauley Woodrow doubled Barnsley lead early in the second half, getting on the end of an Alex Mowatt free kick and heading past Alex Smithies.

The Bluebirds got one back seven minutes later when Josh Murphy’s low cross was prodded in by Sheyi Ojo.

Cardiff’s equaliser came from a familiar name for Barnsley fans, with Joe Ralls’ corner going over everyone apart from former Tykes striker Kieffer Moore who was lurking at the back post to head in.

Callum Styles nearly continued his brilliant run in front of goal but blazed over in the dying minutes to keep the score at 2-2.

The draw means that remain in the top half of the Championship.

Julian Borner looked gutted as he walked off the pitch at the end of the game.

Elsewhere in the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday’s good start under caretaker manager Neil Thompson came to an end with a 2-0 defeat to Coventry City.

The opener came 12 minutes into the second half when Callum O’Hare threaded through Viktor Gyokeres who finished under Keiren Westwood.

O’Hare was the provider once again for the Sky Blues, slotting in Jamie Allen who finished through the legs of Westwood to seal the points.

Wednesday came closest to scoring early on when Barry Bannan laid the ball to Matt Penney from a corner, Penney fired a shot through the bodies from 25 yards out which nearly caught the goalkeeper Ben Wilson out.

Westwood had to be at his best to deny Leo Ostigard whose incredible leap and header from a City corner forced Westwood to sprawl to his left to keep out the effort.

The Owls did come close when a free kick from Bannan went agonisingly over, which came about after Josh Windass was dragged to floor, seemingly like a red card offense but the referee showed defender Dominic Hyam a yellow instead.

There was still time for Wednesday to show their cracks defensively when a Coventry corner which would have went all the way in if not for the glove of Westwood; the save dropped to Maxime Biamou who smashed the ball towards goal from just a couple of yards out, but Julian Borner managed to get his face in the way to clear off the line.

The result means Wednesday are six points of safety and sit 23rd in the Championship.