Rotherham United 1-2 Sheffield United: Blades leave it late to extend winning run | OneFootball

Sheffield United snatched a last minute away victory over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United on Saturday afternoon. A first half header from Vinicius Souza was equalled in the second half by Joseph Hungbo, before Blades academy star Louie Marsh tapped home United’s winner with just seconds to play.

Gustavo Hamer got 45 minutes under his belt for the first time in this pre-season, meanwhile Anel Ahmedhodzic made his return to the side.

Lineups

The Blades persisted with their 4-2-3-1 shape with Hamer playing off the left.

Blades: A. Davies, McCallum, Arblaster (Dozzell 45), Hamer (Slimane 45), Moore (Marsh 79), O’Hare, Ahmedhodzic (Peck 68), Shackleton (Seriki 20), Robinson, Souza (Sachdev 79), Brooks.

Unused: Faxon, Curtis, Hampson, Burrows, Boyes.

Oli Arblaster walking out with Sheffield United ahead of their pre-season victory over Rotherham United.

First half

Sheffield United were very bright in the first half: Souza and Arblaster were splitting the lines very easily as they found the likes of Hamer, O’Hare and Brooks in the pockets.

But for all the intricate passing and movement it was a traditional route which brought about the game’s opening goal. Arblaster, taking an outswinging corner from the right, found Souza in the box who diverted the ball down and into the back of the net in the 10th minute.

Hamer and O’Hare appeared to have the licence to roam in the final third, and the former Coventry City teammates were in sync with each other from the get go.

Unfortunately Jamie Shackleton was forced off midway through the first period.

As the half progressed the Blades found more and more space. Brooks, hugging the right touchline, gliding with the ball at his feet inside his man and he created space to swing in a left-footed cross to the back post for Kieffer Moore who struck the outside of the far post.

Rotherham posed a threat at the other end when a brilliant corner delivery from the right was met with force, but luckily Arblaster was on the line to head the ball clear.

As the opening interval came to an end, Hamer found himself inside the penalty area on the right with his back to goal, and he expertly scooped the ball around the corner for O’Hare to run onto and he obliged before sliding the ball straight into the arms of the keeper.

Second half

The Blades substituted Arblaster and Hamer at half-time which really disrupted United’s ability to play through the thirds and on the turn, and the game became a bit more scrappy, which suited the hosts.

It didn’t take long for the Millers to fire back. Just three minutes into the second half a cross from the right wing caused all sorts of havoc in the box as Robinson’s whiffed clearance at the near post allowed the ball to reach the far post where substitute Hungbo was there to guide a shot into the top right corner.

Chris Wilder made several more changes as the half went on and it was a couple of his substitutes which combined for a very late winner for the Blades. McCallum did exceptionally well at the left byline to pick out substitute Sydie Peck on the edge of the box, and the young midfielder drilled a shot at goal which was saved but spilled by the Rotherham goalkeeper, only for another sub Louie Marsh to nip in front of his defender and tap home in the 89th minute.