Wilder on “the story of the night”; Sheffield United boss singles out player who has been “immense” | OneFootball

10-man Sheffield United secured a 1-0 victory over 10-man Sunderland on Friday night at Bramall Lane. The contest saw drama unfold at both ends, but it was Tom Davies, recently returning from a prolonged injury layoff, who stole the headlines with his late winner in the 83rd minute.

The goal marked a monumental moment for Davies, scoring his first goal in over a 1000 days, and his strike was the perfect reward for his lengthy recovery journey. His clinical finish in front of the Kop end sent the Blades to the top of the league for the second time this week, solidifying their strong position in the Championship.

The match began with Sheffield United looking sharp, but Sunderland’s playmakers soon started causing problems. The first troubling moment came in the 29th minute when Sunderland’s Tom Watson drew a foul from Jack Robinson, earning a penalty. However, Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper was the hero, diving low to deny Patrick Roberts and keeping the score level.

Eleven minutes later, the game took a decisive turn in the 40th minute when Sunderland’s Chris Mepham was shown a straight red card after a clumsy challenge on Tyrese Campbell on the edge of the box. Yet, Sheffield United’s numerical advantage was short-lived. Just before halftime, Harry Souttar received a second yellow for pulling back his opponent, leaving both sides down to 10 men.

The second half saw United pressing relentlessly. Despite the even numbers, both teams showcased attacking intent but struggled to find the breakthrough. Then, in the 83rd minute, substitute Davies provided the defining moment of the match. Lurking in the box, he controlled the ball in a tight space and unleashed a precise low shot past Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, sending the home crowd into raptures.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Tom Davies of Sheffield United celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield United FC and Sunderland AFC at Bramall Lane on November 29, 2024 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Chris Wilder on the two Sheffield United heroes: Michael Cooper and Tom Davies

Speaking to SUTV after the game, Chris Wilder reflected on a crazy game which sent the Blades to top of the Championship: “The story of the night is Tom; a fabulous example to any young player or player when they’re feeling down and injured and out of the game a little bit. What a bit of desire and a bit of work ethic does for you, and what a bit of personality does for you. Nights like tonight when there’s a good story, it makes you feel a little bit warm inside.”

Wilder also hailed Michael Cooper for his penalty save, likening his impact to former Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

“Michael has been immense. We talked about Dean [Henderson] when he made big saves for us. And he’s been brought in to make big saves, and that’s a big save because we lost control of the game in that period.”

The Blades’ manager reflected on the game’s chaotic nature, agreeing with the referee’s decisions on both red cards and Sunderland’s penalty. “It’s a definite penalty. [Sunderland’s] is a definite sending off, so I don’t know what other people were moaning and groaning about. And our sending off was a definite sending off with two yellows. No complaints, even though I think the reaction of our supporters towards the officials told quite a big story at the end of the game.”