Sheffield United took a significant step towards securing a spot in the playoff final with a commanding 3-0 victory over 10-man Bristol City at Ashton Gate. The Blades, who were initially frustrated by an early goal ruled out for offside, were handed a major advantage when Bristol City defender Rob Dickie was sent off just before half-time. Harrison Burrows converted the resulting penalty, and the Blades’ momentum continued after the break with Andre Brooks and Callum O’Hare sealing the win.
The match began with high drama when United thought they had taken the lead through Sydie Peck, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Tyrese Campbell’s flick-on from a Jack Robinson throw-in led to the disallowed goal, and the celebration quickly turned to frustration. In a tense start, a flare was set off by an away supporter in the stands, leading to their removal. Bristol City’s Joe Williams responded with a thunderous strike from distance that rattled the crossbar, but the visitors were not deterred.
Just as it seemed Bristol City might get a foothold in the match, disaster struck. Rob Dickie was shown a straight red card for a foul on Kieffer Moore in the penalty area, and United were awarded a penalty. The referee deemed that Dickie had not attempted to play the ball as Moore charged towards goal. Burrows stepped up to take the spot kick, calmly slotting it past the goalkeeper to give Sheffield United the lead. The red card left City with a daunting task for the second half, and they were forced to make tactical changes at the interval, with Haydon Roberts and Sinclair Armstrong coming on in an attempt to shore up their defense.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Bristol City struggled to break down the Sheffield United defense, and Michael Cooper, the United goalkeeper, was largely untested. The match continued to swing in United’s favor as Brooks doubled their lead in the 62nd minute, following a smart dummy by O’Hare and a low cross from Burrows. Brooks celebrated in style, performing a backflip in front of the jubilant away fans.
O’Hare put the game beyond doubt in the 81st minute when he flicked in a knockdown from substitute Tom Davies. With the game effectively decided, Bristol City was left with little chance to mount a comeback, and their hopes of reaching the final now rely on an almost impossible turnaround in the second leg at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United’s manager, Chris Wilder, took a cautious approach after the final whistle, urging his players to stay grounded despite the impressive scoreline. “We’ve been here before, and nothing is guaranteed,” Wilder remarked. “We won’t take anything for granted, and we’ll approach the second leg as if we’re still 0-0.”
For Bristol City, the defeat was a bitter blow, and manager Liam Manning expressed frustration over the referee’s decision to send off Dickie, which he felt changed the entire complexion of the match. “We felt it was too big a game for the referee,” Manning said. “We raised our concerns, and we’re disappointed with the way things unfolded.”
With the 3-0 first-leg deficit, City now face an uphill battle in the return leg, hoping to pull off a miracle reminiscent of Sheffield Wednesday’s stunning turnaround in 2023. As Manning pointed out, his team will continue to fight, but the odds are firmly stacked against them heading into the crucial second leg at Bramall Lane.
