Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester City
by Harry De Cosemo
at Bramall Lane

ERLING HAALAND is proof of the old adage: if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. 

His second-half goal helped Manchester City to a dramatic 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, but he had to deal with knockbacks.

Chances went begging, including a missed penalty, but he stood tall to open the scoring before Jayden Bogle levelled and Rodri won it late on.

Almost immediately, the match settled into the expected pattern. Sheffield United sat deep, intent on shutting the space between the lines City are so often experts at exploiting.

An away goal felt certain; the Blades couldn’t get out of their own half, and the ball kept coming back again and again — though Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva were unable to set Haaland free. 

The Norwegian was mocked by the home fans after a tame first effort. After a Nathan Ake header was chalked off for offside, his afternoon got even more frustrating.

John Egan was penalised for handball in the area, but Haaland, stepping up against a chorus of boos to distract him, struck the post with his effort.

He went down again in the area before half time, which only served to enrage the Blades faithful further, and raise the decibels as the home side began to push forward.

The second half promised a step up from City, and they began laying siege on Wes Foderingham’s goal. First, Haaland shot wide from close range, before being denied brilliantly by the Blades keeper from close range.

But Haaland, and City, are relentless. The space the home side had been closing down gradually appeared and another cross, this time from Jack Grealish, was headed home in typically aggressive style by the striker. Fourth time lucky.

Foderingham was United’s standout player; City found more rhythm as the game wore on, but he kept his side in it. After a narrow miss by substitute Oli McBurnie at one end, he was once again on hand with a save, this time from a Julian Alvarez free kick.

Naturally the game became stretched because the Blades, far less passive than in their first home game against Crystal Palace, chased the game.

They restored parity through Bogle with five minutes of normal time remaining. A poor touch from Kyle Walker saw the ball recycled, but the fullback took his time before rifling a shot past Ederson.

United joy was short-lived. Moments later, it was City’s turn to pounce on bad defending, and Rodri restored their advantage with a rifling shot into the roof of the net.

In Pep Guardiola’s absence, his side were as driven as ever. Their patience, calmness under pressure and ability to punish even the slightest mistake is exactly why they are defending the three biggest trophies available this season.

Paul Heckingbottom will be pleased by Sheffield’s competitive edge. They rose to the occasion; it may be three defeats from three, but they have hope and, crucially, something to build upon.