An unfortunate own goal from Ryan Porteous helped Sheffield United produce one of the narrow football scores of the weekend in the Championship. Ryan Porteous’ own goal in the second half gave the hosts all three points at Bramall Lane. Keinan Davis got the first big chance of the game for the visitors after a quiet first ten minutes. The Watford player got through on goal but was unable to shoot, and goalkeeper Wes Foderingham gathered the ball. At 18 minutes, Anel Ahmedhodzic received his first yellow card for a foul on Joao Pedro outside the area. Davis nearly converted Watford’s subsequent free kick, but his header flashed wide. With superb footwork, Iliman Ndiaye found himself in the Watford box midway through the first half, but he blasted his attempt over the crossbar.
Max Lowe was sent his second yellow card for tripping Ismaila Sarr on the edge of the box, and Imran Louza’s cross caused a scramble on the goal line, but the Hornets were unable to drive the ball home. The Blades had one final chance in an uninteresting half in which they were second best for the majority of the time. Jack Robinson fired a shot at Daniel Bachmann’s goal, but it went wide for a goal kick. Watford’s Porteous was penalized five minutes into the second half for tripping Oli McBurnie, and Oliver Norwood’s resulting free kick was saved by Bachmann.
Substitutes Paul Heckingbottom brought on Ben Osborn and Tommy Doyle for Lowe and John Fleck, and Bachmann was pushed into two fantastic back-to-back saves to keep the hosts out. After 73 minutes, United eventually struck the back of the net for the game-winning goal. McBurnie’s header back across goal forced an unlucky Porteous to put the ball into his own net after Norwood’s corner reached him at the far post. The Blades had to dig deep to keep Watford out and maintain their lead as the game progressed. Despite several attempts in the box, Slaven Bilic’s team was unable to test Foderingham late on.
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