Bristol City 0-1 Sheffield United: Iliman Ndiaye fires Blades to victory

Iliman Ndiaye headed a 49th-minute winner to give Sheffield United a 1-0 Sky Bet Championship victory at Ashton Gate over a Bristol City side who finished with 10 men.

The winning goal came when City defenders Zak Vyner and George Tanner both went for a high ball into the box, leaving Ndiaye unmarked to nod home when the ball glanced off Vyner's head.

It was a night to forget for Tanner, who was sent off during eight minutes of stoppage time for a reckless late tackle on United substitute James McAtee.

City hit the woodwork twice and were guilty of wasting numerous dangerous crosses in a match they edged for much of the time.

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Nigel Pearson made one change from City's 1-1 draw with Swansea, recalling Andreas Weimann to the attack in place of Antoine Semenyo.

Wes Foderingham was back in goal for United, while boss Paul Heckingbottom also brought in Billy Sharp, Reda Khadra and Jack Robinson. Oli McBurnie dropped to the bench after scoring in the 2-0 win at West Brom.

The first half brought little in the way of clear chances, although City had the first goal attempt in the 13th minute when Jay Dasilva fired well wide.

United threatened two minutes later when Sharp got on the end of an Ndaiye cross but could get no power in his header as he stretched.

Nahki Wells had a 25th minute effort deflected wide for the hosts, who threatened without getting a telling touch inside the box.

United made a change in the 34th minute, with McAtee replacing Khadra. City were looking the more likely to break the deadlock and almost did so twice at the end of the half.

After Weimann clipped the crossbar with a fierce right-footed shot from just inside the box, Alex Scott produced a mazy dribble past several defenders before seeing his shot from a narrow angle beaten away by Foderingham at his near post.

Max O'Leary in the City goal had not made a testing save when the half-time whistle blew but the visitors were much sharper at the start of the second period and were soon rewarded with Ndiaye's goal.

Ndiaye had another effort saved low by O'Leary before City almost levelled in the 53rd minute, Wells failing to get a touch to a Mark Sykes cross.

Scott fired over after another incisive run before Pearson introduced Semenyo for Sykes in a bid to sharpen his goal-shy attack.

The substitute soon had a great chance to equalise but shot wide from a central position 15 yards out, then Tanner struck a post with a blistering half-volley from 25 yards.

Oliver Norwood shot wide on the break for United as rain poured down - but it was City doing most of the pressing and Weimann's 86th-minute shot was straight at Foderingham as the evening ended in frustration for the home side.

What the managers said...

Bristol City's Nigel Pearson: "We've not taken our chances and have conceded a poor goal, which is the story of our season. The sending-off was a rash challenge and clear-cut. But the worst we should have got was a goalless draw. I can't fault the effort of the players and their commitment. But we continually outplay teams without winning and there are reasons for that. We don't have defenders that are reliable at the moment and, with no money to spend, we just have to keep working hard to improve.

"Until we have players who are efficient so you don't even notice them, we will continue to be the sort of side we are. The first half was one in which both sides seemed to want to give the ball away. They didn't want it and when we had it we didn't appear to want it as much as we should have. In the end, there were chances we should have converted. I think there was an element of offside about their goal, but it was still a bad one to concede."

Sheffield United's Paul Heckingbottom: "This was my worst win since I took charge. When we have won before, it has been deserved. It was not a performance that will bring us many more victories. Bristol were better than us in loads of departments and I feel for Nigel Pearson. We had to rely on experience, a winning mentality and strong defending. The
three points were everything.

"I'm not sure how many red cards the challenge at the end was worth. But I think James McAtee's speed played a part and I don't believe there was any intent to hurt our player. All the players worked hard and we defended our box particularly well in the second half. But I'm not going to be smug about it. I got the shape of the team wrong to start with and had to make a change in the first half. Taking off Reda Khadra was no reflection on his performance."

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