Sheffield United vs Bournemouth. Sky Bet Championship.
Bramall LaneAttendance26,769.
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Sheffield United and Bournemouth at Bramall Lane as the Blades and the Cherries played out a goalless draw on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday 9 April 2022 17:55, UK
Sheffield United and Bournemouth both dropped points in the race for promotion to the Premier League after a 0-0 draw at Bramall Lane.
The game was played at a frantic pace despite the endless amount of fouls given, but neither side could break the deadlock, with the home side having the better opportunities.
The first proper chance of the game fell to the hosts. Enda Stevens received a cross-field ball before lashing it into the box at the first time of asking; Oli McBurnie got on the end of the delivery, but he could not direct his header on target.
Morgan Gibbs-White started the game brightly and his audacious cross was deflected wide by Bournemouth captain Lloyd Kelly.
Kelly almost repeated the trick soon after as the ball bounced off his foot from an Oliver Norwood corner and ricocheted off a post.
Ryan Christie was the bright spark for the away side in the first half. He sent a chip and along-range effort goalwards that Wes Foderingham did well to claim.
It was United who finished the half stronger. McBurnie came close to a first goal since September last year but his effort was deflected over the bar after a vital block by Kelly.
In added time, Gibbs-White played a lovely one-two with McBurnie. The former received the ball in the penalty area, but Mark Travers' strong hand kept the scores level.
The second period was marred by a stop-start tempo with referee Dean Whitestone keeping his whistle close to his lips.
Gibbs-White had the best chance of the match up to that point when a Nat Phillips slip allowed the midfielder through on goal. Travers did brilliantly to make himself big and pulled off a very strong save.
A corner from the away side caused carnage in the United penalty area but Kelly could not capitalise and poked over from 10 yards.
The Blades were denied a late penalty when Gibbs-White was chopped down in the box but the loud appeals from the home side were waved away.
With practically the last kick of the game, Filip Uremovic sent his half-volley wide of the goal which left the majority of the Bramall Lane crowd with their heads in their hands.
Sheffield United's Paul Heckingbottom: "Proud of the performance. We're frustrated - we all are. We think it's two points dropped; it's a point closer to where we want to be. In terms of the game, we did enough to win it. I'll take the positives out of it against a very good side - them and Fulham are certainly the two best attacking sides. We had the big chances, so we are disappointed that we didn't get the three. But the application of the players and the desire to go and try and win the game was there.
"Everyone told me (in regards to the penalty appeal) but I've seen it back and it's worse than described to me. I've been in and seen (the referee) but I probably feel worse actually. I don't know why I bother going in. You go in wanting to knock their heads off and then come out having behaved yourself and just feel more frustrated. They're not going our way at the minute, but we'll save them up and hopefully things like that help us get over the line."
Bournemouth's Scott Parker: "It was a good point in the end. I thought it was a well-fought point, a very good game. Overall, I thought we were the better side for the majority of the game. I think it's fair to say that Sheffield United had the better chances. I thought for large parts we were very good.
"It's been a tough week for us. The turnaround has been pretty remarkable really. Two tough away games. West Brom on Wednesday night, get back in the early hours of the morning and then before you know it, we are on a plane to Sheffield. The atmosphere of what this stadium brings and the quality of the team. I think their record speaks volumes since Paul's been in here at this place. It's a tough place to come. Over the circumstances this week, my team were proper today and I'm very proud of the side."
