Sheffield United vs Chelsea. Premier League.
Bramall Lane.
Free match highlights and report as Mason Mount strike and Jorginho penalty settle incident-packed contest at Bramall Lane; Antonio Rudiger own goal gifts Sheffield United equaliser but parity lasts just four minutes; Chelsea climb to fifth, a point outside the top four, Blades stay bottom
Monday 8 February 2021 06:32, UK
Chelsea claimed a third consecutive victory under Thomas Tuchel as they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in an incident-packed contest at Bramall Lane to climb to fifth in the Premier League.
Mason Mount set Chelsea on their way with a clinical finish from Timo Werner's cutback shortly before half-time, but the Blades were level within nine minutes of the restart when Antonio Rudiger's bizarre own goal gifted the hosts an equaliser - the first goal conceded of Tuchel's tenure.
Having denied Sheffield United a first-half penalty, VAR took centre stage as Chelsea restored their lead four minutes later, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's foul on Werner penalised after referee Kevin Friend consulted the pitchside monitor, allowing Jorginho to convert from the spot for the second game running.
Rudiger atoned for his earlier error with a string of crucial defensive interventions that saw out the Chelsea win and condemned the battling Blades - who remain rooted to the foot of the table, 12 points from safety - to an 18th defeat of the season.
Sheffield United nearly got off to the perfect start inside 30 seconds when OIi McBurnie released striker partner Oliver Burke through on goal, but the Blades forward opted for a near-post finish instead of going for goal and lashed a shot into the side-netting.
Chelsea burst into life on six minutes when Mateo Kovacic played Werner through on goal but having lifted a shot over the on-rushing Ramsdale, the covering Chris Basham prevented the ball from crossing the goal line.
Sheffield United promising start yielded a penalty on 10 minutes when Ben Chilwell was penalised for a rash lunge on Basham, but a VAR review found the Blades defender offside in the build-up, and Chelsea were reprieved.
Chilwell headed over while under pressure and Kean Bryan brilliantly blocked Mount's goalbound shot as Chelsea upped the intensity as half-time approached, and they found the breakthrough with two minutes to spare.
Werner brilliantly drove into space down the left after playing a one-two before cutting the ball back to the edge of the box where Mount dispatched into the bottom corner.
The Chelsea lead lasted just minutes into the second half as the Blues conceded for the first time under their new manager. Edouard Mendy raced off his line to gather McBurnie's wayward pass but was beaten to it by Rudiger, who watched on in horror as his back pass nestled in the bottom corner of his own net.
Chelsea's lead was short-lived but parity was even shorter, with Ramsdale racing off his line and committing to a rash lunge on Werner after he raced onto Bryan's loose back pass.
Having been dismissed initially, referee Friend was instructed to consult the pitchside monitor where he swiftly awarded Chelsea a penalty, and Jorginho, just as he did in the victory at Tottenham, made no mistake from 12 yards.
Rudiger nearly atoned for own goal at the other end, coming within inches of getting on the end of Cesar Azpilicueta's near-post flick, but the Germany defender thwarted John Fleck and two shots in quick succession from substitute Rhian Brewster in stoppage-time.
There was still time for substitute Billy Sharp to register an acrobatic volley in the dying stages which forced Edouard Mendy into action, but there was no denying Chelsea the win or their impressive start to life under Tuchel.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "They were huge opportunities we had and we have to take them at this level. I don't want a pat on the back for having a go, my team is always up against it in an incredibly tough division we are playing in.
"You are up against Chelsea with the quality they have got and can all upon form their bench. We are fighting and punching, and we will keep that belief from now until the end of the season.
"We had 38 cup finals last year, for the players to keep going with a quick turnaround into this year, it makes it even tougher. I don't see a team that has just accepted what people are saying about them, there are still 15 games to go but I do believe.
"We have played Man City, Chelsea, Man United in three of the last four games, thankfully they are gone. No disrespect to the other teams we are going to play, and I hope they will be closer to get some results on the board. Whether it will be enough I don't know."
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel: "We arrive in February in Sheffield, you know what's waiting for you, it feels like a cup game when you arrive here, against a team that are full of energy and very direct and physical you have to accept that not all moments are easy in the game.
"We stayed positive all the time with some difficult moments to overcome. We deserved the win in general, I'm happy with that and from that you build confidence and it's always easier to proceed.
"The first 15 minutes were difficult to overcome because they started with a lot of courage, but we had some moments where we could control the game in the middle, where we found the solution under pressure.
"When Timo plays like this we are happy, it was a big step forward. He won the decisive pen against Spurs and tonight, for the first goal it was an amazing run and assist. The goals will come if he carries on like this."
Sheffield United host Bristol City in the FA Cup fifth round on Wednesday at 7.30pm, before travelling to West Ham in the Premier League on Monday at 6pm.
Chelsea travel to Barnsley in the FA Cup fifth round on Thursday at 8pm, before host Newcastle on Monday Night Football at 8pm - live on Sky Sports Premier League.
