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2020 Lundstram Strikes Late To Send

12th,

February Blades Up To Fifth

| ohn Lundstram’s late goal kept Sheffield
United in the hunt for European football
EXAMINER Jas it sealed a 2-1 win against
Bournemouth.
The substitute struck with six minutes remain-
IRISH ing to move the Blades up to fifth in the table and
to within two points of Chelsea, who occupy the
final Champions League spot.
It looked like the match was destined for a draw
after Billy Sharp cancelled out Callum Wilson’s
opening goal for the visitors in the first half.
Chris Wilder remains on course to guide the
Blades to their best-ever finish in the top flight –
sixth in 1975 – while Bournemouth are just two
points above the relegation zone.
United were the first to threaten but it was
Bournemouth who made the better start. Cherries
captain Simon Francis, the only survivor from
when these teams last met at Bramall Lane in
2012, made a brilliant block to deny John Fleck

PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS

Saturday February 8th
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Watford
Mariappa 78 (og) Doucouré 19
Att: 30,443 H/T: 0-1

Everton 3-1 Crystal Palace
Bernard 18 Benteke 51
Richarlison 58 Substitute John Lundstram finishes low past Aaron Ramsdale to put Sheffield United 2-1 up
Calvert-Lewin 88
Att: 38,987 H/T: 1-0 after two minutes. drop agonizingly wide of a post before Ramsdale
Wilder’s side lived dangerously as a handful of made a fine save to keep out McBurnie’s header.
Sunday February 9th
Manchester City P-P West Ham United attacks down the left caused them problems, with However, Bournemouth were breached in first-
Nathan Ake and then Harry Wilson both heading half stoppage time as the Blades’ endeavor was
Sheffield United 2-1 AFC Bournemouth
Sharp 47+ C Wilson 13 the ball wide. finally rewarded. A corner was kept alive by
Lundstram 84 Callum Wilson hooked an effort wide from Stevens, who drilled a low cross back into the six-
Att: 30,361 H/T: 1-1
close range, before the Blades’ luck finally ran out yard box where John Egan turned the ball goal-
after 13 minutes. wards. His shot was blocked but the ball fell nice-
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE Club-record signing Sander Berge was at fault, ly for Sharp, who was on hand at the far post to
giving possession away to Andrew Surman deep poke home.
Team P W D L F A GD Pts.
Liverpool 25 24 1 0 60 15 45 73 inside his own half. Another raid down the left It was the Blades captain’s first goal since scor-
Manchester City 25 16 3 6 65 29 36 51 caused panic in the penalty area and after Harry ing on the opening day of the season in the reverse
Leicester City 25 15 4 6 54 26 28 49
Chelsea 25 12 5 8 43 34 9 41 Wilson’s shot was blocked, Callum Wilson was on fixture at Bournemouth.
Sheffield United 26 10 9 7 28 24 4 39 hand to fire the rebound into the roof of the net. Wilder’s side tried to pick up where they left off
Tottenham 25 10 7 8 40 32 8 37
Everton 26 10 6 10 34 38 -4 36 Bournemouth could have immediately doubled at the start of the second half and Sharp forced
Manchester United 25 9 8 8 36 29 7 35 their lead. Ryan Fraser’s cross from the left just Ramsdale into a block at his near post shortly after
Wolves 25 8 11 6 35 32 3 35 evaded Callum Wilson and Philip Billing, though the restart.
Arsenal 25 6 13 6 32 34 -2 31
Burnley 25 9 4 12 28 38 -10 31 the latter will feel he should have made contact The same sort of pressure did not materialize,
Newcastle United 25 8 7 10 24 36 -12 31 with it. however, and the visitors were able to stem the
Southampton 25 9 4 12 31 46 -15 31
Crystal Palace 26 7 9 10 23 32 -9 30 Wilder’s team composed themselves and went flow of attacks while remaining dangerous on the
Brighton 26 6 9 11 31 38 -7 27 about getting themselves into the game after an counter attack.
AFC Bournemouth 26 7 5 14 26 40 -14 26 uncharacteristically poor start to the match. Ake hooked an effort wide following a corner
Aston Villa 25 7 4 14 32 47 -15 25
West Ham United 25 6 6 13 30 43 -13 24 A teasing cross by Enda Stevens was just out of before a thunderous strike from Fraser inside the
Watford 26 5 9 12 24 40 -16 24 the reach of Sharp, who at full stretch and from a penalty area brought a superb save from Dean
Norwich City 25 4 6 15 24 47 -23 18
tight angle could only send the ball into the side Henderson.
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES netting. Lundstram fluffed his lines with a miskick inside
Just after the half hour mark Ake’s block took the six-yard box after good work by Chris Basham,
the sting out of Oli McBurnie’s shot, allowing for- while fellow Blades substitute Lys Mousset was
Friday February 14th
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Leicester City (3pm) mer Blade Aaron Ramsdale to make a routine denied a goal against his former club by a saving
Saturday February 15th save. block from Adam Smith inside the six-yard box.
Norwich City v Liverpool (12.30pm)
Southampton v Burnley (7.30am) The hosts were building up a head of steam and Mousset made amends by setting up Lundstram
Sunday February 16th finished the first half by putting their opponents in the 84th minute, with the midfielder beating
Arsenal v Newcastle United (11.30am)
Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur (9am) under some intense pressure. Ramsdale with a calm, composed finish into the
Monday February 17th The Cherries survived a series of corners, bottom corner.
Chelsea v Manchester United (3pm)
Wednesday February 19th scrambling the ball clear and making last-ditch Ake could have snatched a point for the visitors
Manchester City v West Ham United (2.30pm) challenges. Oliver Norwood saw a deflected strike in stoppage time but he headed wide. C