Evan Ndiaye scored twice within 15 minutes of entering the game as Sheffield United scored in an impressive 3-0 win over Blackburn, which took them to first place in the championship. Ndiaye’s double followed after Oliver Norwood scored the first goal.
As this was the Blades’ third game in six days, United boss Paul Heckingbottom made several changes to his starting line-up. Oli McBurney and Reda Khadra formed a new attacking partnership, and John Fleck returned to midfield. Ndiaye, Rian Brewster and James McAtee were the players who made way for the trio who came on as replacements. As for the visitors, Tayo Edun got his first start of the season, and Sam Gallagher was recalled to the starting lineup.
Anel Akhmedhodzic passed very close to put the hosts ahead, forcing Thomas Kaminsky to shoot a header after a corner. McBurney then landed a header from close range and moments later the United striker got another chance.
When Kaminsky walked off his line, Ash Phillips executed a vital block to prevent McBurney from kicking the goal after he reached the end of Fleck’s clearance. McBurney also kicked a goal out of the net before United took the lead.
The goal was scored in the 31st minute when Norwood struck a free kick against the defensive wall, causing Kaminsky to stay in place when the ball hit the right side of his net. Norwood quickly made another attempt, making a long throw from close range that just went over the crossbar.
Early in the second half, Lewis Travis scored Blackburn’s first try with a shot that deflected off Wes Foderingham’s left post. McBurney seemed ready to put an end to his long lack of goals when he received the ball from six yards after John Egan had kicked the ball away, but was prevented by Kaminski’s outstretched leg. Moments later, the security guard outsmarted McBurney again by stopping at the front desk.
Ndiaye made the score 2-0 in the 73rd minute when he deflected Sander Berge’s shot past Kaminski. And the Senegalese player was at the goal again six minutes later with a superb individual goal, running away from the center circle and hitting the balls before finding his way to the goal, striking right into Kaminski’s right post.
Chris Basham took the lead again and Brewster landed a close-range shot straight at Kaminski in the closing stages. Brewster also got a chance in extra time after being at the gate, forcing Kaminski to save his legs.
It was a dominant display by United, who posed a serious offensive threat and were never seriously tested by a Blackburn team that had won three of their first four games of the season but were now suffering consecutive defeats.
McBurney may not have scored a single goal since scoring in September’s Carabao Cup, but Heckingbottom was delighted with the striker’s full display. “He was great,” the Blades manager said. “From our point of view, he was part of all the good things we did. He created opportunities, besides being at the end of opportunities, and the fact that he had so many opportunities in the match shows the hard work that everyone did with him.””
“I think such a performance would give a game to anyone. We’re just trying to deliver it. We know we’re not going to do this every week, but we’ll try to do it. After 40 games, if we come out on top in the league, I’ll be thrilled.”
