Wilder thankful for change in fortunes after Blades beat Norwich

Posted Sunday, August 19, 2018 by PA

Chris Wilder was relieved to see Sheffield United’s luck change after a stoppage-time winner from Billy Sharp saw them beat Norwich 2-1 in a thrilling finish.

John Egan also scored for the hosts while Jordan Rhodes netted for Norwich.

The opening goal came in the ninth minute. A corner was floated towards the back post where centre half Egan rose the highest and his looping header was headed away by Alex Tettey on the line, however the ball was already over, giving the Blades the lead.

The Canaries equalised after 26 minutes. Deep inside the box, top scorer Onel Hernandez turned his man to set up Rhodes who converted from close range, the summer signing claiming his second goal of the season.

The Blades dominated the second half as they searched for a winner. With the clock ticking down, they finally got it when a long ball found Leon Clarke who guided the ball across to captain Sharp who tapped in from four yards out to win the game.

United boss Wilder said: “It’s about time we got a last-minute winner. There have been some cruel results over the last 12 months at Bramall lane, but now we’ve won a tight game against a talented team.

“I felt the best chances fell our way, but there’s nothing better than a last-minute winner for everybody and it’s about time it went our way.

“It’s been a tough couple of weeks. We started in a manner we didn’t want to but credit to the lads with an away win at QPR and to win a tight game shows what we’re all about.

“Our skipper scored a goal in the 93rd minute, we kept going and we kept going and deserved the win and that’s how it is.

“We were on the floor two or three time last year. Bristol City did it to us, Aston Villa did it to us and a few others did, too.

“I thought we came in at half time feeling a bit sorry for ourselves with the manner of the goal, maybe because of the manner of the goal. I thought we started very brightly but lost a bit of belief when they scored, but the lads got back on the bike and showed they’re proper footballers.”

Norwich boss Daniel Farke said: “Like always in football, when you concede in the last minute it is frustrating, it’s really tough to take because we got the feeling we were so close to a really good result.

“There were periods in the game which were good for us, big chances to go in the lead and to win the game. Even a draw away at Bramall Lane is a solid result. I felt we had the best chance of the game but to come home without a point is tough particularly after conceding in the last second of the game.

“There’s always room for improvement, I got the feeling it was a good game because there were two teams that really wanted to win this game.

“Sheffield in the first 15/20 minutes were on the front foot and deserved to lead, although we dictated the second half of the first half.

“In general it’s not so much about the performance of the players but football will always be determined by small situations and we have to be focused, concentrated and clinical in using our chances.”