Middlesbrough 1-0 Sheffield United: Blades Remain Blunt at the Riverside

The disastrous start to the season continues for Sheffield United after being narrowly defeated 1-0 away at Middlesbrough.

It was a game starved of quality in the final third until the 64th minute when Matt Targett slipped a through ball in behind the United back line where a perfectly timed run from Tommy Conway latched onto the ball and produced a clinical finish into the bottom right corner.

Ruben Selles gave a debut to Japhet Tanganga at the back, whilst Nils Zatterstrom, Tahith Chong and Danny Ings were named on the bench. Club captain Jack Robinson was left out of the matchday squad amid speculation around a move to Watford.

Lineups

Boro: Brynn, Hansen (Nypan 45), Brittian (Lenihan 90), Whittaker (Burgzorg 77), Fry, Morris, Ayling, Conway (Sene 69), Hackney, Jones, Silvera (Targett 45).

Unused: Glover, Barlaser, Edmundson, McCabe.

Blades: Cooper, Tanganga, Godfrey (McCallum 77), Bindon, Hamer, O’Hare (Chong 77), Brooks (Ings 77), Burrows, Campbell (Cannon 69), Barry (Oné 58), Peck.

Unused: A. Davies, Soumaré, Zatterstrom, Seriki.

First Half

Boro almost struck inside the opening minutes when Sam Silvera cut in from the left and whipped a low effort that clipped the outside of the far post. Their bright start continued as Aidan Morris surged down the right and delivered a dangerous cut-back, only for the ball to flash across the face of goal with four Boro shirts unable to make contact.

The game then boiled over when Sydie Peck was shown a yellow card for a reckless challenge after overrunning the ball in midfield. Japhet Tanganga came to United’s rescue with a superb block to deny Callum Brittain, while Alfie Jones’ speculative strike from distance forced Michael Cooper into action.

Hayden Hackney’s pinpoint cross shortly after the half-hour mark was met by Tommy Conway, whose header landed on the roof of the net.

Conway then went close again on the break, unable to connect cleanly with Brittain’s low centre.

United had their moments too as the half wore on. Callum O’Hare pounced on some hesitancy from the Boro back line, with Tyrese Campbell almost capitalising before Hackney recovered.

But the Blades finished the half on top with a series of dangerous attacks and corners.

Second Half

United carried a threat early in the second half, though they failed to register a shot on target in this period. Instead, it was Boro who found the opener through new signing Matt Targett, who was introduced during the interval. Wasting little time making an impact on the left wing-back, he delivered a precise ball intoTommy  Conway’s stride, and the striker made no mistake, sliding his finish past Cooper to give the home side the lead.

Chasing the game, United introduced Tom Cannon, Ryan Oné, Danny Ings and Sam McCallum. It was Burrows though who had the next chance, firing a cross in from the byline but nobody was there to tap the ball home.

Ings was handed his debut and almost marked it with a goal, his strike from the edge of the box deflecting narrowly past the post. Tanganga continued to stand tall at the back, producing an outstanding double block to thwart Burgzorg.

United pushed deep into seven minutes of added time and should have salvaged a point. Ryan Oné showed great skill to beat his man on the right and fizz a cross to the back post, but substitute McCallum blazed over from close range with the goal at his mercy.

The Blades remain pointless and at the foot of the table with no goals scored, and come away once again without registering a shot on target.