Sheffield United 1-0 Burnley: David McGoldrick sees relegated Blades bow out of Premier League with win
Match report and free highlights as David McGoldrick sees Blades bid farewell to Premier League with final-day win on afternoon supporters return to Bramall Lane
Sunday 23 May 2021 18:23, UK
Sheffield United bowed out of the Premier League on a winning note as David McGoldrick sealed a 1-0 final-day victory over Burnley in front of returning fans at Bramall Lane.
The veteran Blades striker scored a fine ninth goal of the season from distance midway through the first half (24) and it proved enough to see the long-relegated hosts end a torturous campaign on a relative high.
McGoldrick, serenaded by supporters throughout, had chances to further boost his tally, while Chris Basham hit the goalframe from close-range, but one goal was enough to see the hosts avoid further ignominy – no side had lost 30 games in a Premier League season – and their focus will now sharpen on a managerial appointment for a Championship charge.
Burnley, secure for a sixth straight season, were lacklustre for long periods and end the campaign with a third straight defeat but more, more crucially, fresh concern for England goalkeeper Nick Pope, whom Sean Dyche confirmed will need knee surgery that, while described as minor, will put his Euro 2020 chances in jeopardy.
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The scoreline had been the same 442 days ago but how different the story, Billy Sharp sealing a 1-0 win over Norwich that lifted his side to sixth in the table. How they have missed a crowd that cajoled and emboldened; how they have struggled shorn of the deep connection as well as from their injuries and their frailties.
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The Greasy Butty Song rang joyfully again from throats in the Bramall Lane Kop, supporters reunited with their matchday repertoire, including songs to salute former boss Chris Wilder.
Johann Gudmundsson had taken early aim, firing straight at Ramsdale but a series of corners came and went and John Egan skilfully snuffed out the aerial threat of Chris Wood in a scrappy opening period.
McGoldrick had been busy without connecting with several promising Ben Osborn crosses but he crafted the opener himself shortly before the hour mark, collecting Enda Stevens crisp pass, dropping a shoulder to cut inside and then beating Will Norris with a curling shot.
Burnley offered little in reply and Basham, who would later sport a black head bandage after clashing with Ramsdale, came close to a second goal when he thumped a fierce shot against a post following a corner.
McGoldrick should have scored a second shortly after the interval but the ball got stuck under his feet inside the penalty area, before he looped a header over the crossbar shortly afterwards.
Club-record signing Rhian Brewster’s wait for his first Blades goal will extend into next season as Norris got down well to smother his low shot from 20 yards but a legitimate lunge to regain possession close to the Kop drew an admiring roar, the youngster buoyed by his first tast of the Blades’ support.
The hosts survived some late pressure, with Jack Robinson having to clear the ball from just in front of his own goal line after Chris Wood tried to poke it home, but the Blades held on for a rare but deserved victory on their top-flight farewell.
What’s next? Euros, transfer window, 2021/22 key dates
Euro 2020 kicks off on Friday June 11 – just 19 days after the conclusion of the 2020/21 Premier League season – and runs until Sunday July 11.
The 2021/22 Premier League campaign will start for Burnley on the weekend of Saturday August 14 – 34 days after that Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
Clubs will be able to start planning for the new term when the top-flight fixtures are released at 9am on Wednesday, June 16 but transfer business can start in earnest before then, with the summer transfer window opening on Wednesday June 9.
- 2021/22 season – all the key dates
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- Euro 2020 – full fixtures and schedule
The 2021/22 Championship season for Sheffield United begins a week before the top-flight one on the weekend of Saturday August 7. All Sky Bet EFL fixtures will be announced at 9am on Thursday June 24.
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