On a grey afternoon at Bramall Lane, a single moment of close-range finishing decided a match that had asked more of Wrexham's attack than their depleted forward line could give. Sheffield United, sitting just outside the play-off places, took the three points and with them a measure of relief after a season in which leads have too often slipped away. For Wrexham, the defeat deepens a question that every side in a long campaign eventually faces: how to find threat when the players who usually supply it are absent. The answer, for now, remains unwritten.
Brereton Diaz's Goal Lifts Sheffield United Within a Point of Play-offs as Wrexham Slump to Second Straight Defeat
Wrexham's win rate falls from 40.4 to 27.3 per cent without Windass
Mark
Wrexham lost 1-0, but the story seems to be more about who wasn't on the pitch.
Mimi
That's a big part of it. Windass, Broadhead and O'Hare were all injured, and Wrexham finished with an expected goals figure of only 0.6. They had one shot on target, right at the end.
Luke
Careful with the Windass numbers, though. The win rate dropping from 40.4 to 27.3 per cent is a real comparison, but it's a record over a limited span of games. It shows a pattern, not proof that he alone explains it.
Mark
And United? They're a point off the top six.
Mimi
Yes, 10th, unbeaten in three, with a fifth clean sheet. Wilder said the best team won, and his side did make the early running.
Luke
Worth noting that's Wilder's own view. The match report does back it up on the first half, but Wrexham were better after the break.
Mark
The stat about dropped points from winning positions is interesting.
Mimi
United have dropped 34, second only to Blackburn's 39 since the start of last season, and they lost twice to Wrexham last year after leading. So holding a lead here matters.
Luke
Right, though one clean sheet doesn't show that habit has changed. We'll know more over the coming weeks.
Mark
What does Parkinson need on Wednesday?
Mimi
More threat against Middlesbrough, and he's asking for honest self-assessment from his players. The forwards are still out, though, so that may be hard.
Le Pouls
- A deflected shot fell kindly for Ben Brereton Diaz, and his first goal of the season put Sheffield United ahead just before half-time.
- Wrexham's back-to-back league defeats leave them 17th, with only one shot on target and an expected goals figure of just 0.6.
- Without injured forwards Windass, Broadhead and O'Hare, the Red Dragons' attack has gone quiet, and the numbers show how much their win rate has depended on Windass.
- Chris Wilder's side held on to a lead that has slipped away in recent meetings, recording their fifth clean sheet and moving within a point of the play-offs.
- Wrexham now face Middlesbrough on Wednesday needing a sharper final third, while United push to break into the top six.
On a grey afternoon at Bramall Lane, a single moment of close-range finishing decided a match that had asked more of Wrexham's attack than their depleted forward line could give. Sheffield United, sitting just outside the play-off places, took the three points and with them a measure of relief after a season in which leads have too often slipped away. For Wrexham, the defeat deepens a question that every side in a long campaign eventually faces: how to find threat when the players who usually supply it are absent. The answer, for now, remains unwritten.
Thirty minutes into the match at Bramall Lane, Wrexham goalkeeper Anthony Patterson got a hand to a curling shot from Jordan Ayew, but could only push it into the path of Ben Brereton Diaz. From close range, Diaz scored his first goal of the season, and it proved the only one of the afternoon. Wrexham, under Phil Parkinson, slipped to their second straight league defeat, while Chris Wilder's Sheffield United climbed to 10th, a point outside the play-off places.
The hosts began the stronger side, and Wrexham's first real effort was blocked by United captain Japhet Tanganga. Wilder was furious when Harrison Burrows was denied a penalty after a challenge by Wrexham captain Dom Hyam. After the break, Wrexham improved with fresh legs. Kieffer Moore, a former Blades striker, lifted an effort over the bar, and Ben Sheaf made a last-ditch tackle to deny Ayew. Still, United held firm.
For United, the win brings relief. They had dropped points from winning positions too often, and had lost twice to Wrexham last season after leading both times. This time they recorded their fifth clean sheet of the campaign. Wilder praised his side's intent and said they played some really good football.
Wrexham were without Josh Windass, last season's top scorer, along with Nathan Broadhead and Callum O'Hare. Parkinson accepted that the game came down to individual duels and said he would examine his own contribution. Now Wrexham face Middlesbrough on Wednesday, needing more threat, while United aim to climb into the play-off places.
Thirty minutes into a match at Bramall Lane, Wrexham goalkeeper Anthony Patterson got a hand to a curling shot from Jordan Ayew but could only push it into the path of Ben Brereton Diaz. From close range, Diaz scored his first goal of the season. It was the only goal of the game, and it left Phil Parkinson's Wrexham with back-to-back league defeats for the first time this term.
The result lifts Chris Wilder's Sheffield United to 10th in the Championship, a point outside the play-off places. It stretches their unbeaten run to three games and is their fifth league win of the season. Wrexham stay 17th, having managed just one shot on target, and that came right at the end.
The hosts began the stronger side. Ayew and Sydie Peck both missed early chances, and Wrexham's first real effort, a driven shot from Lewis O'Brien, was blocked by United captain Japhet Tanganga. After the goal, Wilder was furious when Harrison Burrows was denied a penalty following a challenge from Wrexham captain Dom Hyam.
Parkinson brought on Sam Smith and Max Cleworth at half-time, and Wrexham improved. Kieffer Moore, a former Blades striker, lifted an effort over the bar. Ben Sheaf made a last-ditch tackle to stop Ayew after he latched onto a long pass from goalkeeper Michael Cooper. Peck tested Patterson in stoppage time, and Smith's header at the other end was tame and comfortably gathered.
The win carries some relief for United. Only Blackburn Rovers, with 39, have dropped more Championship points from winning positions since the start of last season than United's 34. United also lost twice to Wrexham last term after leading both times. This time they held on and recorded their fifth league clean sheet of the campaign. Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield it was a deserved win and that the best team won. He said he had asked his players to ignite the fanbase, and felt their intent and approach did that, adding that he thought they played some really good football.
Wrexham, meanwhile, were missing injured attackers Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead and Callum O'Hare, and finished with an expected goals total of just 0.6. The numbers for Windass, last season's top scorer, are stark. Since the start of last season's Championship campaign, Wrexham's win rate falls from 40.4 per cent to 27.3 per cent without him, and their points per game drops from 1.53 to 1.18.
Parkinson told BBC Radio Wales that the game comes down to winning individual duels, and that he would look at his own contribution as manager. He said that over the first 45 minutes his side made United look a really good team, and that players must be honest and self-analytical about their own performances.
His side has little time to respond. Wrexham face high-flying Middlesbrough on Wednesday evening, needing more threat in the final third while their key forwards remain out. United, for their part, will try to build on their defensive solidity and move into the play-off places next time out.
Citations marquantes
A deserved win, the best team won the game in my opinion.— Chris Wilder, Sheffield United manager, to BBC Radio Sheffield
In the first 45 minutes, we made them look a really good side.— Phil Parkinson, Wrexham manager, to BBC Radio Wales (paraphrased)
Envie de l'histoire complète ?
Lire l'original sur Yardbarker ↗
Politics & Governance