Josh Coburn’s first-half strike clinched play-off chasing Millwall a 1-0 win at Bramall Lane and dented Sheffield United’s automatic promotion chances.
Millwall turned in one of their best away displays of the season to frustrate the Blades and Coburn’s thumping finish lifted the Londoners to within three points of the top six with five games to play.
Blades substitute Jesurun Rak-Sakyi twice went close to equalising while Chris Wilder’s side, who slipped to their eighth league defeat of the season, created a string of scoring chances.
But the Lions, for whom Mihailo Ivanovic should have doubled his side’s lead, turned in a never-say-die defensive display and were a constant threat on the counter.
Coburn headed an early free-kick over for Millwall and Blades forward Rhian Brewster’s first-time effort span narrowly wide from a corner.
The visitors, who began the day in ninth place, six points off the play-offs, struck the opening goal in the 21st minute, just when the Blades appeared to be building momentum.
Billy Mitchell’s low ball into the box picked out Casper De Norre and he helped the ball on to Coburn, who slammed home his fifth league goal of the season beyond Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper.
Ben Brereton Diaz went close to an early response for the home side when his glancing header forced a fine reaction save from Lukas Jensen.
Home fans’ frustration at going a goal down reached fever pitch when referee Sam Allison waved play on after Millwall skipper Jake Cooper had wrestled Anel Ahmedhodzic to the ground.
The Blades created several half-chances before the break but Millwall, who continued to carry a threat on the break, held on to their slender lead at half-time.
Rak-Sakyi replaced Brereton Diaz at the break and he should have equalised for the Blades just after the restart, only to miscue his shot in front of goal from Harrison Burrows’ cross.
Rak-Sakyi turned sharply to fire straight at Jensen soon after as the Blades turned the screw in search of an equaliser.
Ivanovic then missed a golden chance to put Millwall 2-0 up, shooting straight at Cooper after Coburn’s cross had left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Jensen saved well from Gus Hamer’s fierce low effort before Blades boss Wilder sent on Vini Souza, Callum O’Hare and Tom Cannon for Hamza Choudhury, Brewster and Tyrese Campbell.
Cannon lashed in a low shot, well held by Jensen, as the Blades ramped it up with 10 minutes to go and Rak-Sakyi’s close-range effort rolled agonisingly wide as Millwall held on and Wilder’s side slumped to back-to-back defeats.
Mikel Arteta said he is ready to give his life to deliver a trophy for Arsenal after he apologised to the club’s fans for ending the season empty handed.Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle and confirmed their place in the Champions League.However, the Gunners failed to launch a serious title challenge to Liverpool this season, and they are set to ...
Jamie Vardy reflected on an “amazing” and “rollercoaster” career with Leicester after scoring a landmark 200th goal in his 500th and final appearance for the Foxes.The 38-year-old former England striker reached the goal milestone in the 28th minute of Leicester’s home match with Ipswich when he latched on to James Justin’s through ball and expertly slipped it be...
Mikel Arteta apologised to Arsenal supporters for failing to deliver on his dream of ending the club’s two-decade wait for a Premier League title.Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Newcastle and confirmed their place in the Champions League next season.However, the Gunners failed to launch a serious challenge to Liverpool this season and are set to finish ...
Interim boss Liam Fox welled up with tears as he reflected on his “pride” at leading Hearts to four straight wins before departing his boyhood club as they prepare to confirm Derek McInnes as their new manager on Monday.With McInnes set to bring his own backroom staff with him from Kilmarnock, it was announced on Saturday that Fox – a childhood Jambo who started both his playing ...
Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor heaped praise on her side’s new celebrity investors after multi-millionaire entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian and his wife, tennis great Serena Williams, flew over for their FA Cup final triumph at Wembley.Sandy Baltimore scored a brace either side of a Catarina Macario goal as Chelsea sealed an unbeaten domestic treble with a 3-0 victory over Manchester United in fron...
Declan Rice’s second-half strike fired Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Newcastle at the Emirates and a place in next season’s Champions League.Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya kept his side in the match with a string of fine saves prior to the interval before Rice delivered from range with 55 minutes gone.Arsenal’s victory moves them five points clear of third-placed Newcastle with jus...
Marco Silva says Harry Wilson will “want to play Brentford every week” after he stung the Bees for a second time this season with the winner in Fulham’s 3-2 west London derby victory at the Gtech Community Stadium.Wilson, who had his contract extended until next summer this week and also scored a stoppage-time double in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Brentford in November, replicate...
Tony Docherty thanked Lyall Cameron for an outstanding career at Dundee after the midfielder signed off in style with a double in victory over St Johnstone.Cameron, who penned a pre-contract with Rangers in February, inspired a 2-0 win that eased the Dark Blues away from the relegation play-off place.The 22-year-old netted after 28 minutes and rounded off a man-of-the-match display with a stoppage...
Nuno Espirito Santo and his Nottingham Forest players dedicated the 2-1 win over West Ham which kept their Champions League hopes alive to stricken team-mate Taiwo Awoniyi.Striker Awoniyi is recovering from emergency abdominal surgery, having been placed in an induced coma, after colliding with a goalpost in last weekend’s Premier League home draw against Leicester.The 27-year-old revealed o...
Michael Wimmer says he is delighted with how Motherwell have ended the season after wrapping up their William Hill Premiership campaign with a 1-1 draw at Ross County.The Steelmen trailed to a Ronan Hale goal on the half-hour mark but improved drastically in the second half and dominated the game in Dingwall.That pressure eventually told, with Moses Ebiye heading in an equaliser with seven minutes...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 3 Arsenal offer £135k deal to seduce target
- 4 Mikel Arteta ready to give his life to deliver silverware for Arsenal
- 5 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 6 Chelsea beat Manchester United in FA Cup final to seal domestic treble
- 7 Mikel Arteta apologises for failing to deliver Arsenal a Premier League title
- 8 Liverpool cleared to complete signing
- 9 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate
- 10 Marc Guehi to land transfer to Real or Barca