McBurnie strikes late to deny Chelsea and earn point for Sheffield United
What Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino would do for just one chaos free day at work. Around the corner they turn, the one that looks from the outside to be taking them in the right direction, only to inexplicably double back.
So close, and yet absolutely miles away. It had looked like, despite a largely tepid performance, Noni Madueke’s goal midway through the second half would be enough to secure a Chelsea win.
That, though, is not how they operate. In the third minute of stoppage time, they failed to clear their lines against an increasingly desperate Sheffield United. And that allowed Oli McBurnie to nip in and rescue a point from close range. Chelsea progress? Halted.
Initially, it seemed Chelsea would cruise to the calm, comfortable, cosy victory they craved desperately. Pochettino is a savvy man. He knows full well that if Thursday’s chaotic contest with Manchester United is, at some future point, to be viewed not just as a mere moment, but as a meaningful one, it had to be built on.
And, as opponents go for such a task, the ever-accommodating Blades would have been the pick of most managers.
The odd – and, plainly, inconvenient – start time for this fixture (which was moved, and then moved again because of the Sheffield Half Marathon) led to United setting up a compensation scheme for out-of-pocket Chelsea supporters.
Undoubtedly, that news will have been met by many an unoriginal quip about how home fans should, given what they have suffered this season, also be eligible to bring claims.
Rarely has the Premier League seen a more porous defence and Chelsea’s early opener neatly summarises just how inadequate it has been.
Conor Gallagher’s corner was clipped toward the penalty spot. It was a reasonable cross, no real whip of venom on it, but accurate enough. There it was met by Thiago Silva who, surrounded by absolutely nobody, side-footed past Ivo Grbic.
The Brazilian was starting for the first time since February. It may well be his last Chelsea goal, with him being 38 and having a soon-to-expire contract.
He is not Pochettino’s future, and it speaks volumes for how this trip was viewed that he played.
The goal was met not visceral discontent, but by a meek grumble from United’s Kop. They know the script too well. Loved ones in and around the city will have received messages saying that match attendees would likely return home earlier than planned. Except that did not happen.
Cole Palmer – moved centrally to accommodate Madueke – did his utmost to get Chelsea going. There were some brilliant flashes, but nothing quite stuck. And United showed a little fight. They were lifted by Silva’s stray pass across goal midway through the first half.
McBurnie intercepted and teed up Ben Brereton Díaz to shoot. With Dorde Petrovic already committed, only a block from Moisés Caicedo prevented a goal.
Next Gustavo Hamer grabbed the strings. There are few in United’s squad that will be cherry-picked in the summer, but he is more than worth a second look. First, he opened space up for himself and tested Petrovic from range. Then, he set up United’s first equaliser.
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When the ball fell to him 30 yards out, Hamer’s failure to slip the overlapping Jayden Bogle in first time drew an audible groan. The local fuses are, quite understandably, short. For once, though, the angst was misplaced. Hamer paused, found Bogle on Marc Cucurella’s blindside, and the wing-back’s cross-cum-shot beat Petrovic at the near post.
In that moment, Bramall Lane found something. Belief. Long since absent belief. United were on top; Chelsea were stuttering. Soon after the break Brereton Díaz centred for McBurnie, who headed agonisingly wide. Up went the volume; back dropped Palmer. Deeper, and deeper still.
Ollie Arblaster teed up Hamer 20 yards out. The driven strike was sweet but into the side netting. “United,” the home fans bellowed.
It felt like it was going to either be now or never. Some robust challenges followed. The worst was Jack Robinson who wiped out Palmer near the halfway line. VAR concluded a booking was adequate.
United’s problem is they lack the quality to press home an advantage. Chelsea, for all failings of their sum, have plenty of lovely parts. Madueke is one of them and, having fired a warning shot, he danced in from the right and lashed past Grbic.
United’s balloon seemingly popped. Palmer stung Grbic’s hands from distance in what was to be his final act before trotting off.
Five minutes of added time – surely United could not rescue something? Chelsea retreated. A punt forward was half cleared. Hamer headed it back into the area; substitute Cameron Archer flicked it on; McBurnie gave United some cheer. Chelsea scarpered down the tunnel sharpish at full-time.
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