London Saints

Sheffield United Home Won 3 – 1

Bednarek was supposed to be fit enough to face Sheffield United at the end of the longest season ever, but he only made it as far as the bench… which is further than Højbjerg did. With the Blades playing only for 8th place and Saints trying to make their way up 11th, both sides could have been forgiven for an on-the-beach approach, although such an attitude is not in either’s nature. On 14 minutes Ings thought, with good reason, that he’d won a free kick in JW-P territory but referee Bankes (not come across him before) let the visitors move the ball upfield where 34 year old Sharp left Vestergaard for dead and looked certain to score before, uncharacteristically, thinking about the situation and allowing McCarthy to make a fine block save. Saints didn’t heed the warning and when an innocuous cross came in from the left, somehow it made it through to Lundstram who scored. Indeed Lundstram could have had another but for McCarthy and although Saints were far from being outplayed, it was becoming a familiar St. Mary’s performance. But as in the last home game, and also at Bournemouth, the team upped their game in the second half and soon levelled through Adams who didn’t muck around when in a similar position to Sharp’s first half miss. Sharp had another great chance to score when presented with the ball by McCarthy who was rescued by Sharp’s rather ordinary ball control and a recovering tackle by Romeu. It was a turning point once Walker-Peters’ shot hit Basham in the midriff and the goal machine that is Che Adams was on hand to notch his third goal in 72 minutes, albeit across two games. By now United were thinking about adjusting their travel plans to avoid the Spanish coronavirus quarantine and should have been the subject of Ings’ 22nd goal of the Premier League season but for some unassured footwork, or Redmond’s first home goal of the campaign but for a poor finish; but no matter as Mr. Bankes had spotted a foul on Ings and the striker’s 22nd goal came from the spot instead. It had been nice to finish the season without pressure, and it was also pleasing to close out a home win with a two goal cushion for the first and last time – we’d have needed six more goals to have finished higher than 19th in the home form league, though (thanks, Leicester). 

LSSC Man of the Match: Che Adams. Two goals is usually enough, but Romeu also came into consideration.

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