Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Sheffield United: United’s Promotion Hopes Dwindle Away After Another Poor Display | OneFootball

Sheffield United put in yet another shocking performance on Saturday lunchtime which eventually saw them surrender a 1-0 lead and lose 2-1 to the bottom side in the Championship, Plymouth Argyle.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi gave the Blades the lead in the first half thanks to a magnificent piece of skill and finish, cutting inside on his left foot from the edge of the box and finding the top left corner.

Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie got the telling touch from close range after a corner wasn’t cleared by the Blades, equalising in the 81st minute. Just a few minutes later, substitute Muhamed Tijani fired the home side in front after Jack Robinson’s clearance teed him up inside the box following a cross.

Chris Wilder made several changes to the starting eleven, Harry Clarke came in for Femi Seriki at right-back. Hamza Choudhury was replaced by Vinicius Souza. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi filled the right-winger role instead of Ben Brereton Diaz, while Callum O’Hare took the place of Rhian Brewster in the ten position just behind Tom Cannon, who entered the fray for Tyrese Campbell.

Lineups

Plymouth: Hazard, Mumba, Ogbeta (Edwards HT), Houghton, Pleguezuelo, Szűcs, Hardie, Wright (Tijani 64), Bundu (Gyabi 90), Randell, Pálsson.

Unused: Grimshaw, Obafemi, Puchacz, Boateng, Baidoo, Issaka.

Blades: Cooper, Hamer, O’Hare, Rak-Sakyi (Brereton Diaz 68), Burrows, Ahmedhodzic, Clarke (Seriki 68), Robinson, Souza (Choudhury 80), Cannon (Moore 68), Peck (Campbell 84).

Unused: A. Davies, McCallum, Holding, Brewster.

First Half

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi puts Sheffield United in front against Plymouth Argyle. (Image Credit: Sheffield United Football Club).

Outside of a couple of early corners for the Blades, which saw Jack Robinson head an effort over the bar, neither side looked threatening up top.

The first shot on target didn’t arrive until the 38th minute of a tense first half. Returning to familiar surroundings, goalkeeper Michael Cooper misjudged a long clearance, sending it into the stand. From the resulting quick throw by Mustapha Bundu, Ryan Hardie looked to catch Cooper off guard, but the United stopper recovered swiftly.

Just a minute earlier, Bundu had strong penalty appeals waved away after tangling with Robinson on the edge of the area while chasing a lofted ball into the box, which Cooper claimed.

Despite the lack of early chances, the game sparked into life just before the break. In the 44th minute, a poor clearance landed at the feet of Gustavo Hamer, who instantly shifted the ball wide to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The winger turned Ogbeta inside out before unleashing a left-footed strike into the far corner, giving Conor Hazard no chance and putting United ahead.

Second Half

Rak-Sakyi almost doubled the lead six minutes after the restart, but Hazard produced a superb low stop to deny him from just inside the box after a clever pass from Peck. Moments later, Hazard was called into action again, comfortably claiming Anel Ahmedhodzic’s downward header from a Hamer corner.

Plymouth began to find their rhythm and came close on 64 minutes when United failed to deal with Adam Randell’s free-kick. Hardie’s effort on the spin clipped the top of the crossbar as the hosts pushed for a response.

Bundu, a constant threat, shrugged off Robinson and appeared to have carved out a golden chance, only for Souza to produce a vital last-ditch tackle. However, the challenge came at a cost, as the midfielder was forced off injured and replaced by Hamza Choudhury.

However, from the resulting Randell corner, a volleyed effort from the edge of the box dropped perfectly for Hardie, who coolly converted from close range to level the score.

United responded by introducing striker Tyrese Campbell for midfielder Sydie Peck, and the substitute nearly made an instant impact, latching onto a pass from Hamer only to find the side netting with a powerful drive over on the left side of the box.

With the clock winding down, Plymouth found their moment. In the 87th minute, Bali Mumba surged down the left flank and whipped in a dangerous low cross. The ball deflected off Robinson’s outstretched foot, landing kindly for Muhamed Tijani, who drilled home to seal a stunning late turnaround.