Sheffield United picked up their first win since the Premier League restarted as they produced a hugely impressive display against Tottenham to keep alive their hopes of playing European football next season.
Blades’ record signing Sander Berge opened his account for the club with a neat finish in the first half, completing a fine, attacking move by the hosts.
Harry Kane thought he had equalised moments later but his strike was controversially ruled out by VAR because of a handball by Lucas Moura in the build-up.
Spurs were unable to mount a response after that as they struggled to break through a strong Sheffield United defence.
Instead, Chris Wilder’s men added a second midway through the second half when Lys Mousset turned in Enda Stevens’ cutback from close range.
And an ultimately comfortable victory was completed in the closing stages as Oli McBurnie swept in for his fifth goal of the season.
Kane, who had another goal ruled out for offside at 2-0, finally got on the scoresheet when he steered in Son Heung-min’s cross for his 13th goal of the season, but it was to be only a consolation strike.
Victory moves Sheffield United above their opponents into seventh in the Premier League, five points behind Manchester United and Wolves, who are fifth and sixth respectively.
Tottenham, who have not finished outside the top six since 2009, are ninth, seven points adrift of Wolves.
Blades back to their best
It had been a tough return to Premier League football for United, with Wilder’s side having lost all three games after the restart without scoring a goal.
Their lack of attacking threat had not helped their cause as the Blades failed to manage more than a single shot on target in each of those three league fixtures.
But they started against Spurs with much more intent in the final third and both George Baldock and David McGoldrick found the target early on, albeit with tame attempts.
Having conceded six goals in their previous two Premier League outings, the Blades had recently lost some of the confident, attacking swagger they had displayed earlier in the season, but that all came flooding back at the moment they opened the scoring.
The goal came from a flowing move that opened up the Tottenham defence before Berge turned in Chris Basham’s cutback.
From then on, Sheffield United looked much more like their old self – strong in defence and capable in attack – and the win, particularly given the strength of the opponents it came against, will provide a much needed boost as they look to claim a top-six finish – something that would be an incredible accomplishment on their first season back in the top flight.
Spurs disappointing, despite VAR frustration
Tottenham will perhaps look back at the decision to now allow Kane’s equaliser as a crucial turning point in the game.
The England striker had appeared to score a perfectly good goal as he slalomed through the home defence to slot in, but it was ruled out by VAR for a handball by Moura.
It was undoubtedly unfortunate, with Moura having appeared to have the ball kicked against his arm as he fell under pressure from a number of United players.
Despite that disappointment the visitors still had plenty of time to turn things around. However, Spurs were lethargic and struggled to find their rhythm, while in the second half they were simply outworked by their determined opponents.
Jose Mourinho’s side have won just one of their last six Premier League games and look certain to miss out on a top-four finish for the first time since 2015 as they sit nine points adrift of Chelsea.
Spurs have not finished lower than sixth in 11 years but even that is looking increasingly unlikely unless their form improves soon.
Man of the Match – Oli McBurnie (Sheffield United)
Kane completes the set – the stats
- Sheffield United have extended their unbeaten run at home to Tottenham in the top flight to six games (W4 D2) since their last defeat in December 1975 (2-1).
- Tottenham have lost their first Premier League away game against a promoted side since a 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers in April 2012, ending a run of 23 such matches (W19 D4).
- Sheffield United have gained their first league victory since the Premier League restart in June, with more shots on target against Tottenham (five) than they managed in their previous three such games combined (three).
- Jose Mourinho has lost seven Premier League games as Tottenham manager, one more defeat (6) than he suffered in his first two seasons in the competition as Chelsea boss (2004-05/2005-06) combined.
- No team have scored more goals via substitutes than Sheffield United (seven) in the Premier League this season, while no player has scored more as a substitute than Lys Mousset (three).
- Sander Berge has scored his first goal for Sheffield United in the Premier League on his eighth appearance, with his first shot on target in the competition.
- Sheffield United’s Chris Basham has registered his first Premier League assist since August 2010 for Blackpool, nine years and 323 days ago. This is the fourth longest gap between assists in the competition, and longest since Robbie Blake went 10 years and one day between October 1999 and October 2009.
- Tottenham’s Harry Kane has now scored against all 29 of the Premier League teams he has faced – he is the only player to face more than one club in the competition and score against all of them.
What next?
Sheffield United travel to Burnley on Sunday, 5 July (12:00 BST) while Tottenham host Everton on Monday, 6 July (20:00).