Portsmouth 0-1 Sheffield United: Brooks nets stoppage-time winner as Blades stun the hosts
Andre Brooks struck a 90th-minute winner to seal Sheffield United’s first away win in six games and keep their playoff hopes alive with a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.
The late heartbreak for Pompey leaves Chris Wilder’s side six points adrift of the top six, while Portsmouth sit just one place above the relegation zone.
United recalled Kalvin Phillips, on loan from Manchester City, for his first start since March of last year as Portsmouth dominated the opening half, wasting several good chances.
The first notable opportunity came when Millenic Alli cut in from the left, whipping over a cross that Ebou Adams narrowly headed over.
Gus Hamer, toiling for United on the left, was a constant threat, swinging a shot from the by-line that smacked the base of the post.
John Mousinho’s Portsmouth enjoyed the early pressure, with Alli causing problems for United’s right-back Femi Seriki. A swift run led to John Swift in the six-yard box, but Michael Cooper parried the shot before a loose ball was cleared.
Alli then had a sight of goal after Seriki slipped, yet Cooper saved his low effort comfortably. Portsmouth believed they had broken the deadlock when Colby Bishop converted, but the referee ruled a foul in the buildup.
Wilder’s men failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, with Patrick Bamford’s looping header onto the roof of the net one of the rare moments for United.
A halftime reshuffle saw Callum O’Hare come on for the ineffective Tom Cannon, but Portsmouth continued to control proceedings.
Swift curled a well-worked corner from Adrian Segecic just past the far post before the Blades began to assert themselves.
Hamer found more space on the left and shot just wide from 25 yards as United gathered momentum. Bamford headed narrowly wide, and Brooks came within a whisker of a spectacular strike from the edge of the box.
As the clock ticked toward full time, substitute Tyrese Campbell drove down the left and cut the ball across the six-yard box; Brooks was there to slide in and finish, clinching the win for United.
The managers
Portsmouth: John Mousinho
“I thought the first half was dominant and we created chances, but we lacked composure in front of goal and flashed at a few opportunities. The second half was different, and once we settled in, we looked more likely to win in the final 20–25 minutes, but we were caught on the break.”
“Every game from here on is massive. The next one is the biggest.”
Sheffield United: Chris Wilder
“Sometimes games are won on mentality. You can’t always play well. We showed resilience on Monday against a strong side (Middlesbrough) and tonight we had to rely on mentality when the football wasn’t perfect. If we weren’t together, we’d have been rolled over.
“It’s the next game. You win games and you climb. If we were 24th, I’d want to be 23rd. If we were 10th, I’d want to be ninth. If we were top, I’d want to be top by ten points. That’s our attitude. We’re not top.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: is United’s late drama proof that grit beats otherwise steadier performances, or does Portsmouth’s wastefulness in front of goal suggest they’re closer to trouble than their league position implies? Share your take in the comments: should Wilder be more ambitious about pushing for top spot, or is steady progress the smarter path for United this season?
