Sheffield United 2-1 Leeds United

Billy Sharp scores for Sheffield United — Billy Sharp's first-half strike and second-half penalty means the striker has now scored 75 goals during his second and third spells with Sheffield United

Billy Sharp's double earned Sheffield United a Yorkshire derby victory and spoiled Paul Heckingbottom's first game as Leeds United manager.

Heckingbottom, who replaced the sacked Thomas Christiansen last week, saw his side trail to Sharp's stunning second-minute volley from Mark Duffy's cross.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga's powerful header levelled the scores after the break.

But Sharp netted from the penalty spot to earn victory and ensure that Leeds' winless run stretched to eight games.

The win means the Blades move up to seventh in the Championship table, two points behind Bristol City and Fulham before the 15:00 GMT games, while Leeds are seven points adrift of the final play-off spot.

Sharp's brilliant opener was a fitting way to celebrate scoring the 200th league goal of his career and he could have made it 2-0 soon after but sent a close-range header over, while Duffy went close with a curling strike

But Leeds, who wore black armbands as a tribute to former player Liam Miller who died on Friday aged 36, also had chances.

Lasogga's fierce 25-yard strike went just wide, and a Pontus Jansson diving header was brilliantly saved by Jamal Blackman.

Substitute Pablo Hernandez's cross was powerfully headed in by Lasogga to level and bring the Whites hope of ending their six-match winless Championship run.

But it was 32-year-old Sharp who proved the matchwinner after John Fleck was tripped by Eunan O'Kane - scoring his 10th goal of the season and seventh in his past eight appearances against Leeds.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder:

"We needed it. I'm sick of banging on about how well we're playing and not getting results.

"People are looking at me as if I'm a bit of a nutter, going on about it. We're at the business end of the season and we need to pick wins up.

"The effect of having a new manager would have given their players a boost. It was never going to be easy and the game ebbed and flowed."

Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom:

"Getting beaten is not nice and I know when I look back at the first goal that there will be things I don't want to see.

"Sheffield United are, in my opinion, the best in the league at building momentum. They were keeping possession, playing forward and putting us under pressure.

"We had to change that and play forward more. We played on the front foot in the second half and we had more energy.

"There was a bit of apprehension - I could sense it - and I thought that lifted in the second half."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Sheff Utd

Formation 3-5-2

27Blackman
6Basham
19Stearman
5O'Connell
2Baldock
20EvansBooked at 44minsSubstituted forLundstramat 88'minutes
21DuffySubstituted forLeonardat 77'minutes
4FleckBooked at 90mins
3Stevens
9Clarke
10SharpBooked at 14minsSubstituted forHolmesat 90'minutes

Substitutes

7Lundstram
11Donaldson
12Wilson
14Leonard
24Lafferty
26Holmes
31Eastwood

Leeds

Formation 4-3-3

13Wiedwald
15Dallas
18Jansson
5Pennington
12De Bock
4ForshawBooked at 5mins
14O'Kane
23PhillipsSubstituted forEkubanat 78'minutes
10AlioskiSubstituted forSackoat 75'minutes
9Lasogga
7RoofeBooked at 19minsSubstituted forHernándezat 45'minutes

Substitutes

1Lonergan
8Anita
19Hernández
22Cibicki
24Sacko
25Vieira
45Ekuban

Referee:: Andy Madley
Attendance:: 27,553

Match Stats

Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamLeeds

Possession: Home46%; Away54%

Shots: Home9; Away14

Shots on Target: Home3; Away3

Corners: Home8; Away5

Fouls: Home12; Away17

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Leeds United 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Leeds United 1.

90'+3'
Post update
Corner, Leeds United. Conceded by Ryan Leonard.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Laurens De Bock (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
90'+3'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Caleb Ekuban (Leeds United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hadi Sacko with a headed pass.
90'+2'
Booking
John Fleck (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'
Post update
Adam Forshaw (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by John Fleck (Sheffield United).
90'+1'
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Matthew Pennington.
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Ricky Holmes replaces Billy Sharp.
90'
Post update
Attempt missed. Pierre-Michel Lasogga (Leeds United) with an attempt from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Adam Forshaw.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. John Lundstram replaces Lee Evans.
84'
Post update
Matthew Pennington (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
84'
Post update
Foul by Leon Clarke (Sheffield United).
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Pablo Hernández (Leeds United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high.
81'
Post update
Caleb Ekuban (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81'
Post update
Foul by Lee Evans (Sheffield United).
80'
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Matthew Pennington.
79'
Post update
Foul by Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United).
79'
Post update
Ryan Leonard (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Wolves	31	22	5	4	56	23	33	71
2	Derby	31	16	10	5	48	24	24	58

3	Aston Villa	30	16	8	6	46	27	19	56
4	Cardiff	30	16	7	7	45	27	18	55
5	Fulham	31	14	10	7	52	36	16	52
6	Bristol City	31	14	10	7	45	36	9	52

7	Preston	31	12	13	6	38	30	8	49
8	Sheff Utd	31	15	4	12	44	37	7	49
9	Middlesbrough	31	14	6	11	40	29	11	48
10	Brentford	31	11	11	9	43	40	3	44
11	Leeds	31	13	5	13	42	39	3	44
12	Ipswich	31	13	5	13	43	41	2	44
13	Norwich	31	12	8	11	31	34	-3	44
14	Millwall	31	9	12	10	36	34	2	39
15	QPR	31	9	9	13	33	44	-11	36
16	Nottm Forest	31	11	2	18	35	50	-15	35
17	Sheff Wed	31	7	13	11	32	38	-6	34
18	Reading	31	8	8	15	34	41	-7	32
19	Bolton	30	7	9	14	28	47	-19	30
20	Birmingham	30	8	6	16	22	41	-19	30
21	Hull	31	6	11	14	42	47	-5	29

22	Barnsley	31	6	10	15	30	45	-15	28
23	Sunderland	31	5	11	15	34	55	-21	26
24	Burton	31	6	7	18	24	58	-34	25

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72 comments

As the BBC didn't have a hys on the sad news of Liam Miller I would like to pay my condolences to family and friends of Liam. Such a young age to lose a lovely lad and a wonderful player who had his whole life in front of him.
RIP Liam Miller
Well I think it's fantastic to host teams like Leeds United. The big away support means that the atmosphere at down town Bramall Lane is raised to spine tingling levels. I ask who wants to go to a big stadium that is poorly attended? As long as you behave, Leeds fans, you are welcome. Anyway, blades fans, give them a break. They have suffered the lower leagues just like SUFC.
@29 Terry. Do tell us why Leeds are an awful club and prehistoric fans. Or are you still stuck in the 60s/70s with your outdated prejudices for company? Leeds in the PL will be a huge advantage for everyone with one of the biggest travelling fan base in football. Guessing you're a Southampton fan and 4th March 1972 still smarts.
Magnificent Leeds support. Sharp is an advert for footballing longevity. Difference between the two teams.
To fellow Leeds fans we have our own ground again, stable ownership, a owner who may mess up but at least talks to us and says sorry, and listens when it is possible (the badge), after 16 yrs of Ridsdale, papa smurf, GFH and Cellino, we now have a long term future, so be a little patient and all the wannabe trolls who snipe on the sites will be laughing on the other side of their faces. MOT
Draw would have been fair result. Happy to take all 3 points! UTB
5. Posted by mr_wilson83
Totally wrong with one comment, Cheap Owner
This guy bought the stadium back !! Remember
The problem is ORTA who has been given the proceeds from the sale
of Taylor & Woods and totally wasted it on a load of
second rate foreign imports
No wonder he left M'boro he bought a similar crew there. ORTA
deserves the sack & the sooner the better. Good Riddance
The strategy at Leeds is non existent and it shows. Zero wins since boxing day and the 11 out today was ok but no way are we top 6 worthy. Time for MANY of the players to move on already with the focus on quality not quantity.
United have played a lot better and lost..Leeds probably deserved a draw to be honest..definate Pen,but unnecessary on their part,but I'll take the 3 points all day long.
@28 it was an even game.first half Blades were far better and should have had it won,second half Leeds edged it.Sharp the difference.
You can't polish a turd I'm afraid; too many players brought in by Orta not good enough and they supplement other cheap recruitments already at ER. How the Management at Leeds can expect the fans to continue to buy into this rubbish is beyond me.........they need to stop slipping big bucks into their chino pockets and invest on quality or sell to someone who can/will!
Boroborn, typical plastic Boro fan, 1st, Leeds have a fan base only Boro can dream of and the only team massively over achieving was Boro when you got spanked 2-1at our place (should have been 4-0 cos we played you off the park and the lino gifted you a goal) you'd send a glass eye to sleep
Blades' main targets for the season pretty much achieved - don't get relegated, don't lose to the Wendies, finish above them. Anything else is a bonus. Play offs a def possibility.
Typical derby Blades best first half Leeds second half. Draw fair result but so glad to get 3 points. UTB
An excellent win for Sheffield United. Can we re-kindle the early season form? If so, play-offs here we come!
Textbook volley by Sharp
@17 asb

Only if you have the attention span of a goldfish.

You'll find Leeds fans are far more welcoming, patient and tolerant than many glory chasing fans with no stickability.
Just nice to see us have a few shots at goal. Got a feeling Paul Heckingbottom will get us sorted soon. MoT.
first of many L's coming his way
If Leeds could be bothered to turn up in the first half of their games they would still be in the play offs , we must turn this around quickly please, Mr Heckingbottom.

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Sheffield United 2-1 Leeds United