And here’s Louise Taylor on a spectacular result in the Championship
Here’s Sam Dalling’s report from Bramall Lane
The player of the match is Cameron Archer
I’m delighted and excited to see what’s next. I want to keep playing, score goals and go on a journey with Sheffield United.
[On the first goal] The gaffer tells me to play off Oli [McBurnie]. He set it off and then it was just instinct. I’m the kind of player who makes runs off other strikers; I think that’s important when you play with two. [McBurnie] was occupying the two defenders and I pulled back a little bit. It was a nice set and I hit it top corner.
I scored a few goals in the Championship but I wanted to make that step into the Premier League [and play regularly]. I learned a lot at Villa. I’m settling well; I’m here to score goals and learn.
"It's all on instinct!" 😏
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2023
Cameron Archer talks @petercrouch and @JoleonLescott through his debut goal for Sheffield Utd! 🙌
🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1 pic.twitter.com/W05DCzjPxs
Still want more? Course you do.
“I’d say the Premier League Scriptwriters got that one right,” says Joe Pearson. “What a finish!”
Full time: Sheff Utd 2-2 Everton
Peep peep! That was loads of fun for the neutral, maybe not so much for fans of Sheffield United and Everton. But when the dust settles, both sets of supporters should take encouragement from their performance today.
The new centre-forwards, Cameron Archer and Beto, were terrific, and the spirit on both sides is admirable. We know they have limitations, and that they will probably be in a relegation battle until spring, but they certainly aren’t the lost causes that some have suggested. And they are one point close to survival.
Here’s what happened with that amazing incident at the death. Norwood’s outswinging corner was met by McBurnie, about 10 yards from goal. His downward header bounced up towards Pickford, who threw himself to his right and pushed it dramatically onto the underside of the bar. I still can’t decide whether it was a brilliant reaction save or whether he should have pushed the ball away rather than onto the bar; my instinct is the former, though I wouldn’t put the farm on it.
Either way McBurnie stretched to stud the rebound towards goal, whereupon it hit Pickford’s big daft head – he knew nothing about that one - and deflected onto the inside of the post. Then Pickford, still on the ground, reacted brilliantly to cushion the loose ball with his leg to stop it rolling towards Vinicius Souza (I think) in front of an open goal. And finally, in a moment of the purest relief, Pickford dived on the ball and the game was over.
Updated
Full time: Sheff Utd 2-2 Everton
That was the last action of a pulsating match, which ended with a lovely embrace between McBurnie and Pickford.
90+9 min: Stunning double save from Pickford! My goodness! Norwood’s outswinging corner from the right was met with a firm downward header from McBurnie. Pickford tipped it up onto the bar, then stopped the rebound from close range with his noggin! I think it hit the post as well. That was incredible.
Updated
90+8 min In the eighth of six added minutes, Sheffield United win a corner…
90+6 min Hamer’s free-kick is headed across goal and into the arms of Pickford.
90+5 min Godfrey fouls McBurnie, who has had a fine game, just inside the Everton half. That allows Sheffield United to send all the big men forward.
Updated
90+4 min This is ragged. Both teams have given everything on a pretty hot day in Sheffield.
90+2 min There will be six minutes of added time.
90+2 min The throw-in is cleared.
90+1 min: Everton substitution Now Tarkowski is crouching just inside the touchline, buying time so that Everton can replace him with Ben Godfrey. They were desperate to get a centre half on because United have a long throw.
Updated
90 min Baldock’s cross is met sweetly on the bounce by Robinson, whose shot smashes into the side of Tarkowski’s head. Tarkowski' hits the deck, for about two seconds – but because of that he has to leave the field for 30 seconds. Sean Dyche isn’t amused, nor is he laughing.
89 min Doucoure’s square pass towards Danjuma is crucially cut out by Ahmedhodzic. He looks a good player.
88 min Both these teams have lost to late goals this season, United in each of the last two games, so it will be a savage blow if there is a winner.
86 min Foderingham calmly lobs the ball over the onrushing Beto, prompting a spike in the collective blood pressure around Bramall Lane. United suddenly look really tired and Everton are pushing for a winner.
Updated
83 min A weary Sheffield United are starting to look more interested in protecting a point than gaining two more.
81 min Beto has also faded in the last half hour, though I’m not surprise given the effort he puts in. Overall it’s been a very promising league debut.
80 min Young’s free-kick is too close to Foderingham, who saves comfortably.
79 min Basham fouls Onana 25 yards from goal. Ashley Young looks like he fancies rolling back the years. A lot of years.
77 min Neither team has settled for a 2-2, though that may start to happen in the next few minutes. Danjuma’s cross is headed away well by Ahmedhodzic, then Onana overhits a cross towards Beto.
76 min A free-kick is headed away to Robinson on the left edge of the area. He wafts the bouncing ball indulgently over the bar.
75 min: Sheff Utd substitution Benie Traore replaces Cameron Archer, who was much quieter in the second half. In the first he was superb.
75 min: Everton subsitution The fit again Dwight McNeil replaces James Garner.
74 min Hamer’s excellent free-kick is headed away crucially by the stooping Branthwaite.
73 min Doucoure is booked for a foul on Baldock just outside the area on the right. It's getting pretty frantic now.
71 min: Good save from Pickford! The two wing-backs almost combine to give United the lead. Baldock somehow digs out a cross from the right that takes a deflection off Young and loops dangerously over the head of Pickford. Thomas’s volley from a tight angle is crucially saved by Pickford, whose footwork across the line was excellent, then Hamer’s raking follow-up is blocked in the six-yard box.
Updated
69 min “I expected a cagey match between two safety-first teams, but so far each team’s forward line has made their opposing defences look rickety,” says Kári Tulinius. “I may be going on reputation more than fact, but I thought sides coached by Heckingbottom and Dyche would be more solid.”
67 min: Sheff Utd substitution In fact it’s a double change. Chris Basham is on for John Egan, who did well to last this long.
66 min: Sheffield United substitution Luke Thomas, who joined on loan from Leicester in the week, replaces the injured Yasser Larouci at left wing-back.
64 min Foderingham grabs the ball right on the edge of the penalty area. The Everton fans appeal but the referee, whose positioning was excellent, says it’s okay.
60 min Robinson’s cross goes behind for a corner off Patterson.
59 min “Afternoon Rob,” says Gary Byrne. “Would Jordan Pickford constantly picking the ball out of the Everton net also be a case of nominative determinism?”
Let’s stop this before our more optimistic quadragenarian readers start changing their surname to Thunderba$tard.
58 min A poor clearance from Patterson hits a United player and ricochets to Larouci, who shoots over from 15 yards. Half a chance.
57 min With every passing goal, this becomes a better game to win and a worse one to lose. Three points are three points are three points, but some victories do more for morale than others.
56 min Doucoure’s long-range shot is easily saved by Foderingham. This is great stuff!
Beto played a simple pass down the right to Patterson, who angled a killer first-time cross towards Danjuma at the far post. It arrived slightly awkwardly, on the bounce, but Danjuma steered it high into the net from six yards. The cross from Patterson was superb.
Arnaut Danjuma scores for Everton in his second successive match! 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2023
It's all square! 🤝#SHUEVE pic.twitter.com/RGNVbF2J9Q
Updated
GOAL! Sheff Utd 2-2 Everton (Danjuma 55)
Another twist in this early-season humdinger!
Updated
53 min Young’s near-post corner is headed across goal by Beto, who is having a terrific game, but Tarkowski can’t quite reach it. Just before that, during the usual pre-corner wrestle, Branthwaite was almost disrobed. I have no idea whether that’s a foul or not any more.
Updated
52 min Young’s dangerous corner is headed away well by Egan, under all kinds of pressure.
51 min Danjuma crashes a poor free-kick straight into the wall.
50 min Young points out that the wall is standing in front of the foam line – so the referee sprays another in a completely different place! Sean Dyche is laughing, but he’s not amused.
Updated
49 min: No penalty Yep, just outside the area; at least that’s the VAR verdict (we haven’t seen many replays). There was a defender coming across, so it’s a yellow rather than a red card for Ahmedhodzic.
Updated
48 min Danjuma is pulled back just outside the area by Ahmedhodzic after a superb backheel from Beto. It’ll be checked by VAR. The first contact was outside, though it may have continued in the area.
Updated
46 min Branthwaite was flattened by McBurnie just before that chance, though he’s okay to continue.
46 min Beto misses a not unreasonable chance after about 15 seconds of the second half. It was almost all his own work. He collected a nothing ball on the halfway line, turned and scorched away from the last defender, Egan I think. Beto reached the edge of the area but then ran out of steam and shot well wide with his left foot.
Updated
46 min Peep peep! Sheffield United begin the second half.
“During the break in play for Egan’s injury, they replayed the goals,” says Joe Pearson. “I didn’t notice the first time, but Archer’s goal celebration is the mimed ‘shooting an arrow’. Of course it is. Nominative determinism at its best.”
It’s okay, that Brazilian fella didn’t score for Celtic.
Half time: Sheffield United 2-1 Everton
A thrilling first half at Bramall Lane. Abdoulaye Doucoure put Everton ahead, their first league goal of the season, before Arnaut Danjuma missed a terrific chance to make it two. The new centre-forward Beto was very impressive – but it was Sheffield United’s new boy Cameron Archer who stole the show. He equalised with a smart first-time finish after good play from the superb Gustavo Hamer and Oli McBurnie, then forced an own goal from Jordan Pickford on the stroke of half time.
More, please!
Baldock swept a long ball up to Hamer just inside the Everton half. He controlled it on the bounce and helped it over his shoulder to release Archer, one on one with Tarkowski. Archer cut inside from the left, 25 yards out, and curled a beautiful shot that hit the far post, ricocheted off the back of the diving Pickford and flew into the net.
Pickford was blameless; all the credit goes to Hamer and especially Archer, who is having a storming league debut for United!
So unlucky for Jordan Pickford... 🫣
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2023
Sheffield Utd take the lead as an shot off the post bounces off the Everton keeper and ends up in the back of the net... 😳#SHUEVE pic.twitter.com/u1oaunrOYl
Updated
GOAL! Sheffield United 2-1 Everton (Pickford og 45+3)
Cameron Archer has forced an own goal from Jordan Pickford!
Updated
45 min Four minutes of added time. Egan is still struggling after that earlier wrestling match with Beto.
44 min: Chance for Danjuma! Beto spins Egan majestically and stabs an excellent ball through the inside-left channel to release Danjuma. His touch is slightly heavy and that allows Foderingham to come out and dive at his feet. Beto has been increasingly excellent.
44 min This is a perfectly poised game. Both teams will fancy their chances of victory; both have sufficient self-awareness to know it could go the other way, and how damaging that could be.
42 min Play resumes, you betcha.
40 min Egan is down after a wrestling match with Beto, an impromptu contest of which there was only going to be one winner. I think he’s okay.
37 min Good game, this.
35 min Beto beats Egan with a devastating change of space, then cuts back inside him near the byline and whacks a cross that goes behind off a defender. Both the new strikers are having strong league debuts.
What a lovely moment for Cameron Archer, his first Premier League goal. Hamer was involved, of course he was, finding just enough space on the right to crack an early cross towards McBurnie near the penalty spot. McBurnie killed the ball immaculately, back to goal, and touched it off to Archer. He opened his body to steer an emphatic first-time finish past Pickford from 17 yards.
What a response from Sheffield United!! 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2023
Set up on a plate for Cameron Archer to finish in style! 🙌#SHUEVE pic.twitter.com/nIq22BFvVu
Updated
GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-1 Everton (Archer 33)
A terrific equaliser from Cameron Archer!
Updated
30 min And now it’s Everton turn to have a strong spell. Doucoure’s left-footed daisycutter from 25 yards is blocked by Egan.
29 min Danjuma collects an exceedingly dodgy square pass from Robinson just oustside the Sheffield United area. Ahmedhodzic does well to force him wide and Danjuma shoots past the near post from a tight angle.
Updated
28 min Sheffield United are coming back into the game. It’s been a topsy-turvy first half, which is no surprise given the fragile confidence of both teams.
25 min Archer and Beto have both shown signs of what their managers saw in them, not least eyecatching pace. Archer’s movement is excellent, while Beto is awkward to play against and seems to have a great attitude. He’s a long way to the left of the effective-elegant scale, but Everton won’t care about that.
Updated
21 min: Good save from Pickford! Baldock plays a one-two-three with Hamer, who curls a crisp first-time shot from 20 yards that is pushed round the near post by the diving Pickford. Gustavo Hamer is a lovely footballer: sparky, skilful and direct.
Updated
20 min Larouci cuts outside Gueye and drives a shot from a tight angle that is comfortably held by Pickford.
20 min This is an excellent spell for Everton. Beto galumphs into the area on the left but his cross is well blocked.
18 min: Chance for Everton! Everton win the ball in midfield and suddenly break four on two. Danjuma cuts into the area from the left, ignores the pass to Onana and drives a shot that deflects wide off the stretching Egan. Excellent defending from Egan, but Danjuma could have given Onana a much easier chance.
Updated
16 min Everton actually had a penalty shout just before the goal. Beto’s shot hit the elbow of Robinson, who threw himself at the ball and had limbs flying everywhere. Doesn’t matter now.
Young boomed an outswinging corner to the far post, where Onana wrestled with Vinicius Souza and headed the ball down into the six-yard box. Doucoure thighed it towards goal, forcing a brilliant reaction save from Foderingham, but he had plenty of time to put the loose ball into the net from close range.
Doucoure, who scored Everton’s last Premier League goal of 2022-23, has got their first of 2023-24.
Everton bag their first league goal of the season and it's Abdoulaye Doucoure who puts them ahead! 🤩#SHUEVE pic.twitter.com/bBAEveYwQV
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2023
Updated
GOAL! Sheff Utd 0-1 Everton (Doucoure 14)
Everton take the lead from the corner!
Updated
14 min: Just wide from Beto! Everton almost take the lead out of nothing. Doucoure lays the ball off to Beto, on the edge of the D. He curls a first-time shot that nicks off a defender and spins just wide of the far post.
13 min A long throw is headed away towards Norwood on the edge of the D. His volley is blocked by Beto (I think). This is good stuff from Sheffield United.
12 min Hamer plays an early through ball to Archer, who scurries into the area and is about to shoot with his left foot when Tarkowski gets a vital touch on the ball.
11 min Hamer crackles down the left, away from Tarkowski, and angles a cutback that is deflected into the hands of Pickford. Those two runs from Hamer have got the crowd going.
Updated
10 min Norwood floats the free-kick beyond the far post, where Egan is weirdly unmarked. He heads too close to Pickford, who saves comfortably to his right. The lack of pace on the ball made it a trickier chance than it first looked.
9 min Hamer makes a good run down the right and is fouled by Branthwaite. Yellow card for Branthwaite, who led with his studs.
Updated
7 min Baldock’s corner is headed away.
6 min McBurnie combines with Archer on the edge of the area and tries to twist away from Patterson, who lunges to concede a corner.
5 min Nowt to report. The ball isn’t seeing enough of the grass.
Updated
2 min Patterson’s excellent cross is headed away well at the near post by Robinson, then Larouci almost loses the ball in his own area. Everton have made a fast start.
1 min Peep peep! Everton kick off from left to right as we watch.
The players are about to emerge. It’s a nice afternoon in Sheffield, around 20 degrees; a good day to get your first league win of the season.
Sean Dyche talks to TNT Sports
"Beto's hungry and he's got desire!" 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2023
Sean Dyche talks transfer window, the beginning of the season and new signing Beto's thirst for Premier League action! 👀
🎙️ @lynseyhipgrave1 | @petercrouch | @JoleonLescott pic.twitter.com/Yok7fbivWi
Transfer window verdict: 2/5
Sheffield United
You win some, you lose some. If Paul Heckingbottom is still sore about losing his two stars of last season’s promotion campaign – Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye – amid a summer of turmoil at Bramall Lane, at least the manager has signed a young striker of immense promise in the England Under-21 striker, Cameron Archer. He shone on loan at Middlesbrough from Aston Villa last season and the Leicester loanee cum England Under-21 left-back, Luke Thomas, also appears a fine acquisition, but the bulk of Heckingbottom’s new recruits boast even less experience. Last season’s collapsed takeover has much to answer for. Verdict: 2/5
Everton
Considering the financial constraints they are under, Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell did well to address longstanding issues up front. The failure to strengthen further or replace several deadline day departures, however, has left a poor, threadbare squad in a weaker position both creatively and defensively than when Dyche called for major changes at the end of last season. Verdict: 2/5
Team news: Archer and Beto start
The two big signings make their Premier League debuts up front. Cameron Archer starts alongside Oli McBurnie for Sheffield United, while Yasser Larouci replaces the injured Ben Osborn at left-back.
Beto replaces Lewis Dobbin in the only change from last weekend’s defeat at home to Wolves. Sean Dyche has named just seven subs, though Dwight McNeil is among them.
Sheffield United (3-5-2) Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Norwood, Souza, Hamer, Larouci; Archer, McBurnie.
Substitutes: Davies, Basham, Trusty, Bogle, Thomas, Slimane, Osula, Traore.
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young; Gueye, Onana; Garner, Doucoure, Danjuma; Beto.
Substitutes: Virginia, Lonergan, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Onyango, McNeil, Chermiti.
Referee Andy Madley.
Updated
Preamble
None. Nil. Nada. Zero. Zilch. Zip. Diddly squat. Not a dicky bird. Nary a sausage. Sweet bugger all. That’s the reward Sheffield United and Everton have had in their first three Premier League games, but at least one of them will get off the mark at Bramall Lane this afternoon.
There are literally 35 games to go, so widespread assumptions of relegation, though hardly fanciful, are premature. In 1990-91, newly promoted Sheffield United didn’t win a game until 22 December and still finished in mid-table. Four years later, an Everton team that avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth the previous season failed to win until November. They stayed up comfortably and won the FA Cup.
Paul Heckingbottom and Sean Dyche both got what they really, really wanted this week: a centre-forward. Cameron Archer and Beto could make their league debuts today, having played in the League Cup in midweek. Beto scored to help Everton avoid humiliation at Doncaster.
Both managers have the squads they want, or at least the squads they’re getting until January. In other words, this is the real quiz. We’ll soon find out whether Sheffield United or Everton can throw a pair of shoes over a pub.
Kick off 12.30pm BST.
