Match report: Sheff Utd 1-2 Man City
I’ll leave you with Pete Lansley’s report from Bramall Lane. Thanks for your company and emails – bye!
The matchwinner speaks to Sky Sports
"No regrets"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
Rodri is 'very happy' after scoring the winner for Manchester City 🔵🔥 pic.twitter.com/zGLp3r9rWm
Match report: Burnley 1-3 Aston Villa
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Still want more? Bet you do. The game of the day is Newcastle v Liverpool at St James’ Park. You can follow the game with Daniel Harris.
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Full time: Sheffield United 1-2 Manchester City
Peep peep! City go top of the league – they may as well apply for a nine-month lease – after a dramatic win at Bramall Lane. Erling Haaland missed a number of chances, including a penalty, before heading the first goal just after the hour. Jayden Bogle scored an unexpected late equaliser after a mistake from Kyle Walker, only for Rodri to belabour an even later winner.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 2 | West Ham | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Brighton | 3 | 4 | 6 |
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90+6 min City are passing the clock down with ease. As Mary Waltz said earlier, they are so good at this.
Full time: Burnley 1-3 Aston Villa
Peep peep! Villa have scored 12 goals in just over a week, and this win moves them to sixth in the table. Matty Cash scored twice, Moussa Diaby got the other.
90+4 min Grealish is running the clock down near the corner flag. The home fans don’t like it; Grealish smiles at them with disdain.
90+2 min Juanma Lillo isn’t quite so smiley now. The last 15 minutes have been chaotic.
90+2 min: Another opportunity for United! Larouci plays a one-two with Hamer and shoots over from 15 yards. There were three players at the far post who were desperate for a cross.
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90+1 min Seven minutes of added time.
90 min: Chance for United! McBurnie, on the right, curls a fantastic cross to the far post that takes all the City defenders out of the game. Ahmedhozic launches into a kung-fu kick and stabs the ball wide from four yards. A diving header was surely the better option.
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Rodri has scored a few big goals in 2023, and this is another. Walker dispossessed Larouci on the right, moved into the area and and cut the ball back sharply to Foden. He miscontrolled it, but Rodri slapped the bouncing ball into the top corner with his left foot. Pick that out!
WHAT A FINISH FROM RODRI 🔥👏 pic.twitter.com/OhTQPXrMmT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
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GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-2 Man City (Rodri 88)
It was fun while it lasted.
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87 min: City substitution Foden came on for Kovacic straight after the equaliser.
87 min Alvarez misses a great chance, lifting over from 14 yards after good play by the substitute Phil Foden.
86 min Walker punched the ground and hoofed an advertising board when the goal went in.
Walker dispossessed Traore in the area but then gave the ball back to him with an indulgent backheel. Traore’s pass was behind the onrushing Hamer, but Souza fed the loose ball to Bogle on the right side of the area. He took a couple of touches and blootered a shot that took a slight deflection off Gvardiol and whooshed past the diving Ederson.
AN UNBELIEVABLE MOMENT FOR SHEFFIELD UNITED 😲 pic.twitter.com/pnHmrNmncg
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
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GOAL! Sheff Utd 1-1 Man City (Bogle 85)
Jayden Bogle has blasted United level after a howler from Kyle Walker!
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85 min Kovacic’s low drive from 20 yards is comfortably held to his left by Foderingham.
84 min In fact it was Egan, not Basham, who was booked a moment ago.
84 min City’s next four league games are Fulham, West Ham, Forest and Wolves. They could have a big lead by the time they go to the Emirates in early October.
83 min Basham is booked for fouling Grealish.
83 min Sheffield United are spending a bit more time in the City half, and they do look reasonably threatening from corners and long throws. This game isn’t quite done yet.
82 min Traore scorches past Walker and into the area. Then he goes down, but none of the players really appeal for a penalty. Replays show that he slipped.
81 min United’s next league game is a biggie: Everton at home on Saturday. They really could do with winning that because they have a very tough run after the international break: Spurs, Newcastle, West Ham, Fulham, Man Utd, Arsenal.
80 min: United substitution Chris Basham comes on for Oliver Norwood.
79 min Alvarez clips the free-kick over the wall, and Foderingham dives to his right to push it behind for a corner. Good save.
77 min Vinicius Souza is booked for pulling back Bernardo Silva 25 yards from goal.
77 min A rare corner for Sheffield United. Norwood’s outswinger is met by McBurnie, who heads wide from 12 yards. It was a pretty tough chance.
76 min “City are masterful at slowly strangling a 1-0 game,” writes Mary Waltz. “They don’t give you a sniff at possession and they always have an eye for that second goal. Boring but impressive.”
76 min At the other end, Alvarez shoots wide from 20 yards.
74 min Robinson’s long throw is punched away unconvincingly by Ederson. Hamer runs onto the loose ball, rattling a shot from the edge of the area that is very well blocked by Dias. Moments later Ederson gives the ball straight to Ahmedhozic 35 yards out; he knocks it up and volleys not far wide of the far post. That would have been a great goal.
73 min In response to Ian (54 min), always good to see someone stick it to the Main!” writes Henry Flory. “In response to Mr. Lorentzon (52 min), yes thats me. Given Duisburg’s current standing, there’s a lot of commiseration to be expressed…”
72 min Grealish stays down after another heavy challenge. I’m not sure who it was, possibly McBurnie.
72 min: Double substitution for United Oli McBurnie and Jayden Bogle replace Will Osula and George Baldock.
71 min: Haaland has a goal disallowed Miles offside, nothing to see here.
69 min Foderingham calmly dummies an onrushing City player, Alvarez I think. Sheffield United just can’t keep the ball, though, and it will be fairly astonishing if they equalise.
68 min Here’s the big man’s goal. The assist from Grealish was terrific.
"YOU DIDN'T SERIOUSLY DOUBT HIM, DID YOU?"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
Fourth time lucky for Erling Haaland 👏✅ pic.twitter.com/jSqDsdTkLB
GOAL! Burnley 1-3 Aston Villa (Diaby 61) The superb Moussa Diaby has restored Villa’s two-goal lead at Turf Moor.
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66 min Here’s the Premier League table as things stand. Don’t be surprised if City make themselves extremely comfortable in top spot.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Man City | 3 | 5 | 9 |
| 2 | West Ham | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Brighton | 3 | 4 | 6 |
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65 min Foderingham is being treated for something or other. Haaland was given an unsolicited smacker from a City fan when he scored. The fella jumped on Haaland’s back and had a quick nuzzle of his neck.
There was no celebration from Haaland, just a pointed sigh of relief. The goal was made beautifully by Jack Grealish. He teased Baldock in the area, went outside and stood up a perfect cross to the far post. Haaland got between Robinson and Larouci to head into the net from three yards.
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GOAL! Sheff Utd 0-1 Man City (Haaland 63)
The big man has finally done it!
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63 min Shots at goal in this game: Sheff Utd 0-22 Man City.
62 min Grealish cuts into the area and then drags the ball back to Alvarez, whose impatient shot from a tight angle is turned round the near post by Foderingham. Another good save. Moments later, Walker smashes just over the bar from 30 yards. Foderingham hadd that one covered.
61 min: Brilliant save from Foderingham! City are getting closer. Kovacic, 20 yards from goal, slides a beautiful pass around Ahmedhodzic to find Haaland. He bursts away from Egan and lifts a shot on the run that is turned round the post by Foderingham. That’s a superb save.
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59 min Osula catches Gvardiol in the face with a stray arm and is booked. The United fans are fuming because Gvardiol subsequently fouled Osula. A City free-kick is a fair decision; the yellow card is maybe a bit harsh.
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58 min: Just wide from Rodri! Grealish moves into the area from the left, teases Baldock and guides the ball back to Rodri on the edge of the area. He moves smoothly away from Souza and rifles a low left-footed drive that goes just wide of the far post.
58 min The corner is punched away with authority by Foderingham. City have had 86 per cent of the possession since half-time.
57 min Dias takes matters into his own side, belting a shot from 25 yards that is headed over his own bar by Egan.
56 min The mood at Bramall Lane right now.
55 min City are working the ball from side to side, trying to find some space. After another patient move, Grealish cuts inside and hits a shot that is well blocked by the stretching Baldock.
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54 min “Allow me to ‘give a shout out’ to a less depressing German city where Henry Flory does not work,” says Ian Copestake. “Mainz are currently in a Hessen derby tussle with massive banker neighbour Frankfurt and are sticking it to the Main 1-0.”
53 min Gvardiola’s pass over the top just evades Alvarez in the area.
52 min “And if the team play badly,” writes Fredik Lorentzon, “Herr Flory can bring his instrument and express his commiserations. (I assume the reader is THE Henry Flory, violinist and concertmaster in the Duisburger Philharmoniker.”
51 min: Chance for Haaland! The big man’s frustration continues. Rodri plays in the overlapping Walker, whose fast low cross is turned wide of the near post by Haaland. He did really well to get away from the defenders but couldn’t direct his shot inside the post. He should have scored.
48 min Rodri again shoots high over the bar, this time from the edge of the box after a poor header by George Baldock. That was a pretty good chance.
47 min Rodri wafts over from 30 yards.
GOAL! Burnley 1-2 Aston Villa (Foster 47) Lyle Foster scores Burnley’s first Premier League goal under Vincent Kompany.
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46 min Peep peep!
“Definitely wasn’t expecting to see a mention of Duisburg, the depressing city where I work, in the live blog!” writes Henry Flory. “Maybe I should put on my blue-and-white jersey and go see them play one of these days…”
You never know, a full-back might score four goals.
Half-time entertainment
(If the video doesn’t start in the right place, go to 40m 00s.)
We've been looking for a video of this for just over 17 years: Andrew Flintoff and Steve Harmison at the football World Cup, high on life: https://t.co/J5gucIlntm
— Nessun Dorma Podcast (@nessundormapod) August 3, 2023
Half time: Burnley 0-2 Matty Cash
Aston Villa’s sizzling start to the season – not counting the mezzanine trip to St James’ Park – looks set to continue. Matty Cash has scored both goals at Turf Moor.
“Hi Rob,” says Samuel Campbell. “Are you not legally obliged to say ‘he is human after all’, whenever Haaland misses a chance?”
No, because he’s not.
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Half time: Sheff Utd 0-0 Man City
Peep peep! Erling Haaland stomps off in the highest dudgeon after a frustrating first half at Bramall Lane. He missed a penalty and was roughed up by the Sheffield United defenders. City were in total control – 82 per cent possession – but struggled to break a determined and organised defence.
ERLING HAALAND MISSES FROM THE PENALTY SPOT! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NOt68mK3TR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
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45+4 min Baldock is booked for wiping out Grealish, a wretched and unnecessary tackle.
45+3 min Alvarez’s shot is headed over the bar for another corner. Haaland has another moan to the referee about the heavy hands of the Sheffield United defenders.
45+3 min Incidentally, it sounds like Bernard Dietz was playing at left-back when he scored four goals, all in open play, for Duisburg against Bayern in November 1977.
45+1 min Four minutes of added time. Haaland appeals again for a penalty after Bernardo’s cross leads to another wrestling match. They were all pulling each other, so there’s no chance of Stockley Park’s finest getting involved.
45 min Every interception or tackle is being cheered lustily by the home fans. Haaland appeals unsuccessfully for a penalty after an impromptu wrestle with Robinson.
43 min Rodri shoots straight at Foderingham from 25 yards. Sheffield United have defended so well, restricting City to just two clear chances.
42 min “Haaland missed!?!?” sniffs Jeff Sax. “A Nunez moment?”
Who is this ‘Nunez’ you keep talking about?
40 min United get into the City penalty area for the first time (I think). Traore beats his man smartly and stands up a decent cross, but it evades the two players in the middle.
39 min “So Liverpool pushed their technically gifted fullback into midfield?” says Niall Mullen. “Pretty reckless, no?”
Arf. I usually associate that tactic with the fiasco at Highbury in 1990-91, when Kenny Dalglish picked six defenders and Liverpool’s perch started to become a bit slippery. I had no idea Nicol was playing in midfield when he scored the hat-trick.
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38 min “Other than Layvin Kurzawa’s hat-trick against Anderlecht for PSG, I’m struggling to think of any hat-trick by any full-back ever,” writes Kári Tulinius. Matty Cash may be onto the rarest of rare feats.”
Gary Gillespie also got one for Liverpool in the 1980s but I’m pretty sure he was playing at centre-back that day. Looks like it was covered in the Knowledge a few years ago.
HAALAND MISSES THE PENALTY!
37 min He’s hit the beans! Haaland charged up, sent Foderingham the wrong way but dragged the ball onto the inside of the right-hand post.
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35 min: Penalty to City! Alvarez’s cross hits Egan, and Jarred Gillett immediately points to the spot. I thought Egan was falling, but the ball certainly hit his outstretched arm. It won’t be overturned.
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33 min More on Denis Irwin from Peter. “Just googled. Turns out he did it in a friendly in a pre-season tour.”
So he did.
32 min “Denis Irwin?” asks Peter Anthony Corway. “Surely United’s greatest ever fullback has scored a hat-trick”
I don’t think so. He scored two in that madcap 6-3 win at Oldham on Boxing Day 1991; I think that was his best goalscoring performance.
31 min Alvarez whips a free-kick over the bar from 25 yards.
30 min Sheffield United are starting to yield. It must be so exhausting, mentally and physically, to defend constantly against a team like City.
29 min A wicked cross from Walker is put behind for a corner, which comes to nothing. That cross was crying out for somebody like Haaland to roof it from four yards.
28 min “I know Steve Nicol is probably better known as a marauding full back (or a solid centre back as he aged),” says Andy Flintoff, “but on that day in 1987 when he scored the hat-trick against Newcastle, he was playing on the right hand side of midfield, with Venison behind him at right back.”
Is that right? Ach, everything I know is wrong!
27 min: Fine save by Foderingham! Walker clips a routine ball into the area towards Haaland. He beasts Egan and pokes the ball across the area towards the unmarked Alvarez. His first-time shot is superbly blocked by the outrushing Foderingham.
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25 min See 11 min. It’s an extremely boring game, though that’s nobody’s fault. Sheffield United are defending admirably and have restricted City to openings rather than chanes.
GOAL! Burnley 0-2 Aston Villa (Cash 20) Matty Cash is on a hat-trick! Has a full-back ever scored a hat-trick in the Premier League? I know Steve Nicol did for Liverpool at Newcastle in 1987-88 but I can’t think of anybody in the Premier League era.
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22 min “I don’t like cruelty in any form so I decided to watch Villa v Burnley instead of the City tussle,” writes Mary Waltz. “Villa came our bright in attack and the Cash goal was sharp and clinical. Kompany’s boys are in trouble.”
21 min “Is Matty Cash in the Solly Marsh Club, where every time he is mentioned you have to include both his first and last names?” asks Joe Pearson.
I don’t think so, although I’m not the CEO of said club.
20 min: Ake has a goal disallowed Bernardo’s free-kick was headed up in the air by Rodri. Foderingham slipped, which allowed Ake to sneak in and score from close range. But the flag went up against Rodri, and replays confirmed the decision was correct.
19 min Kovacic surges thrillingly through midfield before being fouled by Traore. The free-kick is around 25 yards from goal, to the left of centre…
17 min: Sheffield United substitution Yasser Larouci, on loan from Troyes, replaces the injured Ben Osborn.
15 min Sheffield United are defending well, though they’ll struggle to keep it up for 100 minutes. They might need to make a change, too, because Ben Osborn is down with what looks like a muscle injury.
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13 min City win their first corner. It ricochets around the six-yard box before Hamer lumps it clear.
12 min Alvarez’s cross from the right is headed straight at Foderingham by Haaland. It was a very tricky chance – he was running away from goal and there was no pace on the cross.
11 min Tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka tiki taka. A goal feels inevitable.
GOAL! Burnley 0-1 Aston Villa (Cash 8) Matty Cash I want you/Matty Cash I need you, woah.
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9 min A promising break from Sheffield United. Traore bursts into the City half and tries a through ball to Hamer. Dias reads it and intercepts.
8 min Silva’s cross from a narrow position is headed over by Haaland, 12 yards out. It wasn’t really a chance.
7 min According to the official Premier League site, City have had – and you’ll like this – 92 per cent of the possession so far.
5 min City are keeping the ball, as is their wont. United are already struggling to get out.
2 min City have started with Ake at centre-back and Gvardiol on the left. United’s shape is closer to 5-3-2, with Hamer in midfield and Traore up front.
Sheffield United (5-3-2) Foderingham; Baldock, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson, Osborn; Norwood, Souza, Hamer; Traore, Osula.
Manchester City (4-2-3-1) Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland.
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1 min Peep peep! City kick off, playing from left to right as we watch.
The players are ready for action. It looks a nice day in Sheffield, although the weather has been particularly erratic of late so we could yet have hail before half-time.
You’re dropped son
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2023
A very smiley Juanma Lillo talks to Sky Sports
Pep isn’t here physically but he’s been with us every step of the way in our preparation, and he’ll be with us today. Manuel Akanji wasn’t feeling very well. I’m not the doctor so I can’t give you an exact reason why he’s not here. We have to make use of our big, impressive squad.
“Any chance,” begins Gary Naylor, “that the surgeons who operated on Pep Guardiola’s bad back can do something about Sean Dyche’s bad side?”
Don’t worry, you’re 10th in the xG table. If everyone holds their nerve – and, crucially, if they don’t sack Dyche – I think you’ll stay up.
Juanma Lillo will be the main man in the City dugout this afternoon, with Pep Guardiola recovering from back surgery. I was going to say Lillo will be in. charge, but we all know Pep will send him 427 WhatsApp messages, and that’s just before kick-off.
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We’ll also have goal updates from Burnley v Aston Villa, which kicks off at 2pm. Here are the teams for that game.
Your Burnley team today! 📋 pic.twitter.com/AKqzDIroxX
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 27, 2023
Your Aston Villa this afternoon. 👊 pic.twitter.com/Irofd2lcj0
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) August 27, 2023
Team news: Foden left out
Sheffield United make one change from the side that lost at Nottingham Forest: George Baldock replaces the injured Max Lowe.
Pep, the contrary bugger, has left Phil Foden out again despite his outstanding performance against Newcastle last weekend. Bernardo Silva replaces him and Nathan Ake comes in for the (presumably) injured Manuel Akanji. The new signing Jeremy Doku is on the bench.
Sheffield United (possible 3-4-2-1) Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson; Baldock, Norwood, Souza, Osborn; Hamer, Traore; Osula.
Substitutes: Davies, Trusty, Basham, Bogle, Larouci, Coulibaly, Brooks, McBurnie, Marsh.
Manchester City (possible 4-2-3-1) Ederson; Walker, Dias, Gvardiol, Ake; Rodri, Kovacic; Bernardo, Alvarez, Grealish; Haaland.
Substitutes: Ortega, Lewis, Phillips, Gomez, Foden, Bobb, Palmer, McAtee, Doku.
Referee Jarred Gillett.
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Preamble
We’re carrying on with the Premier League season, are we? It already feels a bit futile, certainly for those hoping to win the title. Manchester City are the only team left with a 100 per cent record, and they’ll go top if they win at Bramall Lane today.
There’s more than one way to skin the Premier League. City spent most of last season in second place, waiting for Arsenal to have a meltdown. This year, they look in the mood leave everyone in their slipstream. Despite plenty of adversity – Pep Guardiola’s back, Kevin De Bruyne’s hamstring, the departure of a number of players – they look far too good for everyone else. Happy new season!
Kick off 2pm.
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