Birmingham City 1-2 Sheffield United: Promoted Blades sign off in style with win over Blues

James McAtee's ninth goal of the season wrapped up the points for Sheffield United

Two goals in three minutes saw promoted Sheffield United sign off the season in style with victory over Birmingham City.

Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half with Lukas Jutkiewicz hitting the bar for the hosts, before James McAtee and Tommy Doyle both struck the post for the Blades.

Oli McBurnie headed in Chris Basham's cross on 53 minutes and McAtee doubled their lead three minutes later after good work from Iliman Ndiaye.

Dion Sanderson pulled one back for Birmingham with 11 minutes left but the hosts could not find a leveller.

Birmingham were buoyed before kick-off with the news that American financier Tom Wagner has agreed to buy a 45.64% stake in the club, in a deal subject to approval by the English Football League (EFL) and Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

They almost went ahead after 15 minutes when Juninho Bacuna's dangerous cross found Jutkiewicz but the striker headed it against the bar.

Blades forward Ndiaye was looking as lively as ever and saw a good opening blocked by Auston Trusty on the half hour before having another shot deflected over the bar.

The visitors were growing into the game and went closer still when Manchester City loanees McAtee and Tommy Doyle both hit the post within 30 seconds of each other.

Paul Heckingbottom's men took the lead eight minutes into the second half when Basham's cross found the unmarked McBurnie who made no mistake from close range.

They doubled their lead three minutes later when Ndiaye took the ball past Neil Etheridge and it rolled kindly into the path of the onrushing McAtee who tucked it into an empty net.

Sanderson pulled a goal back with a controlled finish from Marc Roberts' header and Hannibal Mejbri missed their final chance of an equaliser by sending a free kick over the bar.

The victory sees the promoted Blades finish the campaign in second place with 91 points, while Birmingham ended up in 17th after winning just one of their final seven league games.

American financier Tom Wagner watched the game at St.Andrew's just in front of comedian Jasper Carrott

Birmingham City boss John Eustace told BBC Radio WM:

"We are a very honest team, we keep going to the end and are 100% committed.

"Obviously I'm disappointed to lose but we made changes, freshened the team up, and overall it's been an excellent season. I'm proud of the efforts.

"We've set our standards and it's important we keep improving them and grow together next year."

On the arrival of Tom Wagner:

"Waking up hearing that news is exciting and it's only going to be exciting going forward for the football club and that's what everyone with the club wants, so hopefully it'll be a real forward step."

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"This game probably says a lot about the lads and the group.

"We got the job done with four games to play so you have to find a different type of edge and motivation and to finish on 91 points and set some records caps off a really amazing season and one we can all look back on with a lot of satisfaction.

"I'm really proud and it's time now to take stock and realise what we've done.

"With the new (Birmingham) ownership it made it a better atmosphere and I felt we should have been in front at half-time. I thought we were great and how we only got two goals I'll never know."

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