Sheffield United end Watford's winning start to season with 1-0 victory
Blades took lead inside two minutes through an own goal by Hornets keeper Daniel Bachmann
Bachmann saved penalty from Blades striker Kieffer Moore shortly after
Ryan Andrews hit the post as Watford pushed for equaliser
Sheffield United claim first league win at home since December 2023 to remain unbeaten with two wins and two draws
Get Involved: #bbcefl, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)
That's a wrap for another Championship week - the players now have a break thanks to international football.
We'll be back on Friday 13 September when Sheffield United travel to Hull...
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Sheffield United forward Callum O'Hare to Sky Sports: "We scored with our first attack and we did that against QPR as well. We let that slip but we tried not to give Watford any chances.
"We are buzzing to get the win. I knew it was an own goal, I tried to dink it in but it doesn't matter does it, a win is a win.
"Sissoko grabbed my foot, it was another penalty but that doesn't matter anyway."
*Checks fixtures for the return fixture.
Bring on 4 January for the rematch!
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio
When Watford got into good areas, they didn't find that final ball.
Sheffield United, in whatever way they won, managed the game a lot better than Watford.
Watford should have realised earlier that they needed to move the ball more quickly during the second half.
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Rob Kozluk
Ex-Sheffield United defender on BBC Radio Sheffield
Image source, PA MediaThat's what happens when you've been dominated from start to finish. Watford can't cope with it.
Get on your way home, Watford, Your winning run is over.
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Andy Giddings
Sports Editor, BBC Sheffield
Image source, PA MediaThere was a fist pump in the air to the directors' box from Chris Wilder.
Three points are secured and it's Sheffield United's first home win of the season after that capitulation to QPR.
Something sparked off between the players. There was a melee of 15 or 16 players. Ollie Arblaster and Kwadwo Baah were going head to head, and Baah was led away.
It's calmed down from boiling over now.
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Image source, BBC SportIt's all calmed down now.
The table looking brighter for Blades fans now!
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Image source, PA MediaMore players are being pulled away from each other after the whistle. Tom Cleverley is down there.
FT: Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
A first win at Bramall Lane in 2024 for United! Watford lose for the first time this season.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio
Sheffield United are defending for their lives. The Watford players have stood up to it. It's a battle, a scrap.
The referee has let Sheffield United get away with it but that should have been a red for Hamer.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Daniel Jebbison and Harry Souttar are also booked. Play on.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
It's threatened to boil over at times all half and Gus Hamer is booked for a hefty challenge which triggers a bit of pushing and shoving in the centre-circle.
Any more for any more?
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Rob Kozluk
Ex-Sheffield United defender on BBC Radio Sheffield
It's been a good game. The Blades have deserved everything they get.
Sydie Peck has gone on to put himself about. That's what the fans want from their subs.
Just ride the challenges and go down. Game management is really important now. They've frustrated Watford all day, who can't cope with it.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Watford have a long throw, which is hoiked miles into the Sheffield sky by some very nervous looking defenders.
There are five minutes to be added on.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio
Sheffield United are making more changes to sit on this lead. They're being clever and Watford are falling for it a little bit.
Watford haven't shown real quality in the final third at all. They haven't used their possession well enough. They ain't done enough.
Hopefully, they can create a chance any way they can now.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Tetchy, tense and testing times here. The home fans want a card for Tom Ince but there's no dice. Watford having plenty of territory now.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
United haven't won at home since December. Is a long wait coming to an end?!
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Andy Giddings
Sports Editor, BBC Sheffield
I have to admit, I thought there would be more goals in it - but one may do for Sheffield United.
Souza is clearly feeling fatigue effects. It wasn't that long ago that he went down with cramp. Chris Wilder is deep in conversation.
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Image source, Rex FeaturesTwo key moments, two misses for Kieffer Moore. Will it prove crucial or not?
Sheffield United 1-0 Watford
Derek Payne
Former Watford midfielder on BBC Three Counties Radio
Kieffer Moore should score but takes way, way too long.
Bachmann does well but Moore gets his feet in a tangle. For me, he never looks comfortable when he's running in one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
He's a striker who works best around the six-yard box, winning headers.
Callum O'Hare forced the early Watford own goal to give Sheffield United their first home league win
Sheffield United ended Watford’s winning start to the Championship season with a 1-0 victory at Bramall Lane.
Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann scored an own goal inside two minutes as the Blades kept up their own unbeaten streak in the league.
Bachmann was villain-turned-hero as he saved a Kieffer Moore penalty on 15 minutes after Ollie Arblaster was felled.
Ryan Andrews’ second-half strike off the post was the closest Watford came to scoring, as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign.
Sheffield United started strong with Callum O’Hare dribbling into the box and his cut-back deflected off Bachmann to trickle over the line.
The home side had the chance to double their lead 10 minutes later when Arblaster was fouled in the box by Yasser Larouci, but Moore’s penalty was saved by Bachmann low down to his left.
Chris Wilder’s Blades felt they should have had a second penalty on the stroke of half-time when Moussa Sissoko tugged the ankle of O'Hare after he fell and tried to get back to his feet, but his pleas were ignored by referee Andrew Kitchen.
Ryan Andrews hit the post from distance in the second half and former Blade Daniel Jebbison came on for his Watford debut as the visitors searched for an equaliser.
But it was Kieffer Moore who missed the best chance of the second-half to seal the win 10 minutes from time, with his one-on-one effort kept out by Bachmann.
It was a nervy finish around Bramall Lane and it threatened to boil over at the end after some physical challenges, but Sheffield United held on for their first home league win since December 2023.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"That was a proper Sheffield United performance. I never felt we were in danger. We had to defend, fight, tackle and scrap.
"We’re still nowhere near how we really want to be, but we dominated the game. It was really important we got that win and I thought it was fully deserved."
On the heated scenes at the end:
"It got lively and I’m pleased we stood up to that challenge. Nobody’s going to come here and bully us."
Watford head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"I think it was a fair result. We made a really poor start again, we need to address that. You don’t create a gameplan to start 1-0 down.
"Second-half we had no rhythm. We need to be better at trying to be patient and focusing on no technical mistakes.
On failing to score for the first time this season:
"We created some good situations without being as clinical as we have been. We couldn’t find that killer instinct and I’m struggling to put my finger on why.
"We went out with a little bit of a whimper."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
| |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| |
| 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| |
| 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 |
| |
| 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| |
| 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| |
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| |
| 9 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 10 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| |
| 11 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 6 |
| |
| 12 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 5 |
| |
| 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| |
| 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 5 |
| |
| 15 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 16 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 17 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 3 |
| |
| 19 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| |
| 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | -5 | 3 |
| |
| 21 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 3 |
| |
| 22 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 2 |
| |
| 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | -5 | 1 |
| |
| 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 1 |
|
Manager: Chris Wilder
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: Tom Cleverley
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Chris Wilder
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: Tom Cleverley
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Championship
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Sheffield United have only won one of their last seven league matches against Watford (D2 L4), though it was their most recent clash in February 2023 (1-0).
Watford have won just one of their last seven away league games against Sheffield United (D2 L4), a 1-0 victory in October 2010.
Sheffield United are unbeaten in each of their last six home league matches in the Championship (W5 D1), netting 14 goals across those games.
Watford are looking to win each of their first four games to begin a Football League season for the third time, after doing so in the second tier in 1988-89 and the Premier League in 2018-19.
Since Tom Cleverley’s first league game in charge of Watford in March last season, no side has won more points in the Championship than the Hornets (20 – W5 D5 L2).
