Image Credit: Evening Standard
By Lee Clow
09 November 2019 | Premier League
Sheffield United salvaged a point against Tottenham after overcoming a controversial VAR incident that went against them.
David McGoldrick thought he scored Sheffield United’s equaliser after Son Heung-Min scored the opener, but VAR intervened and overturned the goal for the tightest of offsides from John Lundstram in the build-up. Despite the sucker punch, Sheffield United who were arguably the better side for much of the match, did get their equaliser thanks to George Baldock.
Tottenham started the match in the bottom half of the table for the first time since 2014 after a poor opening quarter of the season, while the visitors were in the European spots. Those particular places in the table looked no fluke with the promoted team dominating the home side who reached the Champions League last season.
The Blades could have been 0-3 up if it wasn’t for poor finishing. Oliver Norwood had a brilliant half-volley tipped over the crossbar by Paulo Gazzaniga, while John Fleck struck straight at the goalkeeper before Lundstram turned an Enda Stevens cross inches wide from close range.
Despite the dominance from the away team, Spurs did create a chance of their own which they should’ve taken. Serge Aurier did excellently down the right before whipping a beautiful ball across the box towards Kane who fluffed his lines from close range. You felt this missed chance could cost Spurs of getting any result from the game.
The closet someone came to scoring was when Lundstram smacked the upright on 30 minutes. The Blades midfielder latched onto the end of a cross before firing first time towards goal only for it to meet the post in the relief of the Tottenham fans.
The breathless first half ended with 18 shots on goal with the Blades holding Spurs to the knife.
In the second half, United regained their dominance but continued to fail in the final third in which they were made to pay for.
While defending a Spurs attack, Stevens unforgivably played a poor back pass which Son seized onto before sliding the ball under Dean Henderson via a deflection. Son and the Spurs fans celebrated with huge joy, but this was soon short lived.
Two minutes later, Sheffield were level when McGoldrick tapped home Stevens cross. The away fans went wild but soon confusion filled the ground as VAR intervened and reviewed the goal. Replays were deliberating whether Lundstram's foot was offside in the build-up and after three minutes of waiting, VAR eventually ruled out the goal to much delight of the home fans.
Despite the decision going against them, Sheffield United’s mentality did not change as they continued to search for the equaliser. With 12 minutes to go the Blades, with a bit of luck, finally got their deserved equaliser. Baldock on the right-hand side aimed for Chris Basham in the middle but the cross evaded him and the Spurs defenders before ending up in the bottom corner past Gazzaniga. VAR once again looked at the goal for a potential offside but this time the technology gave the goal.
The game ended with the sides split with Chris Wilder’s teams unlucky not to get the victory over an out of form Spurs. The draw lifts the Blades up to fifth in the league, leapfrogging Arsenal, while Tottenham lie in 12th nine points off the top four.
After the game, under pressure Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino spoke to the press. He said: "It was an even game, when you assess the game it was a fair result, they deserved the point. They were the better team in the first half and were better in the second half. We started the game not well, it was a little bit strange the feeling of Tanguy Ndombele, he never felt comfortable in the game and maybe that affected the team.”
"We arrived to the first half and we changed for Harry Winks and then we played better. We are disappointed because we knew we were going to find a team who would be aggressive and very energetic, well organised. This is the worst opponent you can have when you come to play from Wednesday in the Champions League, a very long way."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder also gave his thoughts after the game: "If it's offside, it's offside. We have to get on with it. There's a bit of confusion from our point of view is when the reset?”
"It seems every press conference I'm asked about VAR - I'm disappointed by that as the main talking point for me was my team going toe-to-toe with a team that was in the Champions League final last season. It feels me with immense pride with how we played with and without the ball."
What’s next?
The Premier League takes a break for two weeks as the international break returns. When the players return from their country duties, Spurs have a trip to rivals West Ham while Sheffield United welcome Manchester United at Bramall Lane.
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