Burnley’s recent Premier League improvement continued as they edged to a narrow victory over bottom side Sheffield United at Turf Moor.
Captain Ben Mee’s first-half header from a corner was enough to separate the two lowest-scoring sides in the top flight.
Sean Dyche’s side have now won three of their past five games and rise to 16th, while the Blades remain bottom with only two points.
In a tight affair, Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood both went close to opening the scoring for the hosts but saw their close-range efforts superbly saved by visiting goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
David McGoldrick’s second-half shot, which was saved by Nick Pope, and Rhian Brewster’s near-post header, cleared on the line by home midfielder Ashley Westwood, were Sheffield United’s best opportunities.
The result represents a good start to the week for Burnley, who may finish it under new ownership, but the beleaguered Blades have now equalled Queens Park Rangers’ record of 16 games for the longest winless start to a Premier League season.
Their cause was not helped by a statement prior to kick-off confirming a number of individuals at the club have tested positive for coronavirus and gone into self-isolation in line with Premier League and Government guidelines.
Burnley’s main man Mee
While there was little to separate the sides, centre-back Mee underlined his importance to Burnley with another impressive display alongside James Tarkowski.
Without Mee, Burnley are a different side, shipping 12 goals in their first six games his season.
Since his return from a thigh injury the Clarets’ back four has returned to its obdurate and organised best, resulting in a gradual climb away from the bottom three.
Apart from their now annual drubbing at Manchester City, Burnley’s goal’s against column has looked significantly healthier, with Mee overseeing the concession of just three goals in the other eight matches.
Against a Sheffield United side struggling in front of goal, he looked confident and composed, having more touches than any other Burnley player.
He also snuffed out danger well, with one particularly timely block after McGoldrick had escaped down the left, before providing the match-winning contribution.
Blades fail to combat Burnley aerial threat
While Burnley have noticeably improved since being able to reintroduce Mee, Jack O’Connell’s injury has clearly had a negative impact on Sheffield United.
The central defender, who is unlikely to return before spring and could yet be out for the entire season, was a key component last term when they kept 13 clean sheets.
With his absence keenly felt, the Blades are now the only side in the Premier League yet to keep a clean sheet this term, having conceded 11 more goals than at the same stage of the 2019-20 campaign.
Their inability to combat Burnley’s aerial threat led to both Barnes and Wood going close but worse was to follow.
Ethan Ampadu and Jack Robinson were both caught under the flight of Robbie Brady’s corner, which allowed Mee to score from an improbable position, surrounded by Sheffield United defenders.
In the build-up to the game Blades boss Chris Wilder had called his players “streetfighters” but those qualities did not come to the fore until they had gone a goal behind.
And despite dominating the second period, they were guilty of overplaying at times, with McGoldrick’s effort forcing Pope into his only real save of note.
More to follow.
Player of the match
TarkowskiJames Tarkowski
Burnley
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Squad number5Player nameTarkowski
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Squad number6Player nameMee
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Squad number1Player namePope
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Squad number8Player nameBrownhill
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Squad number10Player nameBarnes
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Squad number18Player nameWestwood
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Squad number2Player nameLowton
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Squad number23Player namePieters
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Squad number12Player nameBrady
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Squad number41Player nameBenson
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Squad number9Player nameWood
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Squad number16Player nameStephens
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Squad number3Player nameTaylor
Sheffield United
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Squad number12Player nameEgan
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Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrick
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Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
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Squad number6Player nameBasham
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Squad number3Player nameStevens
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Squad number24Player nameBrewster
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Squad number2Player nameBaldock
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Squad number22Player nameAmpadu
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Squad number14Player nameBurke
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Squad number19Player nameRobinson
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Squad number16Player nameNorwood
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Squad number23Player nameOsborn
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Squad number4Player nameFleck
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Squad number11Player nameMousset
Line-ups
Burnley
- 1Pope
- 2LowtonBooked at 45mins
- 5Tarkowski
- 6Mee
- 3TaylorSubstituted forBensonat 9′minutes
- 12Brady
- 8Brownhill
- 18Westwood
- 23Pieters
- 9Wood
- 10BarnesSubstituted forStephensat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 15Peacock-Farrell
- 16Stephens
- 25Norris
- 26Bardsley
- 28Long
- 34Dunne
- 35Mancini
- 41Benson
- 46Mumbongo
Sheff Utd
- 1Ramsdale
- 6Basham
- 12Egan
- 19RobinsonSubstituted forFleckat 57′minutes
- 2Baldock
- 22AmpaduSubstituted forNorwoodat 67′minutes
- 23Osborn
- 3StevensBooked at 72mins
- 17McGoldrick
- 11MoussetSubstituted forBurkeat 63′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 24Brewster
Substitutes
- 4Fleck
- 13Lowe
- 14Burke
- 16Norwood
- 20Bogle
- 21Verrips
- 29Bryan
Live Text
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Match ends, Burnley 1, Sheffield United 0.
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Second Half ends, Burnley 1, Sheffield United 0.
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Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Chris Wood (Burnley).
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Foul by John Fleck (Sheffield United).
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Ashley Westwood (Burnley) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Oliver Burke (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dale Stephens (Burnley).
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Oliver Burke (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Oliver Burke (Sheffield United).
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Matthew Lowton (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by John Fleck (Sheffield United).
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Josh Brownhill (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Robbie Brady (Burnley).
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George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Erik Pieters (Burnley).
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Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Matthew Lowton.
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Substitution, Burnley. Dale Stephens replaces Ashley Barnes.
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