Kyle Walker the difference as Manchester City win away at Sheffield United
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ByEurosport
Updated 31/10/2020 at 18:30 GMT
Bramall Lane, Premier League - Sheffield United 0 Manchester City 1 (Walker 28')
Manchester City celebrate
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester City beat Sheffield United one nil at Bramall Lane in the Premier League’s early kick off.
In a wet and windy afternoon kick off in South Yorkshire it was the visitors that started the game brightest. Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres linking up well to cause the Sheffield United defence all sorts of problems.
And it was the young Spaniard who forced Aaron Ramsdale into a series of early saves from close range, firstly with a header from a perfectly whipped João Cancelo cross and then a toe poke after Stirling, slipped the ball into his path from inside the box.
But it was local lad Kyle Walker who grabbed the opening goal. His low driving effort from the edge of the box skipped along the wet surface and into the back of the net.
Sheffield United’s front two of Oli McBurnie and Rhian Brewster were working off scraps, with the long ball system proving ineffective.
The second half proved to be slightly better for the Blades, as substitute John Lundstram fired their best chance over the bar after Sander Berger found him in plenty of space in the City box.
But ultimately it was Guardiola's side that commanded the game with plenty of possession and really should have won by a much bigger margin.
Next up for Sheffield United is a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Frank Lampard's Chelsea.
For Manchester City it's back to back home games with Olympiacos visiting for a Champions League clash followed by what could already be deemed as a must win game against Liverpool before the November international break.
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Talking Points - Blunt Blades ineffective in front of goal:
Chris Wilder will be deeply concerned that his side simply never looked like scoring, registering a single shot on target in 90 minutes. In the final third they consistently over played and allowed City to get men behind the ball.
Player Ratings
Sheffield United: Ramsdale (7), Basham (5), Egan (6), Stevens (5), Baldock (6), Berge (6), Ampadu (6), Osborn (5), Lowe (5), Brewster (5), McBurnie (5) SUBS | Lundstram (5), Sharp, Norwood (N/A), McGoldrick (N/A)
Manchester City: Ederson (6), Walker (8), Dias (7), Laporte (7), Cancelo (7), Rodrigo (7), De Bruyne (7), Bernardo (6), Torres(7), Mahrez (6), Sterling (9) SUBS | Gundogan (N/A), Foden 6)
Man of the match Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
From the moment the game started Stirling looked dangerous, combining brilliantly with Ferran Torres. His constant driving runs will have left the Sheffield United defence with nightmares this evening.
Key Events
23' Chance! A third important save from Ramsdale. Torres close range toe poke is kept out after a perfectly placed pass from Sterling
28' Goal! The hometown lad Walker lashes the ball into the back of the net from just outside the box. A well deserved lead for the visitors
33' Chance! De Bruyne's smart low free kick is scooped up by Ramsdale. Such intelligent play from the midfielder
71' Offside! Brewster's attempted chip was palmed away by Ederson, had it gone in it wouldn't have counted
74' Chance! It's Stirling again who cuts the ball back after working the space so well. It bounces off a Sheffield United shin and Ramsdale scrambles down to gather the ball
86' Chance! An amazing pass from Ederson, who finds Sterling! Ramsdale is still on the edge of his area and does well not to use his hands, he bravely nods the ball away from the City forward!
Key Stats
- Six of Kyle Walker's eight Premier League goals have come from outside the box, with his strike today against Sheffield United his first away from home in the competition
- Manchester City have won more top-flight matches on October 31st than any other team in top-flight history
- Chris Wilder, currently on 99 wins as Sheffield United boss, is without a win in 11 matches in all competitions (D2 L9), the longest winless run of his managerial career
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