Sheffield United keep automatic promotion hopes alive
Sheffield United 2 - 0 Cardiff City
Sheffield United kept their slim hopes of automatic promotion alive with a hard-earned win that deepened Cardiff City's relegation fears.
Gustavo Hamer, one of the Championship’s standout players this season, gave the Blades the lead with a sharp first-half finish, reacting quickest after Tyrese Campbell’s shot took a couple of deflections and landed kindly at his feet. The Brazilian midfielder also struck the woodwork with a well-hit free-kick as United created the better chances in what was a tight, nervy affair.
Cardiff worked tirelessly but lacked the cutting edge to force a way back into the match. Their chances of a late rally were dashed when Ben Brereton Díaz turned home from close range with three minutes remaining, sealing the points for Chris Wilder’s side.
The win ends a three-game losing run for United, a spell that had left them trailing Leeds United and Burnley in the race for promotion. They stay third in the table with three matches to go, but remain five points adrift of the top two. Monday’s visit to Burnley now looks decisive if they are to reignite their push for a return to the Premier League.
For Cardiff, the outlook is increasingly bleak. Just one win in nine has left them 23rd in the table, nudged into the relegation zone by Luton’s victory over Derby. The gap to safety is still only a point, but time is running out.
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The match brought together two managers who have found themselves at odds with their own fanbases in recent weeks. Omer Riza issued an apology ahead of kick-off after calling sections of the Cardiff support “clueless” in his pre-match press conference.
Chris Wilder, on the other hand, has been on the defensive regarding his team’s approach, arguing that recent poor results have been down to performance levels rather than tactics.
In truth, Cardiff had the better of the early stages. Their organisation and commitment gave Riza cause for encouragement, even if clear chances were scarce. Yousef Salech and Yakou Meite, deputising for the injured Callum Robinson, both saw efforts blocked in a promising spell for the visitors.
But the game turned with a moment of both quality and fortune. Hamer linked up smartly with Rhian Brewster before setting up Campbell, whose shot cannoned off Will Fish and Calum Chambers. The ball rebounded straight to Hamer, who kept his composure to slide it under Ethan Horvath.
It was the sort of break United needed. For Cardiff, the challenge of survival now feels as tough as ever.
