Report and free highlights as Sheffield United celebrated a first home win since December; Daniel Bachmann's second-minute own goal was the decider; Watford's perfect record, winning all five league and cup games thus far, is ended; Tom Cleverley: "we went out with a whimper"
Sunday 1 September 2024 20:20, UK
A second-minute Daniel Bachmann own goal was enough to give Sheffield United a 1-0 victory over Watford, ending their opponents' 100 per cent record this season.
It could have been a more comfortable win for Chris Wilder's men, who saw Kieffer Moore miss a first-half penalty.
Watford went into the game having won all five league and cup games, including Championship victories over Millwall, Stoke and Derby.
United struck with less than 80 seconds on the clock when Callum O'Hare found his way past a defender on the right side of the area and saw his attempted cut-back go in off keeper Bachmann.
Vakoun Bayo spurned a good chance for the visitors when he chipped the ball wide after being put through on goal.
An even better chance for the hosts was wasted in the 17th minute when they were awarded a penalty following Yasser Larouci's foul on Oliver Arblaster.
Moore saw his effort from the spot saved by Bachmann, diving low to his left.
Loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, making his first league start for United, had an effort blocked inside the area, before Gustavo Hamer then saw his shot from distance saved by Bachmann.
A double substitution for Watford saw Kwadwo Baah and Daniel Jebbison sent on to replace James Morris and Bayo. It was a debut for Jebbison, who joined the Hornets on loan from Bournemouth on transfer deadline day after leaving Sheffield United earlier this summer.
Moore found a way through in the area and looked set to score but Bachmann recovered and turned his shot away.
A foul on Tom Dele-Bashiru in injury-time, which resulted in a yellow card for Hamer, sparked a melee involving a number of players from either side before referee Andrew Kitchen eventually restored order.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:
"I thought we showed a lot of qualities in our performance in possession. I believe we controlled the game against a really dangerous side.
"I think it's a proper Sheffield United performance and had a feel to it, which I loved right away, through from the first minute against decent opposition.
"There's always going to be a threat, there's always going to be one mistake, one long ball, but I thought the correct result was the win for the home team today.
"Obviously we've missed a penalty and had other bits and pieces. I thought it was a really good Championship game and lively as well. Tackles going in, players that want to play for the football club and both teams wanting to win."
Watford head coach Tom Cleverley:
"If you summarise the result, I think it was a fair one. We have to acknowledge when that's the case.
"First half we made a really poor start to the game again and we need to address that. We created some good situations without being as clinical as we have been in the last four or five games.
"Credit to them, they kept possession well and they sort of knocked us out of our rhythm. We need to be better at trying to be patient and really focusing on no technical mistakes to accumulate pressure and we just didn't manage to do that second half.
"Unfortunately today we just couldn't find that killer instinct. We've scored 15 goals in five games and I'm struggling to put my finger on why today it just wasn't there.
"I thought players looked a little bit leggy second half and we went out with a little bit of a whimper."
