Iliman Ndiaye’s eighth goal of the season put Sheffield United in front at Ashton Gate
Iliman Ndiaye’s header shortly after half-time was enough to hand Sheffield United victory at Bristol City.
Ndiaye’s eighth goal of the season keeps the Blades third in the Championship.
They were perhaps fortunate as City struck the bar and a post but lost for a ninth time this season.
A frustrating night for the hosts was made worse in stoppage time as George Tanner was sent off for a lunge on James McAtee.
McAtee provided the cross for the only goal of the game came as his clipped ball from the right found Billy Sharp, who got between two defenders to flick a header on and Ndiaye had a simple task to nod past City goalkeeper Max O’Leary from three yards out.
But there was precious little other threat on goal for United, who were certainly second best in the opening half.
City twice came close as Tanner found Andreas Weimann at the top of the area and his curling shot struck the bar.
Alex Scott then mazed his way into space and forced a good save from Wes Foderingham in the Blades goal.
The home side came close again in the second half as Tanner struck the right-hand post with the goalkeeper well beaten.
Antoine Semenyo also turned and fizzed a shot just past the post but it wasn’t City’s night.
Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson told BBC Radio Bristol:
“We’ve been beaten because we can’t keep a clean sheet in a game that we should do.
“I don’t really remember them having any chances in the game if I’m honest and yet we get beaten 1-0 by a really poor goal.
“It’s a night where we’re really frustrated because we’ve been beaten and we’ve had some really good chances.”
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Sheffield:
“I’m delighted with the win and the manner of the win because I’ve never won like that since I’ve been here. I think the reason was our experience came to the fore in how we defended our box.
“Nigel [Pearson] will be in there feeling how I did after we got beat by QPR at home – that’s how crazy football is at times.
“The margins are so tight in this league – no-one’s going to be up there without getting those moments.
“It’s the points that’s going to get us up the league not the performances.”
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 3-4-1-2
12O’Leary
19Tanner26Vyner16Pring
17Sykes6James7Scott3Dasilva
14Weimann
21Wells15Conway
12O’Leary
19TannerBooked at 90mins
26Vyner
16Pring
17SykesSubstituted forSemenyoat 60′minutes
6JamesBooked at 51minsSubstituted forWilliamsat 80′minutesBooked at 90mins
7ScottBooked at 40mins
3Dasilva
14Weimann
21WellsSubstituted forMartinat 80′minutes
15Conway
Substitutes
1Bentley
8Williams
9Martin
10King
11Semenyo
25Klose
32Low
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-4-1-2
18Foderingham
6Basham12Egan19Robinson
2Baldock16Norwood4Fleck23Osborn
29Ndiaye
11Khadra10Sharp
18Foderingham
6BashamSubstituted forClarkat 78′minutesBooked at 86mins
12EganBooked at 81mins
19Robinson
2BaldockBooked at 90mins
16Norwood
4FleckSubstituted forStevensat 65′minutes
23Osborn
29NdiayeBooked at 70mins
11KhadraSubstituted forMcAteeat 34′minutesBooked at 62mins
10SharpSubstituted forMcBurnieat 65′minutes
Substitutes
1Davies
3Stevens
9McBurnie
26Clark
28McAtee
35Brooks
39Sachdev
Referee:
Stephen Martin
Attendance:
17,437
Live Text
Match ends, Bristol City 0, Sheffield United 1.
Second Half ends, Bristol City 0, Sheffield United 1.
Offside, Sheffield United. Jack Robinson tries a through ball, but Iliman Ndiaye is caught offside.
Joe Williams (Bristol City) is shown the yellow card.
George Baldock (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
George Tanner (Bristol City) is shown the red card.
Foul by George Tanner (Bristol City).
James McAtee (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Chris Martin (Bristol City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jay Dasilva.
Foul by George Tanner (Bristol City).
Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Offside, Bristol City. Antoine Semenyo tries a through ball, but Andreas Weimann is caught offside.
Foul by Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City).
Ciaran Clark (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Andreas Weimann (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Ciaran Clark (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Antoine Semenyo (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ciaran Clark (Sheffield United).
Attempt saved. Andreas Weimann (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tommy Conway.
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