Sheffield United cut Tottenham's Champions League charge to shreds as VAR enrages Jose Mourinho
Chris Wilder has been due some luck when it comes to technology and VAR could not have been kinder in getting Sheffield United’s bid for European football back on track, while denting the hopes of Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho was predictably, and understandably, furious with the call from Michael Oliver in Stockley Park. Oliver disallowed Harry Kane’s goal with the match in the balance after the ball was kicked against a prostrate Lucas Moura’s shoulder in the build-up.
It mattered little to Wilder who gained revenge from earlier in the season when his team were denied a win at Tottenham’s new stadium by the finest of offside calls; John Lundstram’s toe denying David McGoldrick, with replays inconclusive. United were also denied when Hawkeye failed completely at Aston Villa in their first game of Project Restart.
Here at last though, they had fortune go their way, with Sander Berge and Lys Mousset scoring either side of their reprieve and Oli McBurnie adding a third.
“I've got a back catalogue of decisions against us,” said Wilder. “We are the unofficial champions of Europe for decisions against us so I totally understand their manager’s frustration and his players'.
“It wasn't intentional but we had the same with John Egan at Brighton. We've had the rub of the green on that one, it's well overdue, but we'll take it.”
Mourinho’s chances of reaching the Champions League were always slim and Spurs are now relying on others to slip up, while the Blades look to have regained some of the momentum lost during the coronavirus break.
Premier League 2019/20 latest standings (top 10)
They returned with their passionate fans no longer in the stands, technology failing them and a crippling injury list.
To emphasise how badly-hit Wilder’s squad has been during Project Restart, only seven of the allotted nine substitutes were named. Wilder spotted ex-Tottenham and Sheffield United midfielder Michael Brown in front of the media seats and asked if he fancied a game.
Jack O’Connell has been the biggest loss at the heart of Wilder’s defence, while Lundstram and John Fleck were the midfield heartbeat of their pre-lockdown surge towards the top four.
In their absence, it was down to Berge to announce himself with his first goal since his club-record £22 million arrival from Genk. The Norwegian was playing Champions League football earlier in the season and his goal finished off a sweeping move fit to grace Europe’s elite.
Enda Stevens began the attack by carrying the ball from his wing-back position into central midfield, where Berge shifted possession out to the opposite flank. Wilder’s 'overlapping centre-backs' tactic saw Chris Basham catch Spurs by surprise in the penalty area and his pull-back was controlled and arrowed into the bottom corner by Berge.
The opener was then totally overshadowed by VAR controversy when Spurs went up the other end and Kane had the ball in the net.
This was why Harry Kane's 'equaliser' was chalked off by VAR.
Thoughts?
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In the build-up, Moura had been fouled and, as he fell to the floor, Egan’s clearance unintentionally struck him on the top of the arm, with Kane dancing around Basham and finishing.
That Moura had no control over his “assist” meant nothing to Oliver sat in front of his screen looking at the replays. The ball had touched the Brazilian’s arm and the goal was chalked off.
Chris Kavanagh, the referee, was urged to look at replays on the big screen but the decision had been made. Blades would have known that frustrating feeling.
Mourinho was understandably livid in the technical area, receiving a warning his behaviour could see him sent to the stands. His mood did not get better after Oliver Norwood, already booked, caught Heung-Min Son with an elbow but did not pick up a second yellow card.
Ricardo Formosinho, Mourinho’s assistant, led the protests to Kavanagh at half-time as the officials trudged off.
The second goal came from a similar position to the first, with Spurs’ concentration going as Ben Osborn raced into a dangerous position. He released Stevens, who crossed for Mousset to tap in. McBurnie scored at the near post after Berge had raced into the penalty area and fizzed over a cross.
Kane pulled one back with a minute remaining when he finished from close range after Son’s cross.
06:54 PMFULL TIME
FULL TIME
Well deserved win for Sheffield United. Spurs had all the ball but none of the ideas and it wasn't until Kane started taking up advanced positions to get on the end of crosses that they managed a shot on target. Mourinho will spin this as a VAR handball disaster but his centre-backs don't know what's going on and at times they were outplayed. He needs time and transfer windows to get Spurs really firing. Maybe the nine day gap in fixtures played a part too.
06:51 PM90 mins+2 - Sheff Utd 3 Spurs 1
90 mins+2 - Sheff Utd 3 Spurs 1
Berge is getting the blame for that Spurs goal. He switched off for juuuuuust a second. I'd imagine Wilder will let him know about it.
06:49 PMGOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!
KANE SCORES! This one will count too. Moura works magic, Son is chipped in on the left and a low cross to Kane gives him a tap in.
06:48 PM89 mins - Sheff Utd 3 Spurs 0
89 mins - Sheff Utd 3 Spurs 0
McBurnie gets all fired up for no real reason, earning himself a yellow card for a bit of a shoving match on the touchline.
06:45 PM86 mins - Sheff Utd 3 Spurs 0
86 mins - Sheff Utd 3 Spurs 0
Sheffield United defending with real determination now. The exact opposite of Spurs' back four.
06:43 PMGOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!
SHEFFIELD UNITED HAVE THREE!
Oh dear. Another nice move, patient, energetic, an overlap on the right, an underlap, a ball into the box and Dier and Sanchez are beaten to a low pass into the six yard box as though they can't be bothered defending in the first place. There is so much to correct in this Spurs team.
06:41 PM83 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
83 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
Spurs have had 66 per cent of possession and have one shot on target. Just going to leave that there without analysis.
06:38 PM80 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
80 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
Kane has the ball in the net after thumping a shot at the goalkeeper but he's been penalised for a wee nudge on the defender first.
06:37 PM79 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
79 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
OOooooooHHHHHhh that pass by Ndombele! With an entire team in his way, Ndombele spots Kane lurking and thread a pass into him. Well found, good pass. If Kane hadn't been about 10 yards offside it would have worked.
06:35 PM76 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
76 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
It's not clicking for Spurs in the final third. Moura was the only one really creating and that was by running like he's quickly navigating a corridor of dummies. Sissoko and Aurier went off for those subs by the way.
06:33 PM73 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
73 mins - Sheff Utd 2 Spurs 0
No real sign of a comeback yet. Sheffield United will lock this one down now.
06:29 PMDrinks break
Drinks break
Mourinho seems calm as he comes over to issue some instructions. Ndombele and Alli are about to come on.
06:27 PMGOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!
AND THAT'S 2-0! HUGE GOAL!
This is brilliant play again. Spurs have all the possession, United win it back, get forward with more clever movement, overlapping runs, pass pass pass... and the Spurs defence looks devoid of centre-backs as Mousset turns up completely unmarked inside the six yard box to tap in. Awful defending in the box by Spurs.
06:27 PM67 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
67 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Kane's not really been in this one.
Harry Kane isn't really a number nine anymore is he? This is his touchmap so far. Nothing too wrong with it if it works but he's not a creative playmaker, and that's basically what he's doing here pic.twitter.com/ULK1ryyHE6
— JJ Bull (@jj_bull) July 2, 2020
06:23 PM64 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
64 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
McGoldrick comes off for Mousset and looks really sad about it.
Spurs working really hard off the ball to try and win it back. Dier's racing into the opposition box to close down the goalkeeper even.
06:20 PM61 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
61 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
MCGOLDRICK! SMASHES IT IN... to the side netting. Lloris dives to block a cross and it sends the ball into the air. A touch back to the striker and he hammers it into the side netting.
"I think half the imaginary crowd thought that was in!" is an excellent bit of commentary. Five stars A+++++++
06:16 PM58 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
58 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Bergwijn is hauled off for making those mistakes and Lamela comes on. Mourinho doesn't give a lot of time to creative players does he? I can only assume he's been asked to work on not playing that early pass to Kane during counter-attacks.
I'm not sure how Osborn hasn't been booked for hacking down Aurier from behind and causing him to yell in pain. But he has.
06:14 PM55 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
55 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Bergwijn has the chance to launch a counter-attack and bursts through the middle. Kane peels off to the left and Bergwijn again looks for him too early, playing a predictable pass that is easily intercepted.
Bergwijn has a go on the right wing, crossing low to the well positioned Untied defence. Spurs keep up the pressure.
06:11 PM52 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
52 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Sheff Utd try a set-piece routine which almost gets Robinson in one v one with the goalkeeper. Lloris is quick off his line to smother.
06:08 PM49 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
49 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Moura is superb at running with the ball through tight space and he's definitely been asked to do that this evening. When he gets going it's hard to make a tackle without bringing him down (and ruling out a goal...) and I can see a penalty being a legitimate way back in for Spurs. Get Moura to run, draw the foul, get back in the game.
06:05 PM46 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
46 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
I wonder what Mourinho's tactic was at half time. Utilise the feeling of injustice to encourage a comeback? Or calm things down and have them focus?
06:04 PMKICK OFF 2
KICK OFF 2
We're back. Spurs out early.
05:58 PMGraeme Souness is enjoying the Redknapp seethe
Graeme Souness is enjoying the Redknapp seethe
"The worst decision I've ever seen," says ex-Spurs player Jamie Redknapp, and Graeme Souness is just enjoying winding him up. "If you read the rule book there's no where that mentions common sense," he offers.
Seethe levels through the roof. As a neutral, it is quite funny.
Also, important to differentiate between VAR and the actual laws. The laws are the problem here.
05:55 PMBad news, Spurs fans
- Spurs have won just one of the last 13 away games in which they have been behind at half-time (D4 L8).
05:49 PMHALF TIME
Bad news, Spurs fans
- Spurs have won just one of the last 13 away games in which they have been behind at half-time (D4 L8).
05:49 PMHALF TIME
HALF TIME
Sheffield United get away with one there but Spurs don't look totally out of this one. A big second half coming up.
05:46 PM45 mins+2 - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
45 mins+2 - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Spurs working the ball around the final third, pushing United back towards their own goal. Players make some overlapping runs to create openings, Davies cuts a pass to Lo Celso to shoot - blocked. A corner is headed over.
05:44 PM44 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
44 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Mourinho, as you can imagine, is very pleased about the disallowed goal.
05:42 PM41 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
41 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Norwood catches Son with an arm, Spurs have a free-kick wide left. McBurnie clears the cross, Baldock kicks the ball as hard and high into the air as a human possibly can to give his team time to get back into shape for the throw-in.
05:39 PM38 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
38 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
See, the thing is it's not VAR's fault, it's that the handball rule is completely devoid of any logic or sense. Change the rules please. k thx bai
05:36 PM35 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
35 mins - Sheff Utd 1 Spurs 0
Honestly, I think that might be the stupidest application of VAR that I have yet seen.
05:35 PMGOAL DISALLOWED
GOAL DISALLOWED
Ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Moura is thrown to the floor, because of a foul, and that's why his arm touches the ball. It's an absurd decision because the law is completely stupid. Why nobody has changed that law I cannot understand. Ah well. Sheffield United keep their lead.
05:34 PMVAR check
VAR check
Oh my god. This is ridiculous. Moura falls after being fouled and the ball comes off his arm as he goes down on the edge of the area, knocking it on to Kane. If this is ruled out...
05:33 PMGOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!!
KANE SCORES STRAIGHT AWAY!
Moura dribbles with the ball after a long punt from the Spurs defence, gets taken out after trying to go through about four bodies and Kane takes it, cuts onto his left and curls it into the corner.
05:31 PMGOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!
BERGE SCORES!
Sander Berge with the opener for Sheffield United! A fine finish into the bottom corner...
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A well worked move by United, pass and move football, the ball goes from side to side, an overlapping run causes a bit of panic wide, the ball is cut into the box and Berge takes a touch before finishing low into the opposite corner with a tidy shot.
05:31 PM31 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
31 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Kane boots a free-kick over the bar after trying to knuckle-ball it.
05:30 PM30 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
30 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Son hits a powerful cross towards Kane in the middle of the box and it's just a little bit too high for him. Kane gives up on it early but the space the striker was in will concern the manager.
Spurs get another attack together, another cross from the left and it's teed up for Sissoko to power drive it into the top corner from 25 yards. He side-foots straight down the barrel and Henderson saves easily.
Sissoko bursts into space soon after, beating a defender to the ball and Kane running ahead of him... but his touch is poor and the chance disappears.
05:27 PM27 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
27 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Spurs try to play out from the back, Aurier gives the ball away, Sheff Utd step up on them... and McGoldrick fouls Lo Celso.
05:24 PM24 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
24 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Bergwijn gets a chance to drive towards the box, slips the ball in to Kane on his right and Kane shoots early to the near post. Lots of power, not quite on target.
And now it's a drinks break.
05:23 PM22 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
22 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Neither team is quite able to create anything in the final third. Lots of bodies blocking each other.
05:19 PM19 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
19 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Moura dribbles past four players, feeds Aurier on the right wing... and he chips it out for a goal kick. Aurier looks to the sky in frustration at himself and doesn't need told that that was awful. The ball needed to be struck into the area, not lifted - against the Sheff Utd centre-backs it's going to be extremely difficult to win anything in the air inside their box. Man Utd had joy by smashing low balls into the area, and that should be the tactic Spurs take.
And as if he'd been reading my words, that's exactly what Aurier does! A clever passing move, a five v six in the final third, Aurier released down the right and he fires low into the area. Son just can't connect the way he wants to and the ball bobbles to the goalkeeper.
05:16 PM16 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
16 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Basham, the centre-back, ends up as the most advanced player during an attack which Lloris smothers. It must be fun playing as a defender for this team.
Both teams are playing well here, it's been entertaining to watch. Lots of passing, a lot of yelling from the sidelines, some nice movement off the ball.
05:14 PM13 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
13 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Spurs come forward in numbers and there appears to be a bit of space to attack... but Sissoko holds onto the ball too long and Sheff Utd get behind it.
05:09 PM10 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
10 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Son is so so so quick when running with the ball. He actually accelerates from the man chasing him while keeping the ball completely under control but the pass he plays behind the defence is easily cut out. Spurs are making the pitch big when they play out from the back, loads of depth between centre-backs and striker. That's a ploy to prevent Sheff Utd from pressing them as a tight unit.
05:07 PM7 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
7 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Lovely control by Bergwijn, cushioning a powerful pass and nodding it on with his head to beat a tackle. Son wins a corner.
That ball is fired across the box, beats everyone, Henderson dives for it after Dier gets a head to the ball... and it's just wide!
05:05 PM6 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
6 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
Nice play by United in the final third. Quick passing, good movement, Spurs being pulled around a little bit to follow the runs off the ball. Robinson hurls a throw into the box but it's cleared away, Dier defends the second phase of that well with a header at the back post... and Berge launches a ball into the stands. This is the best Wilder's team have played since the restart. So far.
05:03 PM3 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
3 mins - Sheff Utd 0 Spurs 0
United pressing pretty high from the start to prevent Spurs having time on the ball in their own half. A few long balls already suggests this might not be the most beautiful of games we ever see. There's nothing wrong with a long pass, of course, it's just that punting the thing 80 yards to the opposition goalkeeper isn't great.
05:01 PMKICK OFF
KICK OFF
Here we go! Spurs get the game started. Players take the knee first.
04:57 PMSpurs coming onto the pitch from the stands
Spurs coming onto the pitch from the stands
The tunnel isn't big enough to ensure social distancing so Spurs enter the pitch by coming out of an exit to the stands. Not seen that one before.
04:56 PMGraeme Souness' advice to Sheffield United
Graeme Souness' advice to Sheffield United
"Rough em up, get at them quickly. Cute and clever passing is not their strength, get amongst them and make Tottenham make mistakes at the back."
I agree with this... but... I'd say the reason Sheffield United have done so well this season is that they are strong, powerful and organised at the back but play neat triangle passes in midfield and overload the wide areas. If they miss even one cog of that machine, it doesn't quite flow the way it's supposed to.
04:45 PMChris Wilder pre-match
No excuse, we're missing some big players but we need to get on with it.
We're basically a newly promoted side, when we've got everyone fit we produce those performances and results. Without that we've got to dig them out from somewhere.
We're in the division for occasions like this, playing against top sides. Regardless of what team I pick or how many subs I have, I expect a fully committed performance.
04:36 PMHow do Spurs possibly challenge for the title?
Chris Wilder pre-match
No excuse, we're missing some big players but we need to get on with it.
We're basically a newly promoted side, when we've got everyone fit we produce those performances and results. Without that we've got to dig them out from somewhere.
We're in the division for occasions like this, playing against top sides. Regardless of what team I pick or how many subs I have, I expect a fully committed performance.
04:36 PMHow do Spurs possibly challenge for the title?
How do Spurs possibly challenge for the title?
Matt Law has written this piece:
Asking the question teased in the title. It's a tough one. Without incredible scouting+money invested+time to let it work+keeping the big players happy+other teams getting worse+luck... it's not going to happen. Jurgen Klopp turned Liverpool into a monster from an 8th place team so it's not impossible but it needs great signings. Is Bergwijn a Mane signing? Mourinho needs time to turn the squad into one that represents what he's about, and chimes with his ideas. As we've seen in recent seasons, this doesn't happen without money and even then it tends to go up in smoke sometime during the third season. Spurs don't have that long to wait.
04:26 PMThe Spurs team
The Spurs team
I can't quite work out what the Spurs system will be. Definitely a back four - Aurier will get up the pitch and Davies might too... so Bergwijn, Son, and Moura could play behind Kane, which would make a midfield two of Sissoko and Lo Celso. That's a really attacking side - very un-Mourinho like. It doesn't mean they don't play in a defensive manner of course, and having great players in a counter-attack team is always going to make you more exciting going forward. Defending is all about organisation and hardwork.
04:22 PMStarting lineups
Starting lineups
Here are the teams!
04:05 PMHow the table looks before the game
How the table looks before the game
There's only one point between Sheffield United and Spurs at the moment, which is the kind of thing I only really remember from Football Manager saves I felt were unrealistic at the time. Both want a European place, and whoever wins this one is (obviously) going to be the most likely to get close to it.
03:38 PMGood evening
Good evening
Welcome! Another day, another game. The players must be knackered but there is little choice for anyone but to 'go again'. And that's what we're about to do!
Sheffield United have been medium and worse since the restart, beaten by teams with better individual players and unable to pull of the kind of season-long shock results that they grown accustomed to. I like the way they play but have felt it somewhat inevitable for a long time that opponents would suss them out, and that appears to be happening. Chris Wilder blames the absence of crowds, which is fair, and it's important to note the missing players he's had too - teams like Sheffield United need every piece of the puzzle ready to go to stand a chance against the mega money clubs.
Spurs are a weird one too. I can't work out if they're any good, am convinced they need about 18 months and a lot of transfer work to seriously improve, and feel they've dropped below several rivals after the high of the Champions League final. This game has a draw written all over it.
Mourinho has been talking up his players ahead of this evening's match, saying things like:
"If Giovani Lo Celso was the player that came to Spurs [instead of Bruno Fernandes], then I would say I wouldn't change Giovani Lo Celso for any player.
"[I wouldn't swap Lo Celso] for any player. It's not just for Bruno, but for any player."
So expect a hat-trick from Lo Celso tonight. In seriousness, expect a bit of a midfield battle, lots of tactical fouls, not a lot of goals, and for me to be proven entirely wrong come the full-time whistle.
You can watch the game live on Sky Sports if you wish, and if you are unable to (or want to read while watching) you can follow the action with us in this liveblog. I'll do live analysis, updates, all the hits.