Sheff Utd blitz stuns Championship leaders Burnley

Sheffield United’s Jack Robinson atoned for twice giving Burnley the lead by helping the Blades to an incredible victory against the Championship pacesetters with a goal in a second-half frenzy at Bramall Lane.

Robinson’s attempt to block a curling Manuel Benson shot saw the Blades defender send the ball into his own net, but Iliman Ndiaye had the hosts level on the half-hour mark after turning home a well-worked close-range corner.

Benson restored Burnley’s lead in the final minute of the first half after nipping the ball from Robinson deep in defence, moments after Oli McBurnie had an effort cleared off the line at the other end.

McBurnie equalized with a header straight after the break, then Robinson made up for his first-half mistakes with a scratchy shot from close range to put the hosts ahead for the first time.

Anel Ahmedhodzic made it 4-2 from six yards and McBurnie slotted home his second and Sheffield United’s fifth as they ended their four-game winless run at home in resounding fashion.

The defeat was just the second for Vincent Kompany’s Clarets this season and denied them the chance to go nine points clear at the summit.

The win is enough to move the Blades to within three points of the Lancashire club and above Blackburn in the table – although they can return to second place if they beat bottom side Huddersfield later on Saturday.

Jay Rodriguez, Burnley’s top scorer this season who scored his ninth goal of the campaign in the dramatic midweek win over Rotherham, was rested ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane as the Clarets try to manage their workload.

Benson was their brightest attacking spark early on, and Sheffield United’s inability to clear the danger from a corner in the 17th minute saw the ball go back to the winger to launch an effort from the left edge of the area, which Robinson was unlucky to head straight into his own network.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis could have doubled the advantage moments later, but sent a free header from an Anass Zaroury corner wastefully over the bar.

The Blades caused the visitors problems from set pieces from the start, and what looked like a fortuitously awarded corner after half an hour resulted in Ndiaye’s equaliser, after McBurnie deflected a header across goal into the path of his strike partner.

A fierce Ian Maatsen shot hit the woodwork as both sides looked for a second goal before the break.

Robinson, whose low shot was turned towards goal by McBurnie and cleared off the line by Harwood-Bellis, was responsible for Burnley’s second goal in what was a horror half for the defender.

Benson, who seemed lucky to be awarded the opener after the heavy deflection off the Blades man, bent a fine finish into the bottom corner in the final minute of the half.

In-form Sheffield United striker McBurnie, who came off the bench in Tuesday’s win at Bristol City and is coping with the pain of playing with a hernia, pounced on a subdued header from Ahmedhodzic to head the Blades level with their first second-half strike .

The Blades had the ball in the net again soon after, but Ndiaye was offside when he followed up Arijanet Muric’s save from another McBurnie header.

Robinson gave the hosts the lead in chaotic fashion in a tight area, heading the ball home after Ahmedhodzic hit the post, and while Muric went on to save well from McBurnie and Ahmedhodzic in quick succession, the Blades soon added to their advantage.

Ahmedhodzic was not to be denied when he slotted home from a corner, with McBurnie taking his tally to nine goals this season when he latched onto a rebound after Muric kept out George Baldock’s effort.