Jamie Vardy scored a 90th-minute winner for Leicester to break Sheffield United hearts and leave them in a perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League table.
The Blades looked set to secure only their second point of the season when Oli McBurnie scored his first of the campaign after Ayoze Perez had given the visitors the lead.
However, the Foxes never looked like wanting to settle for a point in their pursuit of a Champions League spot. With moments of the match remaining, James Maddison fed in Vardy, who scampered clear of the home defence and slotted his shot past Aaron Ramsdale.
The 33-year-old boyhood fan of Blades’ rivals Sheffield Wednesday celebrated by running to the corner flag and snapping it with his boot.
Earlier, Vardy and Maddison both came close with fierce efforts that struck the Blades’ right-hand upright.
Oliver Burke had United’s only other chance of note when he slipped with just Kasper Schmeichel to beat.
Blades’ situation becoming critical
Last season must have seemed like a dream to some Blades supporters.
Chris Wilder’s men were among the European places for much of their first campaign back in the top flight before falling away in the home straight. However, few would have thought those tail-end results would be the first symptoms of ‘second-season syndrome’.
United still remain difficult to beat, having only twice lost by more than one goal in the league this season but it is at the other end where they have suffered – it was only four goals in 10 games with a conversion rate of 4.2% before Sunday’s game.
So when Burke fluffed his lines with just Schmeichel to beat midway through the first half, it seemed like Groundhog Day for the home side; the feeling exacerbated when Perez thrashed in the Foxes’ opener.
Spirits were lifted when McBurnie equalised soon after from a corner for his first in the competition in 15 appearances and after 20 efforts on goal. However, instead of building on that, the Blades reverted to type by focusing on soaking up pressure from their opponents.
Just when they thought Brendan Rodgers’ cavalier side had thrown everything at them, they were undone by the flashing blade that is Vardy.
It is now one point from a possible 33. Wilder has produced near miracles at the clubs he has managed, but surely this situation is impossible to turn around.
More to follow.
Player of the match
VardyJamie Vardy
Sheffield United
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Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
Average rating5.63
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Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
Average rating5.03
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Squad number23Player nameOsborn
Average rating4.96
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Squad number2Player nameBaldock
Average rating4.88
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Squad number6Player nameBasham
Average rating4.88
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Squad number24Player nameBrewster
Average rating4.86
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Squad number14Player nameBurke
Average rating4.85
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Squad number12Player nameEgan
Average rating4.76
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Squad number8Player nameBerge
Average rating4.71
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Squad number7Player nameLundstram
Average rating4.70
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Squad number29Player nameBryan
Average rating4.62
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Squad number4Player nameFleck
Average rating4.57
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Squad number16Player nameNorwood
Average rating4.43
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Squad number13Player nameLowe
Average rating4.34
Leicester City
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Squad number9Player nameVardy
Average rating7.65
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Squad number1Player nameSchmeichel
Average rating7.43
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Squad number17Player nameAyoze Pérez
Average rating7.07
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Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Average rating7.02
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Squad number2Player nameJustin
Average rating6.95
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Squad number3Player nameFofana
Average rating6.79
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Squad number24Player nameMendy
Average rating6.76
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Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
Average rating6.76
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Squad number10Player nameMaddison
Average rating6.73
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Squad number25Player nameNdidi
Average rating6.70
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Squad number6Player nameEvans
Average rating6.67
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Squad number26Player namePraet
Average rating6.21
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Squad number28Player nameFuchs
Average rating6.09
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Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
Average rating5.99
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
- 1Ramsdale
- 2Baldock
- 6Basham
- 12Egan
- 29Bryan
- 13LoweBooked at 38minsSubstituted forOsbornat 45′minutes
- 7LundstramSubstituted forNorwoodat 63′minutes
- 8Berge
- 4Fleck
- 14BurkeSubstituted forBrewsterat 81′minutes
- 9McBurnie
Substitutes
- 10Sharp
- 15Jagielka
- 16Norwood
- 17McGoldrick
- 21Verrips
- 23Osborn
- 24Brewster
Leicester
- 1Schmeichel
- 3Fofana
- 6Evans
- 28FuchsBooked at 63mins
- 11Albrighton
- 8Tielemans
- 24MendySubstituted forNdidiat 69′minutes
- 2Justin
- 17PérezSubstituted forIheanachoat 69′minutes
- 10MaddisonBooked at 90minsSubstituted forPraetat 90+4′minutes
- 9VardyBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 5Morgan
- 12Ward
- 14Iheanacho
- 15Barnes
- 19Ünder
- 25Ndidi
- 26Praet
- Referee:
- Stuart Attwell
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Leicester City 2.
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Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Leicester City 2.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Wesley Fofana.
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Substitution, Leicester City. Dennis Praet replaces James Maddison.
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James Maddison (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City).
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George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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VAR Decision: Goal Leicester City – Sheffield United 1-2 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy).
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Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
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Goal! Sheffield United 1, Leicester City 2. Jamie Vardy (Leicester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Maddison with a through ball.
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Offside, Sheffield United. Oliver McBurnie tries a through ball, but Rhian Brewster is caught offside.
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Foul by Christian Fuchs (Leicester City).
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Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Rhian Brewster (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Sander Berge.
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Offside, Sheffield United. Aaron Ramsdale tries a through ball, but Rhian Brewster is caught offside.
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Marc Albrighton (Leicester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Kean Bryan (Sheffield United).
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Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces Oliver Burke.
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Offside, Sheffield United. Sander Berge tries a through ball, but Oliver Burke is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Christian Fuchs (Leicester City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Wilfred Ndidi.