Manchester United cough up comeback, settle for draw with Sheffield United

Sheffield United and Manchester United played to a wild 3-3 draw on Sunday, a result that will feel very different for the two Premier League sides.

First, Manchester United were on the verge of an embarrassing loss, the kind that gets a manager fired. Then, it looked like a spirited comeback was in the cards, the kind that saves the boss his job.

In the end, the visiting Red Devils were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw at Sheffield United on Sunday, a wild result that may sound disappointing based on their stature, but is not necessarily surprising based on their form this season.

For Sheffield, that means confirmation that the promoted side is really a contender to not only stay up but fight for a place in the top half of the table. For Man United, it’s another data point in the Red Devils’ fall from grace.

The draw leaves Manchester United (ninth place, 17 points, 4W-5D-4L) a point behind upstart Sheffield United (sixth place, 18 points, 4W-6D-3L) in the Premier League table.

The current Premier League top four seem to be in a league of their own – with Liverpool possibly even running away from the other three. Beyond that, just two points separate fifth place from 10th place. On Sunday, Sheffield United proved that they are firmly part of the second tier, just like Man United. That’s good news for one of them and disappointing for the other.

The hosts jumped out to an early lead through John Fleck in the 19th minute and Fleck assisted as Lys Mousset made it 2-0 at 52′.

Then, the Red Devils came storming back, scoring three times in seven minutes. First it was Brandon Williams in the 72nd minute, then Mason Greenwood in the 77th and Marcus Rashford in the 79th.

Suddenly, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s young players had been the ones to turn things around. Maybe this was a sign of life, of believe in the manager. Maybe a youth movement could take hold at Old Trafford like it has at Chelsea.

Instead, it was Oliver McBurnie got the 90th-minute equalizer for Sheffield United.

Sheffield United actually created slightly better chances – 1.56-1.33 in expected goals according to understat.com – from one more shot.

The Blades have been one of the best stories in the Premier League this year, surging into the top six since being promoted back into the top flight after 12 seasons away.

Manchester United, on the other hand, are mired in an existential skid they can’t seem to snap out of. Despite finishing second two seasons ago, the side with more English league titles than any other have not won the Premier League since 2013. Solskjaer was given the full-time job after a strong run as interim boss last year, but the magic is gone.

Questions will continue about Solskjaer’s fitness for the job – especially with Mauricio Pochettino out there as a potential replacement – but Sheffield United proved on Sunday that they are set to stick around as the shock contender in the Premier League’s upper-middle class.