John Egan’s late goal gave Sheffield United a 1-1 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday.
James Tarkowski had put the Clarets ahead in the first half.
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Blades stay above Burnley by two points but both will lament not strengthening their Europa League stock.
Sheffield United’s point gives it 48 points and eighth place, two points and one spot above the host Clarets.
BURNLEY – SHEFFIELD UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Burnley has lost just once in 11 outings including a win over Manchester United and draws with Tottenham and Arsenal.
Three things we learned
1. Blades never say die: Burnley will lament not putting the game to bed with some promising chances but don’t take credit for the point away from Chris Wilder’s Blades. A late short corner routine involved four players on its way to goal, the last moves a clever Billy Sharp flick to the back post for Egan to finish with style. There were some stumbles out of the coronavirus pause and this result can fit in that camp but the resolve of United is real.
2. Burnley’s hopes of a Europa return take a hit: The Clarets booked a pair of 1-0 wins after a blowout loss to Man City and looked very much set for the same on Sunday before the late Blades corner kick. Burnley would’ve loved to directly affect a rival’s point total but has a lot of points available on the docket even considering upcoming matches with Liverpool and Wolves. And might success keep Sean Dyche around his beloved Turf Moor a bit longer despite recent drama with the board?
3. Deputizing skipper as Man of the Match: Tarkowski was quite good apart from his rare goal despite usual center back partner Ben Mee’s absence from the lineup. It was fitting that Tarkowski took the arm band in Mee’s stead, making nine clearances, an interception, two tackles, winning myriad duels including 13 in the air, and completing four of nine long balls (SofaScore).
Burnley – Sheffield United recap
Sheffield United had the best of the first 20 minutes, though Burnley had one solid chance that Matej Vydra was unable to convert.
Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope had a rare rough moment when a long throw-in made its way into the goal but he was saved by a foul in the build-up
VAR did not see an unknowing Erik Pieters handball off a corner kick reason to send Blades to the spot.
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So it follows that, in Burnley fashion, the hosts went ahead of a set piece. Tarkowski slid onto Jay Rodriguez’s flick of a free kick to give the Clarets a 43rd-minute lead.
Burnley kept the game in control and nearly doubled its advantage with a classic Rodriguez rip from distance, which Dean Henderson parried in a good place for a misfiring Dwight McNeil.
It was a really good goal to make it 1-1, a well-worked corner kick routine flicked to the back post for Egan to finish with authority.
