Sheffield United vs Chelsea player ratings: David McGoldrick goals cap fine team performance

Chelsea’s Champions League hopes suffered a damaging blow at Sheffield United on Saturday evening.

The Blades proved far too strong for the visiting Blues sending them packing back to west London after a hugely impressive 3-0 win.

David McGoldrick scored his first Premier League goal of the season in the first-half before Oli McBurnie headed home a second before half-time.

McGoldrick made sure of the points in the second-half with his second as the hosts kept their own European hopes well and truly alive.

Here are how the two teams rated at Bramall Lane:

Sheffield United

Dean Henderson – 6

Saved well from James and commanded area well in sunny conditions

Chris Basham – 7

Got forwarded well and defended stoutly as ever

John Egan – 7

Another strong performance for one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season

Jack O’Connell – 6

Stood up well to the physical test of Abraham

George Baldock – 6

Got forward well as Blades made the most of small amount of possession

Sander Berge – 7

January signing continues to show his class with another energetic display

Oliver Norwood – 6

Shielded his back three well to give others license to roam

Ben Osborn – 7

Continued his good run of form with another positive performance in the middle of the park

Enda Stevens – 6

Pushed on well as ever on the flank to give Chelsea plenty of problems

Oli McBurnie – 7

Ran his heart out as ever and took his goal, a powerful first-half header, superbly

David McGoldrick – 8

Scored a first goal of the season reacting first to a second ball in the box before adding a second after the break

Chelsea

Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6

Couldn’t do anything about any of the goals with poor defending in front of him to blame

Reece James – 6

Got forward well and tested Henderson with a sharp shot but allowed too many dangerous balls into the box

Andreas Christensen – 5

Hooked at half-time after being culpable for both first-half goals

Kurt Zouma – 5

Equally to blame for the first-half goals, not reacting to the first and marking poorly for the second, before again defending badly for the third

Cesar Azpilicueta – 6

Pushed on but lacked his usually dependable delivery from out wide

Ross Barkley – 6

Showed plenty of energy but couldn’t dictate the play as he would’ve liked

Jorginho – 6

Couldn’t control the game and showed a lack of match sharpness in his first start of the restart

Mason Mount – 5

Another to be sacrificed at the break after a quiet showing as Lampard moved to a back three

Willian – 6

Couldn’t get close enough to Abraham and failed to get enough quality into the box from wide areas

Tammy Abraham – 5

Cut a solitary figure as he was often far too isolated from teammates

Christian Pulisic – 6

Chelsea’s spark was snuffed out for the most part as Blades executed a plan to nullify him well