Sheffield United vs Manchester United: Oli McBurnie denies Red Devils with late equaliser - Five things we learned

Oli McBurnie​’s stoppage time equaliser salvaged a point for Sheffield United ​to deny Manchester United an incredible comeback in a 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane.

The Blades hurried Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side from the outset though and their opener was emblematic of this, as Mousset shoved Phil Jones out of the way before keeping a cool head to drag the ball back to John Lundstrum.

A ricochet saw the ball fall nicely to John Fleck, who bundled it home to secure a deserved lead as Bramall Lane erupted. Mousset then doubled the lead, striking a fine second low to David De Gea’s left after a gorgeous ball from Fleck.

Brandon Williams slashed home beautifully to halve the deficit and a sudden change in belief consumed the visitors, with Mason Greenwood prodding home the equaliser from Rashford’s cross, before the No 10 converted to seemingly win the game for the visitors. But McBurnie’s stoppage time equaliser, after a pause to consult VAR, saw the points shared in an extraordinary match.

Here are five things we learned:

1. Young Red Devils show resilience to inspire incredible comeback

Just when United were down and out, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have been thrilled to see his youngsters turn the game on its head.

First Brandon Williams, not dispirited by a torrid afternoon defensively, cleanly struck low into the bottom right corner to halve the deficit. Then Mason Greenwood was sent on in search of an equaliser.

And he found it, coming alive inside the box to prod home Marcus Rashford’s clipped delivery. Inspired by his newfound leadership, Rashford burst forward and converted Dan James’s cutback to miraculously put the visitors ahead and complete an enthralling seven-minute comeback.

But it was not to be enough as substitute Oliver McBurnie prodded home in stoppage time to see the points shared.

2. Solskjaer’s five-at-the-back backfires

It was supposed to be the manager’s ingenious twist to counter Chris Wilder’s famed overlapping centre-backs. Phil Jones returned from the doldrums to partner Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, while Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Daniel James essentially operated as three strikers. Instead, in a frantic first half-hour, the Blades cut away at Jones mercilessly, exposing his lack of pace as Lys Mousset breezed into space towards the byline. The first warning sign came after just 12 minutes as David De Gea was forced into a double save to deny John Lundstram and David McGoldrick. Nobody in a black shirt listened, and seven minutes later, Mousset left Jones in a confused heap again, dragged the ball back across the face of goal and John Fleck bundled home for a thoroughly deserved lead.

3. Move for first goal epitomises Wilder impact

United were startled from the outset, but the fact they were is an indictment on their preparation.

United were simply too passive and unwilling to compete, with Lys Mousset charging into Phil Jones for a loose ball the perfect evidence of this.

Jones simply showed inadequate desire, but there was further evidence of the gaping divide in this category when John Fleck and John Lundstram made up incredible ground, gambling on the potential for Mousset to win the ball and his ability to find them in the box.

4. Static front-three fail to charge

With Anthony Martial operating at full-fitness, United supposedly came armed with their quickest, most direct and dangerous front-three. Instead, for the best part of the first half, United’s attack was static to the point of standstill and without the imagination to prise open Sheffield’s injury-hampered defence. Daniel James’ biggest contribution was to wear an earful from Maguire after failing to track back.

Meanwhile, neither Rashford or Martial were able to use their pace to stretch the defence. On the very rare occasion they did get a glimpse at goal, there was an absence of quality from Andreas Pereira and Fred in midfield to expose it, and that United could only muster one shot in the entire first half, despite chasing the game for much of it, summing up quite how poor they were for the majority of the game.

Rashford would eventually wake up, with Mason Greenwood joining the party and James rediscovering how to use his pace, but this was a concerning performance for United’s attack.

5. Mousset finds his home at Bramall Lane

When Sheffield United splashed £10 million on Lys Mousset to become their club-record signing, most thought Bournemouth had won the deal, given the French forward had mustered just three Premier League goals in 58 appearances.

But Chris Wilder has inspired the French forward, who has fully bought into the selfless approach at Bramall Lane, while also adding a cutting edge: his goal to make it 2-0 was his fourth in 10 appearances this season, now one more than the entirety of his time with the Cherries.

The aforementioned aggression to his game is infectious, he leads by example and at just 23 has much more to give in the years to come as a Blade.