Wes Foderingham shines but Oli McBurnie sees red in Sheffield United player ratings v Tottenham Hotspur

Danny Hall
·6-min read
Kept United in the game in the first half with good saves from Sarr, Bissouma and Son. Lost his bearings in the first half and was booked for handling outside his area but that was his only real misstep before being wiped out by van de Ven and needing attention by the Blades physios, attracting the ire of the Spurs fans in the process
Kept United in the game in the first half with good saves from Sarr, Bissouma and Son. Lost his bearings in the first half and was booked for handling outside his area but that was his only real misstep before being wiped out by van de Ven and needing attention by the Blades physios, attracting the ire of the Spurs fans in the process

The Blades looked on course for a momentous first win of the season thanks to Gustavo Hamer’s strike, but Spurs equalised in the eighth minute of injury time through Richarlison before Dejan Kulusevski netted the winner three minutes later.

To compound United’s misery Oli McBurnie was sent off after picking up a second booking as United sought a way back into the game again and will now miss next weekend’s game against Newcastle United at Bramall Lane. Here’s how we rated United’s players on the whistle after a manic finish to an absorbing game of football in the capital...

Back in the side from the start after Baldock’s injury and created United’s best early chance with a driven cross to McAtee, but it wouldn’t have counted anyway as he was offside from Ahmedhodzic’s superb pass. Given a difficult afternoon as much of Spurs’ threats came down the left through Solomon but stood up to most of the tests well before making way near the end with what looked like cramp
Back in the side from the start after Baldock’s injury and created United’s best early chance with a driven cross to McAtee, but it wouldn’t have counted anyway as he was offside from Ahmedhodzic’s superb pass. Given a difficult afternoon as much of Spurs’ threats came down the left through Solomon but stood up to most of the tests well before making way near the end with what looked like cramp
Captained the Blades on his return in place of the injured Egan and looked to get touch-tight to Maddison at every opportunity, to deny him the time and space to turn and hurt United. Couldn’t do enough to prevent Bissouma’s powerful run into the area but Foderingham came to his rescue. Did superbly to deny Son in a good position - the offside flag would go up but he wasn’t to know that - but picked up a cheap booking for kicking the ball away with ref Bankes warning him not to do so. Was fortunate not to give away a penalty by catching Maddison’s ankle, and lost Richarlison before he headed home to equalise
Captained the Blades on his return in place of the injured Egan and looked to get touch-tight to Maddison at every opportunity, to deny him the time and space to turn and hurt United. Couldn’t do enough to prevent Bissouma’s powerful run into the area but Foderingham came to his rescue. Did superbly to deny Son in a good position - the offside flag would go up but he wasn’t to know that - but picked up a cheap booking for kicking the ball away with ref Bankes warning him not to do so. Was fortunate not to give away a penalty by catching Maddison’s ankle, and lost Richarlison before he headed home to equalise
Shrugged off his hamstring issue, and the ensuing furore surrounding it, to start in the middle of defence but didn’t lose any of his attacking instincts, embarking on a lovely run down the middle of Spurs’ territory after deciding there were better no options. A lovely ball down the right sent Bogle free for McAtee’s chance. Finished at right wing-back when Bogle went off
Shrugged off his hamstring issue, and the ensuing furore surrounding it, to start in the middle of defence but didn’t lose any of his attacking instincts, embarking on a lovely run down the middle of Spurs’ territory after deciding there were better no options. A lovely ball down the right sent Bogle free for McAtee’s chance. Finished at right wing-back when Bogle went off
Always looked comfortable on the ball, even when the situation looked a little dicey from United’s point of view, and defensively too - even though he might have got away with one when he tried to kick the ball against Son from a free-kick and the Spurs star tried to play on, before ref Bankes pulled back play for some reason. Couldn’t do enough to prevent Kulisevski scoring the winner
Always looked comfortable on the ball, even when the situation looked a little dicey from United’s point of view, and defensively too - even though he might have got away with one when he tried to kick the ball against Son from a free-kick and the Spurs star tried to play on, before ref Bankes pulled back play for some reason. Couldn’t do enough to prevent Kulisevski scoring the winner
Made his full Blades debut at left-wing back but didn’t have an easy time of it against Kulusevski’s pace and power early in the game. Had much more defensively to do in the second half as Spurs attacked more down their right after the restart but what he had to do, he did well - including a superbly-timed tackle to disposes Kulusevski when anything else would have resulted in a certain Spurs penalty
Made his full Blades debut at left-wing back but didn’t have an easy time of it against Kulusevski’s pace and power early in the game. Had much more defensively to do in the second half as Spurs attacked more down their right after the restart but what he had to do, he did well - including a superbly-timed tackle to disposes Kulusevski when anything else would have resulted in a certain Spurs penalty
Against a powerful Spurs side United needed a display from the big Brazilian in midfield, who had extra responsibility after Heckingbottom picked an attacking line-up with McAtee and Hamer instead of Norwood. He largely delivered save for a few moments, including one where Bissouma ghosted past him for a chance and another when he gave the ball away in a dangerous area. Took a risk by shoving over Bissouma in the Blades box but got away with it
Against a powerful Spurs side United needed a display from the big Brazilian in midfield, who had extra responsibility after Heckingbottom picked an attacking line-up with McAtee and Hamer instead of Norwood. He largely delivered save for a few moments, including one where Bissouma ghosted past him for a chance and another when he gave the ball away in a dangerous area. Took a risk by shoving over Bissouma in the Blades box but got away with it
Had a few bright moments early on as he looked to make something happen for the Blades but also did his share of defensive work as well to keep Spurs at bay. But when his big moment came, boy did he take it - with a lovely finish off the far post to put the Blades ahead after the ball had fallen into his path from Robinson’s long throw
Had a few bright moments early on as he looked to make something happen for the Blades but also did his share of defensive work as well to keep Spurs at bay. But when his big moment came, boy did he take it - with a lovely finish off the far post to put the Blades ahead after the ball had fallen into his path from Robinson’s long throw
Was thrown in from the start in his first game since returning on loan from Manchester City and had a great chance to mark it with a goal as Bogle’s cross picked him out, but Vicario saved (and Bogle was offside anyway). That was one of his few touches in the first half as he struggled to impose himself on the game. Had a great opening in the second half but his shot was deflected into Vicario’s grateful grasp before he cramped up and was replaced by Norwood
Was thrown in from the start in his first game since returning on loan from Manchester City and had a great chance to mark it with a goal as Bogle’s cross picked him out, but Vicario saved (and Bogle was offside anyway). That was one of his few touches in the first half as he struggled to impose himself on the game. Had a great opening in the second half but his shot was deflected into Vicario’s grateful grasp before he cramped up and was replaced by Norwood
Will have thought for a second he had a chance of opening the scoring after taking a touch in the Spurs box and shooting, only for the ball to unfortunately hit Archer and bounce to safety rather than the Spurs net. Summed up his display with a superb tackle to win a 50/50 from van de Ven and then beat two players with a lovely flick and draw the foul to buy United a bit of time. Booked for a crude challenge on Solomon but excelled with a superb block to deny Son. Then undid all his hard work by getting a second yellow card deep into injury time
Will have thought for a second he had a chance of opening the scoring after taking a touch in the Spurs box and shooting, only for the ball to unfortunately hit Archer and bounce to safety rather than the Spurs net. Summed up his display with a superb tackle to win a 50/50 from van de Ven and then beat two players with a lovely flick and draw the foul to buy United a bit of time. Booked for a crude challenge on Solomon but excelled with a superb block to deny Son. Then undid all his hard work by getting a second yellow card deep into injury time
A mixed bag. Some dangerous moments but others where he was easily dealt with by Spurs’ imposing centre-halves. Was unfortunate when McBurnie’s shot hit his back, rather than the back of the Spurs net which it looked like it was destined for, and didn’t stop running for the cause throughout the game
A mixed bag. Some dangerous moments but others where he was easily dealt with by Spurs’ imposing centre-halves. Was unfortunate when McBurnie’s shot hit his back, rather than the back of the Spurs net which it looked like it was destined for, and didn’t stop running for the cause throughout the game
Tottenham Hotspur's Ivorian-born Malian midfielder #08 Yves Bissouma (2R) and Sheffield United's English defender #20 Jayden Bogle (C) clash during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on September 16, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's Ivorian-born Malian midfielder #08 Yves Bissouma (2R) and Sheffield United's English defender #20 Jayden Bogle (C) clash during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on September 16, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)