Welbeck denies 10-man Blades first win

Danny Welbeck's late goal denied Sheffield United a first league win of the campaign

Danny Welbeck rescued a draw for Brighton as 10-man Sheffield United survived relentless pressure to claim only their second Premier League point of the season.

Welbeck fired home from close range to cancel out Jayden Bogle's opener for United, who had John Lundstram sent off in the first half.

The Blades midfielder was initially cautioned for a studs-high challenge on Joel Veltman, but referee Peter Bankes upgraded the yellow card to a straight red after consulting his pitchside monitor.

The hosts had Chris Wilder's side pinned back inside their own half for the majority of the contest but failed to convert their chances, with Aaron Connolly, Neal Maupay and Leandro Trossard all spurning promising opportunities in the first half.

Welbeck had a header cleared off the line deep into second-half stoppage time as Brighton went in search of a late winner, before Alireza Jahanbakhsh headed against the crossbar from point-blank range.

Brighton remain without a league win at Amex Stadium this season and sit just two points above the relegation zone.

Blades hold on for morale-boosting point

Despite seeing United slip to a ninth consecutive league defeat as they lost 3-2 at home to Manchester United on Thursday, Wilder said he was pleased with the manner of their performance.

However, if Wilder was hoping for his players to pick up where they left off in the final 10 minutes against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, it was not to be as Brighton dominated the opening exchanges.

David Sanchez's one-handed save from David McGoldrick's free-kick was the closest the visitors came to a breakthrough prior to Lundstram's reckless and needless challenge on Veltman.

United were camped inside their own half for much of the second period but deserve tremendous credit for their response to Lundstram's dismissal.

The visitors defended stoutly while causing Brighton numerous problems on the counter-attack, with Enda Stevens firing narrowly wide of Sanchez's goal 12 minutes into the second half.

Bogle's opener came from a carbon-copy attack down the left, as McGoldrick picked out the former Derby County man, who fired home via a deflection off Adam Webster.

Oliver Burke could have doubled United's lead late on but blazed over from close range after latching on to Ben Osborn's square pass.

The Blades remain rooted to the foot of the table and six points adrift of safety, but Wilder can take plenty of positives from his team's gutsy display.

Frustration for dominant Brighton

Brighton have now won only one of their past 12 Premier League matches, with their most recent home league triumph coming against Arsenal on 20 July.

Having failed to beat fellow strugglers Fulham at Craven Cottage in midweek, this was an opportunity for Graham Potter's side to give themselves breathing space above the bottom three before a difficult run of fixtures over the festive period.

In front of 2,000 spectators at Amex Stadium, Brighton dominated possession from the outset and went close to taking an early lead when Lewis Dunk rose highest to head Trossard's corner on to the roof of the net.

Connolly also tested Blades goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a low shot, before Chris Basham and Ethan Ampadu thwarted Maupay twice in quick succession.

There was little change to the pattern of play after the restart as Trossard scuffed a low shot wide of the far post and George Baldock produced a fine block to deny Solly March.

Connolly should have cancelled out Bogle's opener when he headed Jahanbakhsh's delivery over the bar from point-blank range, but Welbeck lashed home a deserved equaliser after controlling Basham's attempted clearance with his chest.

Welbeck and Jahanbakhsh both spurned glorious opportunities to earn Potter's charges a crucial victory in added time, but the Seagulls had to settle for a draw.

After travelling to in-form West Ham next Sunday, Brighton face back-to-back home games against Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers before hosting Manchester City.

More to follow.

Player of the match

WelbeckDanny Welbeck

with an average of 6.99

BrightonBrighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove AlbionSheff UtdSheffield UnitedSheffield United

Brighton & Hove AlbionAvgSquad number18Player nameWelbeckAverage rating

6.99

Squad number26Player nameSánchezAverage rating

5.83

Squad number8Player nameBissoumaAverage rating

5.60

Squad number14Player nameLallanaAverage rating

5.50

Squad number3Player nameWhiteAverage rating

5.47

Squad number20Player nameMarchAverage rating

5.32

Squad number5Player nameDunkAverage rating

5.15

Squad number4Player nameWebsterAverage rating

5.15

Squad number29Player nameZeqiriAverage rating

5.12

Squad number11Player nameTrossardAverage rating

5.05

Squad number34Player nameVeltmanAverage rating

4.96

Squad number16Player nameJahanbakhshAverage rating

4.88

Squad number7Player nameConnollyAverage rating

4.48

Squad number9Player nameMaupayAverage rating

4.39

Sheffield UnitedAvgSquad number20Player nameBogleAverage rating

6.56

Squad number17Player nameMcGoldrickAverage rating

6.29

Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating

5.99

Squad number6Player nameBashamAverage rating

5.95

Squad number14Player nameBurkeAverage rating

5.94

Squad number12Player nameEganAverage rating

5.85

Squad number2Player nameBaldockAverage rating

5.72

Squad number22Player nameAmpaduAverage rating

5.66

Squad number23Player nameOsbornAverage rating

5.62

Squad number3Player nameStevensAverage rating

5.47

Squad number19Player nameRobinsonAverage rating

5.32

Squad number24Player nameBrewsterAverage rating

5.12

Squad number4Player nameFleckAverage rating

4.45

Squad number7Player nameLundstramAverage rating

3.56

Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsBrighton

26Sánchez3WhiteSubstituted forZeqiriat 72'minutes5DunkBooked at 33mins4Webster34VeltmanSubstituted forJahanbakhshat 45'minutes8Bissouma14Lallana20March11Trossard9MaupaySubstituted forWelbeckat 66'minutes7Connolly

Substitutes

10Mac Allister13Groß16Jahanbakhsh17Alzate18Welbeck23Steele29Zeqiri33Burn49Molumby

Sheff Utd

1RamsdaleBooked at 90mins2Baldock6BashamBooked at 90mins12Egan19Robinson3Stevens7LundstramBooked at 40mins22Ampadu4FleckSubstituted forBurkeat 33'minutesBooked at 88mins24BrewsterSubstituted forBogleat 54'minutes17McGoldrickBooked at 70minsSubstituted forOsbornat 70'minutesBooked at 86mins

Substitutes

10Sharp11Mousset13Lowe14Burke15Jagielka16Norwood20Bogle21Verrips23Osborn

Referee:Peter BankesMatch StatsHome TeamBrightonAway TeamSheff UtdPossessionHome73%Away27%ShotsHome21Away5Shots on TargetHome5Away3CornersHome14Away2FoulsHome9Away11Live TextPost update

Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Sheffield United 1.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Sheffield United 1.

90'+5'Post update

Attempt blocked. Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lewis Dunk with a headed pass.

90'+5'Post update

Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by George Baldock.

90'+5'Post update

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Brighton and Hove Albion) hits the bar with a header from the right side of the six yard box.

90'+5'Post update

Attempt blocked. Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Lallana with a cross.

90'+3'Booking

Chris Basham (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90'+3'Post update

Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Chris Basham (Sheffield United).

90'+3'Post update

Robert Sánchez (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Danny Welbeck (Brighton and Hove Albion).

90'+2'Post update

Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90'+1'Post update

Foul by Solly March (Brighton and Hove Albion).

90'+1'Post update

Ben Osborn (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

90'Booking

Aaron Ramsdale (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.

90'Post update

Attempt missed. Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Aaron Connolly.

89'Post update

Foul by Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion).

89'Post update

George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

88'Booking

Oliver Burke (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

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Source: bbc.com