As it happened: Sheffield United 0-2 Southampton FC in the Premier League

Thanks for joining me for this live text commentary of Sheffield United vs Southampton.

I've been Josh Chapman, and I'll see you next time!

Credit: Premier League

It's all over at Bramall Lane and Southampton have won their first Premier League game since January 4th as they win 2-0.

James Ward-Prowse's first half penalty and a cracker from Che Adams seals three points for the Saints and keeps them in 14th.

Meanwhile, the Blades stay bottom.

Into added time here!

John Fleck goes into the book after a late challenge on Che Adams.

Saints players aren't happy and immediately crowd round the referee and there's some pushing and shoving.

Looks like Vestergaard and McBurnie have also been shown a yellow card for their troubles.

Moussa Djenepo replaces Takumi Minamino late on here.

Straight down the other end and Minamino has a great chance to make it three, but he overplays it and decides to pass instead of shoot, which is cut out by Kean Bryan.

That just about sums up Sheffield United. Lys Mousset gets into a great position, as free as a bird, down the right. All he needs to do is smash one hard and low across the face of goal, instead he blazes one at mid-height and near no one.

Lack of quality haunting the Blades yet again.

Corner to the Blades as Bednarek clears behind...

McBurnie rises highest and gets his effort on target but Forster catches.

Just wide from Armstrong. He cuts in from the left and just keeps on going. He pulls his shot back across goal and it goes just wide.

And almost instantly makes an impact. Redmond breaks down the right, has a go, but Ramsdale is equal to it. Minamino has a go on the volley from the resulting corner, but the Blades clear away.

Nathan Remond replaces Nathan Tella with 15 minutes to go.

Corner for the Blades...

Straight down the throat of Forster again.

Aaron Ramsdale makes a good save from Che Adams to keep the score down.

Stuart Armstrong goes into the book after a poor challenge on John Lundstram.

Amongst all the excitement, Billy Sharp has replaced Rhian Brewster.

Wow what a chance for 3-0. Ryan Bertrand pulls it back to Minamino, and somehow the Japanese international puts it wide!

Jayden Bogle peels off his man and gets a volley on an Enda Stevens cross, but it's wide.

My last comment just reminded me that I hadn't posted about Lys Mousset replacing David McGoldrick.

Nathan Tella goes into the book after a strong challenge.

Enda Stevens sees a header go wide as John Lundstram whips a good ball into the back post area.

Blades corner as Bogle advances...

Blades try and recycle but Lundstram can't keep it in. Goal kick.

Che Adams with an absolute net-buster! Blades fail to clear their lines, Stuart Armstrong nods down, and Adams lets rip on the half volley leaving Ramsdale with no chance.

Blades corner down the left...

Straight down the throat of Forster.

And we're underway!

Oli McBurnie comes on to replace Oli Norwood.

Chris Wilder going for it!

Right, I've had my half time crisps, and I'm ready for the second half. 

Stick with me here on VAVEL.

Saints lead at the break through James Ward-Prowse's effort from 12 yards.

Big second half needed from the Blades if they want to get back into this game.

Massive chance for an equaliser. Brewster latches onto a loose ball from Diallo, he threads David McGoldrick through, but his chipped effort is catching practice for Fraser Forster.

Fourth Official lifts up the board and two minutes will be added on at the end of the first half.

Blades want a penalty as Jayden Bogle goes down in a clash with James Ward-Prowse, but a goal kick is given. VAR agree.

Great save from Fraser Forster to deny David McGoldrick an equaliser. Fleck with a great first time ball in, McGoldrick hooked a foot at it, and Fraser palmed away.

Sian Massey-Ellis put her flag up, but it would've been a veeeery close one...

Tella has a go from distance but it's comfortable for Ramsdale.

Ward-Prowse whips the resulting free kick in with pace, but the Blades clear.

Jayden Bogle goes into the book as he brings down Nathan Tella down the Saints' left.

Free kick for the Blades...

And what a massive chance that is! John Fleck whips one into the danger zone, Kean Bryan peels away, heads into the turf but it bounces over the bar.

Looks like he would've been offside though...

James Ward-Prowse steps up and smashes into the corner, sending Ramsdale the wrong way.

1-0 Saints!

PENALTY TO SOUTHAMPTON!

Ethan Ampadu brings down Nathan Tella in the area, and a yellow card is shown.

Corner to the Saints...

The ball falls to Minamino on the edge of the area, but he drags his effort well wide.

Half chance for Southampton. Enda Stevens hooks a leg out and the ball drops to Nathan Tella 20 yards out, but his snapshot goes well high and wide.

Another Blades corner after nice build up play down the left...

Paul Tierney blows for a foul on Fraser Forster.

Che Adams looks to get in behind after a long ball over the top from Ward-Prowse, but the lino has his flag up.

McGoldrick looks to play Brewster through as the Blades counter, but his pass was misplaced and it's a good opportunity squandered.

Corner for the Blades as Ward-Prowse takes off the toe end of Stevens...

Ends up going out for a Southampton throw in on the far side.

As expected, Ings makes way and is replaced by former Blade Che Adams.

Danny Ings currently down on the deck after pulling up. Looks like a groin injury. Not looking good...

Substitution just signalled from one of the medical team.

Yet another free kick in the same area for Saints after Tella goes down under pressure from Bogle.

Bertrand again takes but it evades everyone and eventually goes out for a Sheffield United throw.

Corner to the Blades after Brewster's low cross is cleared behind by Bednarek...

Norwood whips it in, the Blades are appealing for another after it looks like it comes off Ward-Prowse, but referee Paul Tierney says goal kick.

Southampton get another free kick in a very similar position after Ampadu fouls Tella...

Ward-Prowse on duty this time, but he whips one wide of Aaron Ramsdale's near post.

Free kick to Southampton on the left...

Bertrand floats in, Minamino flicks is back in, but the Blades clear.

In a slight change to the billing, it actually seems like George Baldock has moved across into RCB. Ampadu is playing CB, and Bryan LCB.

Bogle (RWB) and Stevens (LWB) are the two wide players.

Stuart Armstrong with the afternoon's first attempt but Ethan Ampadu blocks. Certainly felt the full force of that effort - he remained down for a moment, but back up now.

We're underway here!

We're ready for kick off in the 3pm Premier League game at Bramall Lane!

I'm with you for the next 90 minutes as it all happens.

Less than 10 minutes go before kick off! Stick with us here on VAVEL for live text commentary and all the big moments as they happen.

"What sort of interview is this!? Have you seen the league table? We've not exactly been ripping it up!"

Chris Wilder was on 𝙩𝙤𝙥 form ahead of Sheffield United's clash with Southampton! 😂 pic.twitter.com/uvu7BPr7Vj — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 6, 2021

Less than 30 minutes until kick off at Bramall Lane.

Remember, I'll cover all the action right here on VAVEL so stay tuned for live text commentary from 15:00 GMT.

Better news for Saints as they have Minamino, Walker-Peters and Diallo back in the starting 11. Ralph Hassenhuttl will be glad to relieve the pressure of his selection headache.

Chris Wilder is stricken with injuries and a suspension in his defensive ranks. The reserve three CBs were already playing against Villa and after Jagielka got sent off, Wilder is now on his reserve reserve CB trio of Ampadu, Bryan and Stevens.

🔙 @KWPeters
🔙 @takumina0116
🔙 Ibrahima Diallo

Here's today's #SaintsFC team for the visit to #SUFC: pic.twitter.com/B7sTN1JueJ — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 6, 2021

One change for the Blades. 🔁

Jayden Bogle replaces the suspended Phil Jagielka.#SHUSOU 🔜 pic.twitter.com/EtPm8dHlAH — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 6, 2021

Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/gpaaeiDztf — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 6, 2021

The Saints have only scored two away goals in the Premier League since the 17th December. Both of those came in a 3-2 defeat at St James' Park and Newcastle United.

They have played seven Premier League games in that time.

The Blades have really struggled to score goals this season. David McGoldrick's winning goal on Wednesday was the first league goal Sheffield United had scored since the 7th February, when they lost 2-1 against Chelsea.

They have scored the fewest goals in the Premier League this season (16).

"3 o'clock kick off on a Saturday, a lot better." 😅

Morning, @OsbornOn1. 👋 pic.twitter.com/9zv9DiGLEn — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 6, 2021

Less than two hours to go until kick off at Bramall Lane for the Premier League's 3pm game.

I'll bring you confirmed starting XIs from 2pm GMT and build up as it happens.

Congratulations, boss 👏

Today marks Ralph Hasenhüttl’s 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th game as #SaintsFC manager! 😇 pic.twitter.com/o3rIkqhNPY — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) March 6, 2021

Sheffield United: WLLLL

Southampton: LLDLL

The last time these two sides met was in front of fans as a few thousand Saints fans cheered from the stands. At the time, Saints were flying high and ended the weekend only two points off the summit of the Premier League table.

Former Blade Che Adams opened the scoring shortly after half an hour. Jan Bednarek flicked a header on from a free kick and Adams somehow squeezed the ball past John Egan and Aaron Ramsdale at the near post.

Stuart Armstrong made it 2-0 just after the hour when his effort from the edge of the 18-yard box was deflected by Phil Jagielka and into the bottom corner, completely wrong-footing Ramsdale.

Nathan Redmond topped off a dominant display late on when he powered into the box following a neat one-two before placing accurately into the far corner.

 

It’s matchday at Bramall Lane. 💪

COME ON YOU BLADES!💥 pic.twitter.com/kDA57NvEOK — Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 6, 2021

Tomorrow's game will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.

Main Event will have crowd noise, and PL will have actuality sound.

Alternatively, you can keep tabs on all the action in this VAVEL live stream!

"It just shows you how difficult the division is. We talked about their start last season and how they recovered and had a fabulous middle and end of the season, and finished with real momentum.

"They started this season on the front foot and were top for a small period of time. Obvious quality but sometimes when you lose a bit of momentum, lose some key players, and some results don't go for you, then this is what can happen.

"They've got a talented manager and a lot of good players and they're an established Premier League club."

"Look at their game on Wednesday against Aston Villa. To win at home with one man down with 30 minutes tells you everything about how tough it will be.

"Every Premier League game is difficult and this is the reason why we are very aware of what we have to expect there and the player's accept this and they'll fight for the win."

McCarthy; Bednarek, Vestergaard, Salisu, Bertrand; Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Tella; Ings, Adams

(4-4-2)

Ramsdale; Baldock, Ampadu, Bryan, Stevens, Osborn; Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, McGoldrick, Burke

(5-3-2)

Things are starting to look up for Ralph Hasenhüttl and his men, as Kyle Walker-Peters, Ibrahima Diallo and Takumi Minamino all returned to training this week.

While Theo Walcott remains sidelined, the Saints boss hopes he will return to the side after the international break.

The Blades still have a number of players out due to injury and will be hampered even further after Phil Jagielka was controversially sent off against Villa.

Chris Wilder confirmed that Saturday's game will come too soon for both Jayden Bogle and Chris Basham.

John Egan, Jack O'Connell, Sander Berge and Jack Robinson continue to miss out through longer-term injuries.

Southampton haven't won a game in the Premier League since they beat Liverpool 1-0 at home back in early January. In fact, they've lost eight of their last nine league fixtures and sit rock bottom of the form table.

Whilst there's a number of teams stronger favourites to get sucked into a potential relegation battle, they'll be looking to pick up more points sooner rather than later.

Sheffield United need a miracle to get out of what looks like certain relegation to the Championship. However, Wednesday night's 1-0 win against Aston Villa gave the Blades, what could be, a vital three points in the unlikely charge for Premier League survival.

Can they record their 5th win of the season against an out-of-form Saints?

Tomorrow's game will kick off at 15:00 GMT from Bramall Lane, Sheffield.

Welcome to VAVEL UK's LIVE coverage of the 2020/21 Premier League match: Sheffield United vs Southampton FC!

My name is Josh Chapman and I'll be your host for this game. I will provide you with pre-game analysis, roster updates and news as it happens live here on VAVEL.com.