Sheffield United have been beaten 14 times in the Premier League this season and of all the ways they have contrived to lose they cannot have lost with ignominy like this, plumbing the depths as they crashed at home to Luton Town.
With two own goals inside four minutes to transform victory into defeat in the closing minutes of a frantic relegation tussle, marred by allegations of racist abuse from a section of the home crowd at Carlton Morris.
It had been Morris who turned the game back in Luton’s favour when he came off the bench to force the own goals from two crosses, the first headed in by centre-half Jack Robinson and the second diverted in off one of Anis Slimane’s knees.
Then, deep in stoppage time, Morris heard something said from the crowd and reported it to referee Sam Allison, on the day he became the first black referee in charge of a Premier League since Uriah Rennie, back in 2008.
‘There was an alleged racist comment and the police are dealing with that,’ said Luton boss Rob Edwards afterwards. ‘They have spoken to Carlton and got his take on it, so it is with them now. I have no more comment on it. He is alright, he was pretty angry at the time.’
Luton secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day
Alfie Doughty had put the visitors ahead when his effort squirmed in at the near post
Oli McBurnie turned the screw for Sheffield United as he equalised early in the second half
Anel Ahmedhodzic then completed an eight-minute turnaround as he put the Blades 2-1 up
Blades boss Chris Wilder was not impressed. ‘Obviously, not great if that’s found to be the case,’ said Wilder.
Sheffield United had fought back from a goal down at half time to lead thanks to goals from Oli McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic before the the game swung back towards Luton in bizarre fashion.
‘Chucked it away,’ fumed Wilder. ‘Terrible goals from our point of view. No disrespect to Luton. We know about their spirit. The club is built on that, and so are we in a way. It’s to do with our attitude to defending. It cost us at Aston Villa and it cost us again.’
This was the fifth game of Wilder’s second coming at Bramall Lane and he shelved his usual back three and wingbacks for a 442 shape with creative forces James McAtee and Gustavo Hamer out wide.
But Hamer didn’t take naturally to his defensive responsibilities, leaving Alfie Doughty the space to cause the home side early problems and his goal gave the visitors a first-half lead.
Doughty collected a pass from Sambi Lokonga, eased by Hamer and, as Auston Trusty stood back, keen to cut out cross, went for goal. Wes Foderingham should have saved at his near post but the shot went through his legs and into the net.
The Blades improved. Thomas Kaminiski made his first save of the game after half an hour, springing to his left to push out a free-kick by Hamer and Trusty hit the bar with a header from a corner just before the interval.
Wilder abandoned his 442 experiment and reverted to wingbacks at half time, sending on Max Lowe to replace Andre Brooks and relieving Hamer of his trouble with Doughty. Instantly, Sheffield United found a better rhythm and a quicker tempo.
The Bosnian’s goal sent Bramall Lane into bedlam after he seized on a goalmouth scramble
It looked as it the Hatters had thrown away a promising position after the quick turnaround
But, they equalised when Jack Robinson headed past Wes Foderingham and into his own net
Anis Slimane then deflected Carlton Morris’ cross past Foderingham for another own goal
Teden Mengi almost sliced a cross from George Baldock into his own net and they carved out a good chance for Lowe, blocked by Lokonga, before McBurnie levelled with his third of the season. At least the centre forward now has more goals than red cards.
This one owed much to McAtee, who took a flick from Cameron Archer and drove into the penalty area, a run abruptly ended by a sliding challenge by Lokonga. Most of the capacity crowd at Bramall Lane called for a penalty but McAtee was alert to the opportunity. While on the floor, he made a pass to McBurnie and he beat keeper Kaminiski.
Eight minutes later the Blades were ahead, with a smart finish by Ahmedhodzic to complete an untidy scramble when Doughty failed to clear. Lokonga and Mengi fought desperately on the goal line to keep Archer out but could do nothing once the ball spilled to Ahmedhodzic and he guided it into the opposite side of the net.
Luton boss Edwards turned to Morris, top scorer last season but displaced in recent weeks by Elijah Adebayo’s good form. Morris forced the two own goals. First, it was his cross from the right headed in by Robinson as he tussled with Gabriel Osho.
The his ball into the box from the left which clipped Slimane on a knee as he chased back and looped inside the far post.
“A crazy day,” said Luton’s Andros Townsend, as he tried to sum up another win, a second in four days since the trauma of captain Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest. Those six points have hauled Luton closer to the pack, including Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Sheffield United however are marooned at the bottom, halfway through their 38 games without only nine points and it gets no easier. They go to Manchester City on Saturday with any uplift of the Wilder return and the unexpected point at Aston Villa gone.
Sam Allison became the first black referee in the Premier League for 15 years – and second ever
It was a big result for Rob Edwards’ side, while Chris Wilder’s outfit are seven points off safety
