Callum O’Hare goal gives Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United a first win of season

Sheffield United secured their first Sky Bet Championship points of the season as Callum O’Hare scored the only goal in a 1-0 win at Oxford.

Last season’s beaten play-off finalists had started the season with six consecutive defeats, a run of which saw new manager Ruben Selles replaced by Chris Wilder.

Despite earning a first victory since May 12, the Blades remain rooted to the bottom of the table, two points behind city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

United had scored just one goal in their six Championship outings so far this season but O’Hare made the decisive breakthrough in the 65th minute against an Oxford side who themselves had one just one game so far.

The goal was made by on-loan winger Chiedozie Ogbene, who beat Jack Currie to the byline and picked out O’Hare in the centre of the box.

The former Coventry midfielder took a composed touch before firing into the bottom corner, giving goalkeeper Jamie Cumming no chance.

Wilder had made two changes to the side that lost to Charlton last time out, handing a debut to Ben Mee in place of Ben Godfrey, while Alex Matos was replaced by Djibril Soumare.

Tyrese Campbell could have opened the scoring for the Blades, but saw his shot fly agonisingly wide after he was played in by Gus Hamer.

Oxford were on the back of a positive run of form that had seen them take five points from their last three games, including Sunday’s 3-1 victory at Bristol City.

Michael Helik saw an early chance blocked by the visiting defence, before on-loan Spurs forward Will Lankshear headed wide.

Brian De Keersmaecker was next to go close from the edge of the box, but his effort was saved by Blades’ keeper Michael Cooper.

United coped better with the Oxford threat in the second half, limiting the hosts to just four shots, while securing their much-needed winner.

Nonetheless, there was a late scare for Wilder’s men when Greg Leigh hit the post seconds after coming off the bench.

The hosts continued to push and it was Leigh who had another late chance to salvage a point when he headed wide from De Keersmaecker’s corner.

Stan Mills’ ball in was met by Sam Long, who also headed wide, as the Blades held on for the first win and first clean sheet of the season.