Sheffield United cruise to New Year’s Day victory over Leicester

Sheffield United continued their strong run of form at home as they beat Leicester 3-1 on New Year’s Day at Bramall Lane.

Goals from Japhet Tanganga, Tom Cannon and Callum O’Hare were enough to give the Blades a very comfortable win following a brilliant performance.

Leicester had very little going forward all evening and are now 19 games without a clean sheet in the Championship.

The first half was totally dominated by the hosts, with Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks getting a lot of joy down the right hand side.

First, Brooks’ cross was met by Patrick Bamford but his volley was comfortably saved. Brooks linked up with Bamford once more but Jakub Stolarczyk was there to stop him.

Sam McCallum’s cross was teasing and O’Hare very nearly got his head to it but he could not quite stretch far enough.

The hosts took the lead in the 36th minute. McCallum’s corner from the right was met by captain Tanganga and his header flew straight past keeper Stolarczyk, as he became the latest Blades defender to get his first goal for the club from a corner.

Brooks finally got the reward his good play deserved when he assisted Cannon in the 52nd minute. He burst down the right and set up the striker perfectly, who now has two goals against former clubs in his last two games.

Leicester finally started to make some progress in United’s half around the hour mark; first Ben Nelson’s shot flew just over the bar and then Abdul Fatawu curled an effort from range just wide.

At the other end, Djibril Soumare curled an effort from distance just wide.

Seriki also deserved an assist and he got one, running to the touchline and squaring to O’Hare, who was there to tap in and make the points safe in the 88th minute.

The visitors did manage to grab a consolation goal two minutes into added time; Jordan James’ deflected effort from distance finding its way past keeper Michael Cooper and into the bottom corner.