Patrick Bamford scored a second-half brace as Sheffield United claimed a 2-0 Championship victory over Watford on an afternoon when both sides had it confirmed that they were safe from relegation this season.
The striker’s sharpness in front of goal made the difference and lifted Chris Wilder’s side above their opponents in the bright spring sunshine at Vicarage Road.
Defeats for Oxford and Leicester in the early kick-offs confirmed the Blades’ Championship status for another campaign, one which will not be accompanied by Premier League income levels or parachute payments for the first time in seven seasons.
As the teams walked onto the pitch, a play-off place was still mathematically possible for Watford, although that required the unlikeliest combination of results, both theirs and those of others.
As befitting a game with little riding on it, there was a distinct end-of-season feel to the opening exhanges.
The visitors did at least manager two efforts on target, albeit with a tame Andre Brooks shot held by Egil Selvik before the Watford goalkeeper did the same to a flicked Bamford header.
Brooks then pierced the home defence with a through ball to Bamford, whose shot was arrowing towards the far bottom corner before Selvik threw out his leg to divert it for a corner.
Watford’s only threat early on was a Nampalys Mendy shot that curled away from goal and ended up closer to the corner flag than their opponents’ net.
The clearest opportunity of the half arrived in stoppage-time. Imran Louza sent over an inviting cross that was headed down by Nestory Irankunda into the path of Edo Kayembe, just eight yards from goal.
The Watford midfielder snatched at his effort though and launched the ball high over the crossbar.
Within 25 seconds of the restart, Mamadou Doumbia tested the reflexes of visiting goalkeeper Adam Davies at his near post.
That miss was punished in the 50th minute when Bamford played the ball to Gustavo Hamer and collected the return pass with a sweep of his left foot that looked a little inadvertent.
There was no doubt about the intention nor the technical brilliance when Bamford made it 2-0 – nine minutes later – with a flick that bordered on genius to convert a Femi Seriki cross.
Irankunda almost reduced Watford’s deficit in the 81st minute with a viciously-dipping free-kick that landed on the roof on the net.
The managers
Watford’s Ed Still:
To follow…
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:
To follow…
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