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rentford secured their first victory in 10 Premier League matches and alleviated their relegation concerns by defeating Sheffield United.
A stroke of misfortune for Blades’ youngster Oliver Arblaster just after the hour mark saw Thomas Frank’s side take the lead, as he inadvertently redirected Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross into the far corner of the net.
Substitute Frank Onyeka sealed the victory in stoppage time, propelling the Bees to 14th place and establishing a seven-point buffer from the relegation zone.
In contrast, Sheffield United remains rooted to the bottom of the table, edging closer to an immediate return to the Championship with a 10-point gap from safety and six games remaining.
The visitors made a promising start, with Ben Brereton Diaz breaking free down the left, only to scuff his shot when faced with Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Although Brentford asserted control and dominated possession, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Neal Maupay squandered their best chance of the first half, stabbing wide after United defender Anel Ahmedhodzic conceded possession inside his own half.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Mathias Jorgensen having a goal disallowed for offside just moments before Brentford’s fortuitous opener.
Damsgaard appeared to have doubled the lead, but VAR intervened to disallow his crisp volley from Bryan Mbeumo’s free-kick due to a foul on Oli McBurnie in the build-up.
Despite the Blades’ efforts to find an equalizer, Cameron Archer’s errant shot from a tight angle was the closest they came before Onyeka capitalized on Kevin Schade’s flick-on to seal the victory for Brentford.
Brentford close in on top-flight survival
Brentford’s third season in the Premier League has surely been their toughest but with five games to go, they can begin to plan for a fourth year in the top flight with that bit more confidence.
The celebrations that followed a first home win since 20 January certainly suggested as much with Frank and his players soaking up the applause of a satisfied home support at the Gtech.
“This has definitely been the most challenging season,” Frank told BBC Match of the Day. “Injuries, actually performing quite good, Ivan’s been banned… all of that.
“It’s been tough but it just reminds you why it is the best league in the world. It’s so difficult.”
This was not a game to elicit much excitement from the neutrals but it wasn’t for them. With both sides battling to stay up, the result was all that mattered – and Brentford got it.
That it came after a match that could only generously be said to have provided sporadic glimpses of quality will not bother anyone of a Brentford persuasion.
“It was not a final but this is so important. Today was not through the roof but I think it was a good performance,” Frank added.
As was the case for the entirety of the first half of the season, it was achieved without Ivan Toney as the England striker started on the bench again – and remained there – as he continues to manage a muscle injury.
While he has struggled for goals in recent games, Toney’s ability to occupy defenders, hold up the ball and bring others into play would have been useful for Brentford as they tried to break Sheffield United down in the first hour.
But they got there eventually and one more win, possibly alongside another draw, should make absolutely sure of the Bees’ safety.
Blades fight hard but relegation looms
Despite some encouraging signs for Wilder’s team in recent weeks, it is now eight games without a win and just one win in 16 league matches.
“This was a tight, cagey affair. We just didn’t find that quality when we needed to,” Wilder told Match of the Day.
“I’m a little bit disappointed from a quality point of view. We didn’t show enough quality and enough big moments that settle these type of games.”
Relegation has seemed inevitable rather than speculative, and if outcomes turn against them, confirmation could arrive as early as next Wednesday (April 24) at Manchester United.
Similar to recent matches against Bournemouth, Fulham, Chelsea, and even Liverpool’s defeat, Sheffield United displayed ample grit and determination. Despite this, defensively, they showed significant improvement, managing to stifle Brentford’s attacks for extended periods.
However, despite their efforts, it proved insufficient. Nevertheless, the resurgence in competitiveness, which was lacking at times earlier in the season, provides a glimmer of hope for Wilder to hold onto.
While it may not be substantial, and barring a remarkable twist of fate, it may not suffice to secure their place in the Premier League, the Blades seem to have taken a positive turn.