Oli McBurnie netted a last-minute equalizer for Sheffield United, dealing a blow to Chelsea’s European football aspirations. Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who were in ninth place, failed to build on their recent victory over Manchester United.
Despite Noni Madueke’s goal for Chelsea, McBurnie’s strike in the 93rd minute secured a point for the struggling Blades. The match saw Thiago Silva and Jayden Bogle score for their respective teams, with Sheffield United showing resilience in front of their home crowd. The result leaves Sheffield United at the bottom of the table, facing a tough battle to avoid relegation.
Chelsea’s recent matches have been filled with excitement. The team’s impressive 4-3 victory at Stamford Bridge on Thursday made them the first top-flight club since 1989 to score and concede at least two goals in six consecutive games across all competitions.
Unfortunately, their streak continued in their seventh match as they were unable to secure all three points.
Despite a somewhat inconsistent first season under Pochettino, Chelsea still have hopes of qualifying for European football. With eight games remaining, they sit in sixth place, five points behind Manchester United who have played an additional game.
A significant factor in their position is the outstanding performance of Cole Palmer. Since his £42.5m transfer from Manchester City last summer, the 21-year-old has been a standout player for Chelsea. He recently scored a hat-trick and provided an assist for Madueke, bringing his total goal involvements for the season to 34 in 40 games across all competitions, with 25 of those coming from 27 league appearances.
Once again, Palmer played a crucial role in Chelsea’s attacking play, driving forward, creating opportunities, and coming close to scoring when Grbic saved his powerful shot. Given the team’s defensive struggles, his contribution to their pursuit of European qualification cannot be overstated.