Sheffield United produce the shock of the Premier League season by beating Manchester United

Chris Wilder’s United stunned title-chasing Manchester United as substitute Olivier Burke secured the rock-bottom Yorkshire side just their second Premier League win of a wretched season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men were riding the crest of a wave after Sunday’s FA Cup win against Liverpool, only to be brought crashing down to earth on a night when many expected them to go back top of the league.

Ex-Manchester City youth prospect Kean Bryan gave the visitors a shock lead that former Blades defender Harry Maguire cancelled out, only for Burke’s heavily-deflected strike to seal the visitors a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

Even in such an unpredictable season, few could have foreseen this result.

The Blades had just five points to show from their first 19 games – the worst haul in Premier League history – and had not beaten the Red Devils since 1993, with their previous Old Trafford victory coming in 1973.

Kean got them off the mark from a corner as Billy Sharp’s push on David De Gea went unpunished midway through a first half in which Anthony Martial saw an equaliser ruled out.

The ineffective hosts eventually clawed one back through Maguire’s header from a corner, but Solskjaer’s traditional comeback kings faltered in embarrassing fashion.

Sheffield United capitalised on some atrocious defending and Burke saw his effort rifle in off Axel Tuanzebe, sealing just a fourth win of the season in all competitions for his side.

Following his winner at Old Trafford, Burke said: “It is an amazing feeling.

“I am chuffed for the boys who put in a great shift.

“Hopefully we can take this result into our next games. It will give us massive confidence.

“We showed great courage, and great determination to get back into the game and to get the three points is brilliant.”

On his 74th-minute strike, he added: “It took me two attempts, but it was an amazing feeling when it hit the back of the net.”

The home side’s first league loss since November 1 was a shock to the system on a night that started with Marcus Rashford firing low and just wide.

But it soon became clear that while they were dominating possession, they were passive with the ball against the compact Blades. Sharp appeared to barge into De Gea as the goalkeeper looked to deal with a John Fleck corner, but Bryan reached it instead and headed it in off the far post.

After Maguire’s equaliser, Manchester United looked to be building momentum, the Blades caught them napping at the back.

Inexplicably bad defending from the hosts ended with John Lundstram cutting back for Burke, whose strike hit Tuanzebe and went in off the underside of the bar.

A Telles effort from distance looped just over Aaron Ramsdale’s goal as the hosts looked for another leveller, but the Blades dealt with their largely aimless attempts to find the net as Wilder’s side kept their cool and held on for a famous shock win, one that suddenly renews their survival hopes.

Manchester United: de Gea, Wan Bissaka, Tuanzebe (van de Beek 83), Maguire, Alex Telles (Shaw 82), Pogba, Matic, Greenwood (Cavani 66), Bruno Fernandes, Rashford, Martial. Unused substitutes: Lindelof, Mata, Fred, James, Henderson, McTominay.

Sheff United: Ramsdale, Basham, Jagielka, Ampadu, Baldock, Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck, Bryan (Bogle 53), McGoldrick (Brewster 80), Sharp (Burke 70). Unused substitutes: Mousset, Lowe, Foderingham.

Referee: P Bankes (Merseyside).

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