Sheffield United 1-4 Burnley: Visitors boost survival hopes with emphatic win over relegation rivals

Burnley gave their Premier League survival hopes a huge boost with a vital victory to push Sheffield United further towards relegation.

The Clarets were second for much of the first half, with Arijanet Muric making crucial saves to keep his side in the contest, before scoring twice in the space of three minutes.

Loanee Jacob Bruun Larsen opened the scoring in the 38th minute when his scuffed volley was deflected and wrong-footed goalkeeper Ivo Grbic dribbled at the near post.

On the next attack, Burnley doubled their advantage through full-back Lorenz Assignon who slipped through and scored via Grbic’s outstretched leg and the crossbar.

Muric produced an outstanding save to deny James McAtee’s strike which was intended for the top corner, but he could do nothing for Gustavo Hamer to cut inside and curl in a sumptuous finish to give the hosts hope. Sheffield United.

But the visitors restored their two-goal advantage after Lyle Foster’s first time from an Assignon cross and substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson added a delicious fourth for a resounding triumph.

A tale of two goalkeepers

Burnley won the reverse fixture 5-0 in December, sounding the death knell for Paul Heckingbottom’s tenure as Sheffield United manager, and this damaging defeat looks set to be their demise in the top flight.

Both teams crashed out of the Championship last season and Kompany described the jump to the Premier League as “the biggest in world football”, but his side gave themselves a chance to preserve their status with four matches remaining.

It was only their second win in the last 16 league matches and they will be watching Sunday’s game at Goodison Park closely as an Everton victory will keep Burnley in touch with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.

But the story could have been very different at Bramall Lane had the hosts not come up against an inspired Muric, who made amends after costly errors in the last two games against Brighton and the Toffees.

The Kosovo international stayed tall to make a crucial save to deny Oli McBurnie at close range early on and he made a fingertip save from the home striker’s thudding strike.

The Burnley stopper also denied Brereton Diaz on several occasions, a header, a one-on-one and a low shot towards the near post.

Sheffield United missed their chances and were made to pay – Grbic did not cover himself in glory as he was slow to react to Larsen’s goal and Assignon’s shot bounced over, but he could do nothing against cool finishing from Foster and Gudmundsson.

The away team should have created an even better scoreline, but Josh Brownhill’s long-range effort sailed wide while Gudmundsson hit the post with a well-struck volley.