Dhanda scores with first touch in league football to give Swansea win at Sheffield United
Swansea City came from behind to beat Sheffield United 2-1 in manager Graham Potter’s first game in charge.
Their comeback was capped when summer signing Yan Dhanda swept home Jefferson Montero’s cross with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute.
Striker Oli McBurnie equalised when he smashed home a rebound after a fine save from Dean Henderson on 71 minute.
The Blades had led after 62 minutes when George Baldock fired home after defender Enda Stevens’ cross.
Predict the final 2018-19 Championship table[1]
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The Swans, in their first game back in the Championship following their Premier League relegation, had earlier threatened a winner when debutant Barrie McKay rattled the crossbar with a volley.
Both new Swansea manager Potter and Blades boss Chris Wilder named three new faces in their starting XIs.
Swedish striker Joel Asoro, 19, signed from Sunderland, ex-Nottingham Forest wing McKay, and Kosovan Bersant Celina, signed from Manchester City, all started for the Swans behind striker McBurnie.
For the hosts, goalkeeper Henderson, on loan from Manchester United, former Brentford centre-back John Egan and striker David McGoldrick all started, but Wales wing Ben Woodburn, signed on loan from Liverpool, had to settle for a place on the bench.
However, it was another youngster signed from Liverpool, Dhanda, who stole the headlines with his late winner that made it a dream start for Potter in a match that had been slipping away from them.
The Blades had began the brighter and should have taken the lead after 20 minutes when Lee Evans’ curling effort just evaded the far post.
Swansea were cautious and looking to hit the hosts on the break but rarely threatened, before improving their tempo after half time.
They were a little unlucky to trail after Baldock’s goal and had almost levelled through a Jay Fulton header, acrobatically saved by Henderson, before McBurnie’s equaliser.
McBurnie was proving difficult to contain and saw a splendid header drift just wide with Henderson beaten before McKay’s thunderous volley struck the crossbar as he capped a fine display.
The introduction of substitute Montero, however, proved the real difference as he terrorised the Blades defence time and again before teeing up the winner.
His fine cross was controlled by McKay, who found Dhanda despite being fouled and the teenager fired home with his first touch in league football to give Potter a perfect start to life in the Championship.
6BashamSubstituted forDuffyat 87'minutes
7LundstramSubstituted forSharpat 79'minutes
17McGoldrickSubstituted forWoodburnat 72'minutes
3OlssonSubstituted forGrimesat 72'minutes
27FultonSubstituted forDhandaat 85'minutes
16AsoroSubstituted forMonteroat 63'minutes
Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamSwansea
Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Swansea City 2.
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Swansea City 2.
Attempt saved. John Egan (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Enda Stevens with a headed pass.
Attempt missed. Lee Evans (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Foul by Mark Duffy (Sheffield United).
Matt Grimes (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Lee Evans (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Mark Duffy with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Kristoffer Nordfeldt.
Offside, Sheffield United. Billy Sharp tries a through ball, but Enda Stevens is caught offside.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Mark Duffy replaces Chris Basham.
Goal! Sheffield United 1, Swansea City 2. Yan Dhanda (Swansea City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Barrie McKay.
Substitution, Swansea City. Yan Dhanda replaces Jay Fulton.
Barrie McKay (Swansea City) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the right side of the box. Assisted by Jefferson Montero with a cross.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Billy Sharp replaces John Lundstram.
Attempt missed. Oliver McBurnie (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jefferson Montero with a cross.
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Jay Fulton.
Substitution, Swansea City. Matt Grimes replaces Martin Olsson.
Substitution, Sheffield United. Ben Woodburn replaces David McGoldrick.
Goal! Sheffield United 1, Swansea City 1. Oliver McBurnie (Swansea City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner.
Corner, Swansea City. Conceded by Dean Henderson.
Attempt saved. Jay Fulton (Swansea City) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Barrie McKay with a cross.
Substitution, Swansea City. Jefferson Montero replaces Joel Asoro.
Goal! Sheffield United 1, Swansea City 0. George Baldock (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by John Lundstram.
Attempt missed. Tom Carroll (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Oliver McBurnie.
Attempt missed. John Lundstram (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David McGoldrick.
Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Bersant Celina (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Olsson.
Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).
Oliver McBurnie (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Leon Clarke (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by George Baldock.
Attempt blocked. Joel Asoro (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Barrie McKay.
Offside, Sheffield United. Chris Basham tries a through ball, but Leon Clarke is caught offside.
John Egan (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Bersant Celina (Swansea City).
Second Half begins Sheffield United 0, Swansea City 0.
First Half ends, Sheffield United 0, Swansea City 0.
Hand ball by Joel Asoro (Swansea City).
Attempt missed. Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United) header from the right side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Lee Evans with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Federico Fernández.
Attempt blocked. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by John Lundstram.
^ Predict the final 2018-19 Championship table (www.bbc.co.uk)
^ Quiz: Can you name the 21 EFL clubs with a new boss? (www.bbc.co.uk)
^ Listen: BBC Radio 5 live’s EFL season preview (www.bbc.co.uk)
^ Line-ups (www.bbc.co.uk)
^ Match Stats (www.bbc.co.uk)
^ Live Text (www.bbc.co.uk)
Dhanda scores with first touch in league football to give Swansea win at Sheffield United was originally published on 365 Football