Fulham 0-1 Sheffield United: Iliman Ndiaye's wonderful solo goal gives Blades victory

Iliman Ndiaye won it for the visitors with a fine solo goal

Sheffield United continued their winning start to life under Paul Heckingbottom as Iliman Ndiaye's excellent solo goal gave them victory over stuttering Championship leaders Fulham.

Ndiaye broke from his own half before sliding an inch-perfect shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards in the first meaningful attack of the game.

The hosts, who had drawn their previous four games, dominated possession but struggled to really threaten the Blades goal for most of the match.

Championship top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic smashed an effort against the angle of the post and crossbar in time added on before Harry Wilson sent the rebound way off target as the visitors hung on for three points.

Sheffield United midfielder John Fleck came on as a second-half substitute for his first appearance since collapsing on the pitch against Reading in November.

The Scotland international was given a great ovation by the travelling fans as he took to the field and he was able to help his side battle to a fourth successive victory and third straight under Heckingbottom.

The Blades opened the scoring in stunning fashion when 21-year-old Frenchman Ndiaye carried the ball from 20 yards inside his own half before slotting in a composed finish from the edge of the area.

Neeskens Kebano fired narrowly wide for the home side after a free-kick landed at his feet 10 yards out but that, along with some enterprising runs from Wilson, were rare bright spots in a first 45 minutes where Marco Silva's side saw plenty of the ball but looked short of cutting edge.

Mitrovic, who has now scored once in his past four appearances, headed over at the start of the second half as Fulham sought to find a way back into the game.

Blades full-back Jayden Bogle should have done better when he was played in down the right but he chose to cut inside and the chance went. Billy Sharp also smashed a shot high into the roof of the net only to have his strike ruled out for offside.

The hosts finally got behind the resolute Blades defence in time added on but Mitrovic thundered a fierce strike against the woodwork and Wales international Wilson could not keep the rebound on target.

Defeat ended their 11-match unbeaten run but they are now without a victory in their past five games and are just three points clear of third-placed Blackburn.

Tough times at the top

Halfway through the season Fulham and Bournemouth occupy the top two places in the Championship, as they have since 24 October.

However, both sides head into the second half of the campaign in poor recent form with no wins in their past 10 games combined.

As they have floundered Blackburn Rovers, beaten 7-0 at home by Fulham just last month, have surged up to to third off the back of five successive victories and are just one point off the Cherries.

West Brom are a further point and place behind, as the race to win automatic promotion to the Premier League no longer looks like the formality it had just a few weeks ago.

Fulham boss Marco Silva:

"It wasn't our best performance definitely. We had a lot of unforced errors tonight and didn't create the problems that we should have created for them.

"We try to perform better than our opponents but the main thing we should do is do it our way. Tonight we didn't do it our way.

"The main reason is clear for me. We did so many good things so far this season and we did the right things until now. This was a really bad evening, not because of the result but because of the way we played.

"We have to analyse it now and prepare the game against Birmingham on Boxing Day."

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom:

"You've not seen the best of Iliman yet. There is more to come. He showed with his goal that he's got tremendous ball control and the ability to keep the ball so close to him.

"He carries the ball at full speed. That got him away from people and then he had the confidence to take the shot on at full speed. I was also pleased with his work-rate tonight and his willingness to win the ball back.

"It's a brilliant result. At times I was getting frustrated by us giving the ball away but to win this way was a real big thing for us because we haven't looked like doing that. And to show that spirit.

"To beat the team at the top of the league away is a big thing."

Line-ups

Fulham

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Rodák

2Tete16Tosin13Ream33Robinson

6Reed24Seri

8Wilson28Carvalho7Kebano

9Mitrovic

1Rodák2Tete16Tosin13Ream33RobinsonSubstituted forMuniz Carvalhoat 69'minutes6Reed24SeriSubstituted forCairneyat 45'minutes8Wilson28CarvalhoSubstituted forDe Cordova-Reidat 61'minutes7Kebano9Mitrovic

Substitutes

4Odoi10Cairney12Chalobah14De Cordova-Reid19Muniz Carvalho21Gazzaniga23Bryan

Sheff Utd

Formation 3-4-1-2

18Foderingham

6Basham12Egan19Robinson

20Bogle16Norwood24Hourihane3Stevens

27Gibbs-White

29Ndiaye10Sharp

18FoderinghamBooked at 45mins6Basham12Egan19RobinsonBooked at 55mins20BogleBooked at 85mins16Norwood24HourihaneSubstituted forFleckat 77'minutes3Stevens27Gibbs-WhiteSubstituted forBergeat 45'minutes29NdiayeSubstituted forOsbornat 78'minutes10Sharp