A rare Premier League goal for Sebastian Haller gave West Ham victory at Brammel Lane and put lower club Sheffield United in even more trouble.
The Blades were a revelation in their return to great flight last season, finishing ninth on the list but finding life harder during the second campaign.
Chris Wilder has just one point from nine games after Haller’s strike from the edge of the penalty area. 56 consecutive defeats after 56 minutes and eighth Premier League defeat.
The Hammers have 14 points from the opening sets, having already played for Arsenal, Wolves, Leicester, Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool, with David Moyes’ men in the top ten.
The Blades got off to a good start, with George Baldock working through Lucas Fabianski’s near-work endeavors.
Fabianski fired a low shot from Oli McBurney before the pole reacted quickly, denying David McGoldrick a follow-up.
The visitors grew in competition in the first half before Vladimir Kufal brought in a superb block from Aaron Ramsdale.
Hammers should have taken the lead 34 minutes later when Haller headed the ball down the path of Thomas Soosek into the penalty area, but the midfielder dropped his shot wide with a merciful goal.
A looping header from McBarney, just before half-time Fabianski found another decent defense, this time tipping the ball over the crossbar.
West Ham went ahead early in the second half. Following clearance from Ramsdale, Jarrod Bowen collected the ball at half-turn and started the driving run into the home defense.
Bowen released the ball to Pablo Fournell, who blocked the shot point in the empty range but the ball bounced back into Haller’s path and the first shot from the edge of the penalty area flew over the roof of the net.
Great goal from a great man! 😍 pic.twitter.com/p8NtjksmsJ
– West Ham United (est West Ham) November 22, 2020
Blades goalkeeper Ramsdale got a hand on the ball but could not get it out.
The Ivory Coast striker has scored four goals in cup matches this season, but his attempt on Sunday is only his second in the Premier League campaign and fourth in 2020.
The wilder side was suddenly at sea, in danger of giving way again. Kufal and Declan Rice saw the shots bravely blocked on a Golmouth scramble, before Haller extended another attempt.
76 minutes later the hosts had a great chance. Substitute Ryan Brewster played a beautiful ball into McBurney’s path behind the West Ham defense.
Scott’s first touch was excellent, but he was kind enough to score and get a chance with the goalkeeper and his attempt against the crossbar exploded.
It left the impression that this was not Blades’ day and when they slipped into another defeat it proved to be so.
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