Sheffield United 1 West Brom 1: Zero to hero as Campbell bags Albion precious point

The centre-back salvaged a point for the Baggies when he smashed home from 25 yards out with seven minutes remaining.

Campbell had earlier opened the scoring when he could only direct Gustavo Hamer’s cross into his own net.

But he went from zero to hero when he netted at the right end, to earn Albion just their third point on the road since October.

Analysis

The Baggies remain winless in 12 league matches and deep in relegation danger.

But there were positives to take from their performance, in interim boss James Morrison’s second match in charge.

Albion’s Isaac Price had missed the best chance of the game before the unlucky Campbell gave the home side the lead.

And though the Baggies then profited from some wasteful Blades finishing, with Max O’Leary also making a big save to deny Tyrese Campbell, they showed the required spirit to hang in the game, before a moment of brilliance from their own Campbell earned a point.

The result provides an important psychological boost too. Oxford’s win at Preston on Friday night dropped Albion into the drop zone and they were down in 23rd for long periods on Saturday, while Leicester led at Ipswich.

But equalisers for both themselves and the Tractor Boys means they have their heads just above water, again, heading into Wednesday’s home match with Southampton. 

Albion’s line-up was both radical and retro.

There were five changes, including just a second Championship start of the season for Daryl Dike.

The American striker was paired up front with Aune Heggebo as Morrison went for the nowadays less common 4-4-2. 

Ollie Bostock received a first career league start, while Ousmane Diakite replaced Alex Mowatt in midfield.

There was also just a third Albion start for Crystal Palace loanee Danny Imray, as Campbell shifted into central defence and Charlie Taylor dropped out of the side. 

Morrison would have been fearing his plans required ripping up as early as the third minute when Krystian Bielik came down on his shoulder when challenging Patrick Bamford for an aerial ball.

With the centre-back in some discomfort, Taylor began preparing to come on but Bielik bravely continued.

Andre Brooks then drilled a shot just wide of the post after the Baggies failed to clear their lines but otherwise chances were few for the home side despite their dominance in possession.

Though Albion attacks were rare, they did show flashes, Bostock slicing wide from distance.

Bielik then wasted one of the best chances of the half when he hammered a shot over after a corner, needlessly conceded by Wolves loanee Ki-Jana Hoever fell nicely to him in the box.

The home side were trying to pick holes in a visiting defence which, for once, were not there.

Callum O’Hare briefly threatened when he nipped in ahead of Bielik but sent his shot well wide of goal.

Bielik was hurt again in stoppage time after being clattered by his own keeper, O’Leary. He did not re-emerge for the second half, with Taylor replacing him.

Within seconds of the restart, Albion carved out the best chance of the match to that point.

A Dike through ball sent Price scampering clear toward goal but the Northern Ireland international sent the shot too close to Blades keeper Adam Davies, who pushed it wide.

The game was suddenly wide open and the Baggies themselves had a let-off when Tyrese Campbell, who had replaced the ineffective Patrick Bamford, could not pick out an unmarked Brooks with his cross.

Albion would not be so lucky soon after. Hamer found space on the right flank and delivered a low cross which a lunging Campbell could only direct into his own net.

The defender beat the ground in frustration as the home side celebrated.

Things might then have got worse for Albion had O’Hare been able to redirect a volleyed Brooks cross on target from eight yards out.

The visitors needed a moment of inspiration and Price almost delivered it, hammering an effort from wide on the right wing which Davies had to scramble to save at his near post.

At the other end, Albion were starting to ride their luck. When a corner fell to O’Hare at the far post, his goalbound shot was blocked by Blades team-mate Tyler Bindon on the line.

There was another let-off when Sydie Peck headed a Hamer cross wide of goal from eight yards out, before O’Leary denied Tyrese Campbell at close range.

That save became even more significant soon after when Albion’s Campbell scored his second of the game, this time at the right end, to level the scores.

The ball dropped for the centre-back 25 yards out and after taking a touch, he thundered a drive into the bottom corner.

Key Moments

53 GOAL The Blades open the scoring as George Campbell diverts Gustavo Hamer’s cross into his own net.

83 GOAL Campbell scores again, this time at the right end, thundering a 25-yard shot into the bottom corner.

Teams

Sheff Utd (4-2-3-1): Davies, Hoever (Seriki 84), Tanganga, Bindon, Burrows, Peck, Brooks, Riedewald (Rothwell 72), O’Hare (Cannon 87), Hamer, Bamford (Campbell HT) Subs not used: Arblaster, Hjelde, Chong, McGuinness, Faxon (gk).

Albion (4-4-2): O'Leary, Imray, Campbell, Bielik (Taylor HT), Styles, Price, Molumby, Diakite, Bostock (Wallace 68), Dike (Jimoh-Aloba 78), Heggebo Subs not used: Gilchrist, Mowatt, Whitwell, Mustapha, Maja, Griffiths (gk).