Sheffield United extended their unbeaten Sky Bet Championship start and climbed up to third place after beating Swansea 1-0 at Bramall Lane.
Swansea defender Josh Tymon’s first-half own goal proved decisive, while the Blades also hit the woodwork twice in the second period as they secured their fifth league win of the season.
The visitors were left to rue a glaring miss by on-loan Brentford midfielder Myles Peart-Harris just before falling behind and they dropped one place to 12th after going down to their third league defeat.
Tyrese Campbell and Jamie Shackleton both made their full debuts for the Blades and they had the game’s first efforts on goal.
Campbell’s low shot was comfortably gathered by Lawrence Vigouroux and Shackleton’s angled drive was deflected off-target by Swansea defender Harry Darling.
Blades defender Anel Ahmedhodzic headed another rare first-half chance narrowly wide from Gustavo Hamer’s cross.
Swansea enjoyed plenty of possession before the break but failed to threaten until Peart-Harris missed a golden chance in the 40th minute.
The Brentford loanee, handed his first start for the Swans, was unmarked three yards from goal when he miscued after being picked out by skipper Matt Grimes.
The Blades were then gifted the opening goal just before half-time. Harrison Burrows curled in an excellent cross from the left and Tymon’s touch diverted the ball inside Vigouroux’s left-hand post.
It was very nearly 2-0 shortly after the restart when Andre Brooks found himself clear in front of goal, but his low shot was saved by Vigouroux and Campbell’s follow-up effort bounced off the crossbar.
Campbell fired inches wide a minute later and the Blades missed another golden chance to double their lead when substitute Kieffer Moore raced clear on to Burrows’ fine through-ball and fired a low shot against a post.
Blades substitute Rhian Brewster flashed a shot just off target as the home side chased an elusive second goal, but they were forced to defend in numbers in the closing stages.
Grimes’ late free-kick forced Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper into a diving save, but the Blades held on to move to within a point of the top two.
The managers
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:
“One-nil to the Arsenal! I think we can play better and be a bit more positive first half. When we did break it up we were very negative and passive. Backwards and square, which is not us really.
“So, as you can imagine, that message, in quite a colourful way, was relayed at half-time and I thought we were a lot better second half.
“We should have been a lot more comfortable in the last 15 or 20 minutes. We still have to be a bit more clinical.
“If you do put a team to bed, like we possibly should have done tonight, it just changes the whole atmosphere, changes the game obviously.
“If you don’t, you have to see a game out. We gave away too many late free-kicks, which allowed them to put the ball in our box.
“But I’ve got to say we defended our box, everybody put their bodies on the line to keep another clean sheet and preserve our unbeaten record, which we’re very proud of.”
Swansea’s Luke Williams:
“I think Myles Peart-Harris had an opportunity to tap the ball across the line inside the six-yard box and didn’t take it.
“I think if you want to get anything off Sheffield United this season, you’re going to have to take those chances for sure. In that way it was frustrating because we played pretty well.
“Probably (the Championship) is a bit more open this season, but Sheffield United are going to be in the shake-up, there’s no question about that.”
