Sheffield United delivered a much-needed boost in their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 2-1 away victory over Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on December 29, 2025. The win, fueled by second-half strikes from Jairo Riedewald and Tom Cannon, not only propelled Chris Wilder's side seven points clear of the relegation zone but also showcased a resilient performance that left the home crowd restless and the Potters searching for answers.
Heading into the match, both teams were desperate for a turnaround. Stoke City, under Mark Robins, had failed to register a win in six of their previous seven outings, while Sheffield United were eager to bounce back after a string of mixed results. The stakes were high, and the tension in the stadium was palpable from the opening whistle.
The first half unfolded with Sheffield United asserting early dominance. Harrison Burrows nearly broke the deadlock in the 11th minute with an angled drive across goal, only for Ben Gibson to intervene and clear the danger. The Blades continued to press, with Callum O'Hare scooping a shot over the crossbar and another Burrows effort drifting wide. Tyrese Campbell, a former Stoke forward, also saw his attempt blocked as United kept up the pressure.
Despite the visitors' control, Stoke had their moments. Tatsuki Seko delivered a teasing cross that narrowly missed its mark, and Sorba Thomas squandered a promising opportunity with a tame diving header that failed to trouble goalkeeper Michael Cooper. Ash Phillips forced Cooper into a save just before halftime, but the hosts were fortunate to reach the break with the score still locked at 0-0.
The second half, however, brought a swift and dramatic shift. Within minutes of the restart, an unnecessary foul by Seko on O'Hare gifted United a free kick. Gibson's attempted clearance was miskicked by Campbell, setting up Riedewald to poke the ball past Viktor Johansson from close range. Stoke's defensive frailties, particularly at set pieces, were once again exposed, drawing groans from the home supporters.
Things went from bad to worse for the Potters in the 53rd minute. Burrows, a constant threat down the flank, lofted a cross to the back post where the unmarked Cannon volleyed home United's second. The quickfire double left Stoke reeling and the atmosphere inside the bet365 Stadium grew increasingly tense, with fans voicing their frustrations, especially at loan forward Divin Mubama, who has struggled to find the net since early November.
Recognizing the need for change, Robins made a bold quadruple substitution just before the hour mark, introducing Ben Pearson, Robert Bozenik, Bae Junho, and Ibrahim Cisse. The shake-up injected much-needed energy into Stoke's play, and it paid immediate dividends. In the 65th minute, chaos from a long throw-in allowed captain Ben Wilmot to fire home his first goal of the season, cutting Sheffield United's lead in half and reigniting hope among the home faithful.
"It (the performance) was really poor and I picked a big team today. We tried to deal with set plays and be better at them, but regardless of that, it doesn't always mean that because you're big that you're going to be able to keep the ball out of the net from a set play – and we didn't," Robins said after the match, reflecting on his team's ongoing struggles. "Whether they're having a bad time or a good time, these are players that are throwing the shirt on and trying to make careers for themselves. I'll deal with that. If I don't think they're performing to the level that they should be, then they'll be off or they won't start or whatever. But that's not for everybody – we should be together."
Buoyed by Wilmot's goal, Stoke pressed hard for an equalizer. Substitute Bozenik came close, missing the target from 12 yards, while Bosun Lawal’s fierce drive was tipped over by Cooper. The home side's resurgence, however, was dealt a crushing blow in the 88th minute when Pearson, who had been lively since coming on, was shown a straight red card for pulling down Patrick Bamford as the Sheffield United forward raced clear on goal. The professional foul left Stoke with ten men and little time to mount a final push.
Sheffield United, meanwhile, nearly put the game out of reach moments earlier when Bamford was denied by a strong Johansson save. Despite a nervy finish, the Blades held firm, with their first 60 to 65 minutes of play drawing praise from manager Chris Wilder. "For 60, 65 minutes it was right up there in terms of an away performance and what we want it to look like. And maybe, against the run of play a little bit, the goal comes and gives them a huge lift and they've got some good players that come alive. I don't want the game to be remembered for maybe the last 10 or 15 minutes. The game should be remembered, from our point of view, in terms of the first 60, 65 minutes and how well we played against a decent side," Wilder remarked.
The match was not without its quirks. In the first half, play was momentarily halted when an inflatable beach ball was thrown onto the pitch, disrupting a Sheffield United attack. The incident drew bemused smiles from players and fans alike, but it was a brief distraction from the intensity on the field.
Stoke's defensive woes were glaring, particularly at set pieces, and the player ratings reflected the team's struggles. Johansson, despite conceding twice, earned a 7 for his efforts, while Wilmot's goal and defensive work saw him rated 6.5. Mubama, however, was singled out for criticism, receiving a 3 as frustrations mounted over his lack of impact.
For Sheffield United, the victory marked a significant step forward. The three points lifted them two places in the standings to 17th, offering breathing room in their battle against relegation. The Blades' ability to capitalize on set pieces and withstand late pressure underscored the progress being made under Wilder's management.
As for Stoke City, the defeat leaves them languishing and in urgent need of a turnaround. With three changes to the starting XI, including first league starts for Gibson and Sam Gallagher, Robins sought to address his team's vulnerabilities, but the same old problems persisted. The Potters must now regroup quickly if they are to salvage their season and climb the Championship table.
With the festive fixture list in full swing, both sides face crucial tests ahead. For now, though, Sheffield United will savor a hard-fought win on the road, while Stoke are left to reflect on another missed opportunity and mounting pressure to deliver results.
