Fulham 3-1 Sheffield United: Cottagers pile the pressure on under-fire Paul Heckingbottom in a gutsy win on a nightmare afternoon for the Blades

• Marco Silva’s side picked up their second home victory of the campaign  
• Blades’ Chris Basham went down with a horror ankle injury in the first half
• Sheffield United suffered their seventh defeat in eight games and sit bottom 

For Sheffield United, this is a season that is threatening to become a nightmare and Paul Heckingbottom must be wondering whether anything can go right for the Blades as they fell to a seventh defeat in eight, on a day where they lost Chris Basham to a horrific ankle injury.

Marco Silva’s Fulham were dominant here but when Antonee Robinson volleyed into his own net after Bobby De-Cordova Reid’s opener, Sheffield United were level and on their way to just their second point this season. Given the circumstances, it would have felt like three had they held on.

But eight minutes later, Fulham’s Tom Cairney slipped as he struck the ball from outside the box and as the ball looped and hit the underside of the bar, it hit the back of keeper Wes Foderingham and went into the net. Before Willian wrapped up the points in added time.

For Silva’s side, it was fortunate but no less than they deserved. Yet for the visitors, it was the hardest of luck on a painful day.

With one point from their first eight games and now without two senior figures in captain John Egan, who limped off last week, and Basham, already it looks like they have a mountain to climb to survive relegation on their first season back. 

Sheffield United defender Chris Basham went down with a horror ankly injury in the first half

Bobby De-Cordova Reid put the home side ahead eight minutes into the second half 

Fulham defender Antonee Robinson volleyed the ball into his own net to level proceedings

Going into this clash, these two sides had the fewest attempts on goal out of all the teams in the Premier League so this was hardly going to be a glamorous affair.

Fulham lacked purpose in Monday’s defeat against Chelsea and Silva made three changes with Alex Iwobi making his first Premier League start for the club and Raul Jimenez, Harry Wilson and Harrison Reed all dropping to the bench.

Tim Ream, 36, made his 300th Fulham appearance while Sam Barrott, 28, made his debut as a Premier League referee having impressed while officiating in the Championship this season. 

Barrott, from Huddersfield, took up refereeing after an injury while playing for Halifax’s academy and his performance here was monitored by former referee Martin Atkinson. Perhaps fast-tracking younger referees is a sign of things to come after the dramas of the past week.

Heckingbottom made three changes too as Sheffield United searched for their first win of the campaign, with Auston Trusty making his first league start since his summer move from Arsenal.

Fulham were dominant from the outset but they failed to take their chances in the first half. Trusty did well to get in to the way of De Cordova Reid’s goalbound effort before Foderingham denied William from point-blank range.

Midway through the first half, Basham went for a cross and turned awkwardly on his ankle. 

Fulham’s Robinson who was closest to the action was close to tears after seeing Basham’s injury and after a 13-minute stoppage, Basham was stretchered off and taken straight to St George’s Hospital in London.

The full ground stood and applauded Sheffield United’s captain. He looks set to be out for the rest of the season.

Cairney’s shot deflected off the back of a helpless Wes Foderingham to give Fulham the lead

Willian made the victory safe with a third goal in added time at the end of the second half

Paul Heckingbottom is one of only two managers not to have tasted victory in the Premier League this season

Marco Silva’s side climbed to 12th place with the win, seven points clear of the drop zone

Fourteen minutes were added on to the end of the first half and when Andreas Pereira skied over from a few yards out, it looked like it would be another frustrating day for the Cottagers.

Just 30 seconds into the second half, the dangerous Pereira wasted another chance as he dragged his shot wide but minutes later, he delivered a wonderful ball into the path of De-Cordova Reid, who slotted past Foderingham to give Silva’s side the breakthrough.

United hit back and after coming close, they drew level in the 68th minute. Issa Diop gave the ball away as he pulled up with cramp and substitute Yasser Larouci’s left-footed cross was bundled by Robinson into his own net.

Yet just when Heckingbottom must have finally felt like he had the slightest bit of luck, substitute Cairney restored Fulham’s advantage before Willian sealed the three points with a right-footed strike in injury time.

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