Plymouth’s late fightback strikes huge blow to Sheffield United promotion bid | Championship

Substitute striker Muhamed Tijani scored an 88th-minute winner as basement side Plymouth dealt a huge blow to Sheffield United’s automatic promotion hopes at Home Park.

Tijani scored from 12 yards out after United failed to clear Bali Mumba’s dangerous cross and the ball fell kindly to the striker. Ryan Hardie cancelled out Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s 44th-minute opener after 81 minutes to set up a dramatic Argyle comeback, with huge implications at both ends of the table.

Chris Wilder had made five changes to the Sheffield United side beaten at home by Millwall on Tuesday, with Callum O’Hare, Rak-Sakyi, Harry Clarke, Vini Souza and striker Tom Cannon coming in. Jack Robinson looped an early header over from Rak-Sakyi’s corner while former Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper was untroubled.

United took the lead through Rak-Sakyi in the 44th minute as he cut inside on his right, sending marker Nathaneal Ogbeta the wrong way, and let fly with his left foot into the far corner past diving keeper Conor Hazard.

Hazard made a superb 51st-minute save to deny Rak-Sakyi his second, then saved Anel Ahmedhodzic’s downward header from a Gustavo Hamer corner five minutes later. Ryan Hardie’s shot on the turn hit the top of the crossbar in the 65th minute, with Wilder making a triple change as the Blades aimed to hold on to their lead.

Their resistance was broken with nine minutes to play, in-form Hardie clinically finishing from close range after latching on to substitute Joe Edwards’ scissor kick from a corner. Tijani’s strike won it two minutes from time, sparking wild celebrations before players on both sides clashed after the final whistle.

Sheffield United’s third straight defeat means they are five points behind both Leeds – who beat Preston 2-1 – and Burnley in the promotion race. Plymouth stay bottom but are just three points from safety after a dramatic comeback victory.