Southampton 3-1 Sheffield United: Danny Ings scores 22nd goal of the Premier League season but misses out on Golden Boot award as Saints complete comeback win over Blades

• Southampton come from behind to defeat Sheffield United at St Mary’s
• The Blades took the lead with John Lundstram’s first-half finish from close range
• Che Adams netted twice after the break to turn the match on its head
• Danny Ings scored his 22nd goal of the season from the spot to make it three
• Defeat sees Sheffield United end the season in ninth, Southampton in 11th

There was just one big issue left to settle at St Mary’s, so much so that the race for the golden boot dominated the audible chatter among the subs sat in front of the press seats.

And by the end they were urging Danny Ings on, encouraging teammates to pick him out regardless of how free he was and telling him to shoot whenever he got the ball, at one stage even when he received possession just inside the Sheffield United half.

But it was not to be as Southampton’s talisman Ings came up just one goal short in his quest to cap his brilliant personal season with what would have been the tangible reward of a share of the golden boot.

Danny Ings scored his 22nd goal of the season in Southampton’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United

But Ings could not get his name on the Golden Boot award as Jamie Vardy ended on 23 goals

Ings started the day needing two goals to draw level with Jamie Vardy on 23 goals though had to settle for one scored via a late penalty.

Instead it was his strike partner Che Adams who struck twice to set Southampton on their way to a comeback victory.

If there is one man who will be gutted the season is over it will be Adams. Now he has started scoring, he can’t stop.

He went 29 games without scoring before opening his Southampton account with one of the goals of the season against Manchester City earlier this month.

Che Adams continued his fine form by scoring twice in the comeback win at St Mary’s

Adams’ double means he finishes the Premier League term with four goals in his last six games

SOUTHAMPTON 3-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED STATS

Southampton (4-2-2-2): McCarthy 6; Walker-Peters 7, Vestergaard 4, Stephens 7, Bertrand 7.5; Romeu 7 (Obafemi 90, 5), Ward-Prowse 7; Armstrong 5.5 (Smallbone 30, 6), Redmond 7; Ings 7, Adams 8 (Long 85, 5.5).

Subs not used: Gunn, Long, Vokins, Bednarek, Dansu, N’Lundulu, Valery.

Goals: Adams 50, 71, Ings 84 (pen)

Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 7.5

Sheffield United (3-5-2): Henderson 6; Basham 6.5 (Norwood 80, 5.5), Egan 6, Robinson 7; Baldock 6, Lundstram 7, Berge 5.5, Fleck 6.5, Stevens 6.5; McBurnie 6 (Zivkovic 5, 52) Sharp 7 (Clarke 68, 6).

Subs not used: Moore, Jagielka, Freeman, Osborn, Rodwell

Goals: Lundstram 26

Manager: Chris Wilder 6

Referee: Peter Bankes 6.5

His two ruthless finishes against his former club meant he has finished the season with four goals in his last six games.

Adams will at least be pleased that the start of next season is not too far away.

Ings looked to be heading for his first chance early on following a challenge from Chris Basham, though referee Peter Bankes decided there had been no foul.

Sheffield United then went up the other end and almost scored. John Lundstram’s pass down the line should have been cut out by Jannik Vestegaard.

Instead he made the mistake of letting it run and his terrible lack of pace was exposed by Blades captain Billy Sharp, firstly in a battle of strength and then the foot race. 

Sharp ruined his good work, though, by shooting straight at Alex McCarthy when he should have squared for the unmarked Oli McBurnie.

It was only a brief let-off. Eleven minutes later, Vestergaard had another moment to forget when he failed to cut out Enda Stevens’ cross and it reached Lundstram who scored at the back post.

And he was only denied a second, following another defensive mistake from Southampton, this time from Kyle Walker-Peters, when McCarthy’s save matched the midfielder’s sweetly-struck volley.

Five minutes into the second half, it was Sheffield United’s turn to gift their opponents a chance and they were duly punished.

Attempting to help out in midfield Sander Berge could only poke the ball perfectly into the path of Adams who fired past Dean Henderson.

John Lundstram’s close range effort  had given Chris Wilder’s side the lead in the first-half

Lundstram’s strike gave Sheffield United a well-deserved lead after an encouraging first-half

Adams fired past goalkeeper Dean Henderson early in the second-half before adding another

Danny Ings was then brought down in the area with five minutes remaining to earn a penalty

Ings picked himself up to score the spot kick which sealed the final day points at St Mary’s

The result came as a disappointment for Chris Wilder (left) whose side had started well

McCarthy then got in on the mistake-making act, with two in quick succession. Oriol Romeu rescued his goalkeeper with a last-ditch block after his poor pass out was intercepted.

McCarthy then got lucky when he was millimetres away from handling outside his box, managing to get his hands away from the ball just in time.

Adams thought he had a second only for Jack Robinson to appear with a brilliant last-ditch block. He did not have to wait much longer, though, beating Henderson again when Walker-Peters’ shot was diverted his way following a Basham block.

With six minutes left Ings settled the game, winning and scoring a penalty, to keep his golden boot hopes alive though time ran out before he had another chance to grab a second. 

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