Analysis: Sheffield United 2-5 Brighton

Tim Oscroft, BBC Sport

For United, at the foot of the Premier League table, it was ultimately another dispiriting result after they had fought back so well late in the first half.

The Blades had looked a long way off the pace until two goals at the end of the first half brought them right back into the tie.

Brighton keeper Bart Verbruggen could only parry William Osula's low cross back out to Gustavo Hamer, who made no mistake at the first time of asking, only to then have to wait for video assistant referee (VAR) to confirm the goal after a check for offside.

Osula, who had been the Blades' liveliest player, then drew the home side level when he headed Jayden Bogle's cross home, with the goal confirmed after another VAR check.

But Bogle's handball when challenging Evan Ferguson in the air gave Pedro the chance to put the visitors ahead again and once he had done so in clinical fashion, Chris Wilder's side looked like the ones who had been second best for much of the first half aside from a chance for a late consolation when James McAtee's shot hit the underside of the bar but did not cross the goal line.

Their focus must now shift to Premier League survival. In two of their next three outings, they face fellow strugglers, with a trip to Crystal Palace on Tuesday (20:00 GMT) and to Luton on 10 February, with Aston Villa visiting in between (17:30).