[Sport]Jamie Vardy scored a 90th-minute winner for Leicester to break Sheffield United hearts and leave them in a perilous position at the bottom of the Premier League table.

[ROVEN]

 

The Blades looked set to secure only their second point of the season when Oli McBurnie scored his first of the campaign after Ayoze Perez had given the visitors the lead.

 

However, the Foxes never looked like wanting to settle for a point in their pursuit of a Champions League spot. With moments of the match remaining, James Maddison fed in Vardy, who scampered clear of the home defence and slotted his shot past Aaron Ramsdale.

The 33-year-old boyhood fan of Blades' rivals Sheffield Wednesday celebrated by running to the corner flag and snapping it with his boot.

Earlier, Vardy and Maddison both came close with fierce efforts that struck the Blades' right-hand upright.

Oliver Burke had United's only other chance of note when he slipped with just Kasper Schmeichel to beat.

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Blades' situation becoming critical

Last season must have seemed like a dream to some Blades supporters.

Chris Wilder's men were among the European places for much of their first campaign back in the top flight before falling away in the home straight. However, few would have thought those tail-end results would be the first symptoms of 'second-season syndrome'.

United still remain difficult to beat, having only twice lost by more than one goal in the league this season but it is at the other end where they have suffered - it was only four goals in 10 games with a conversion rate of 4.2% before Sunday's game.

So when Burke fluffed his lines with just Schmeichel to beat midway through the first half, it seemed like Groundhog Day for the home side; the feeling exacerbated when Perez thrashed in the Foxes' opener.

Spirits were lifted when McBurnie equalised soon after from a corner for his first in the competition in 15 appearances and after 20 efforts on goal. However, instead of building on that, the Blades reverted to type by focusing on soaking up pressure from their opponents.

Just when they thought Brendan Rodgers' cavalier side had thrown everything at them, they were undone by the flashing blade that is Vardy.

It is now one point from a possible 33. Wilder has produced near miracles at the clubs he has managed, but surely this situation is impossible to turn around.