When will Billy Sharp tire of tormenting Leeds United with match-winning goals?
His double in Saturday’s 2-1 home win over the Whites reignited Sheffield United’s play-off hopes and took him past 200 career league goals – a fine achievement for any player.
It also left him with seven strikes in his last six league starts against Leeds, Sharp having scored in as 2-1 win at Elland Road earlier this season.
Sharp endured a mixed season at Leeds in 2014-15, scoring just five times, and he had been an unused substitute in the Blades’ previous two games.
Now in his third spell at Bramall Lane, the boyhood United fan was recalled to the starting line-up for the big Yorkshire derby along with midfielder Mark Duffy.
Vindication was both immediate and emphatic.
In Paul Heckingbottom’s first game in charge of Leeds, the Blades inside the second minute when Duffy’s right-wing cross fell to Sharp, who hit a brilliant right-foot volley from 14 yards which flew into the roof of the net.
That gave the 32-year-old a double century of league goals and, after Pierre-Michel Lassoga’s second-half equaliser, Sharp struck the winner from the penalty spot in the 73rd minute.
“I have had spells like this before when not in the team,” said the striker after Saturday’s victory.
“You just have to get on with it, keep your head up – especially now I am captain. I have to keep the boys going.
“My dad, though, is the one who has kept me going the last few weeks.
“He texted in the morning to say I had five in five against Leeds and that he believed I would score. I felt the same.
“It was nice to get a text off him, it gives me confidence. My dad knows all about the stats – goals and wins, that sort of thing. If I have a good record, he texts me.”
Sharp was at Leeds at a time of turmoil and their fans never saw the best of them, even if they did on Saturday when his opening goal almost burst the net in front of a packed away end.
Sharp celebrated his goal wildly and added: “The celebrations were because I was really happy.
“I have had stick about scoring against former clubs in the past, but I celebrated against Sheffield United. My job is to score goals so when I score I am happy.”
Sharp, meanwhile, believes his former club can finally get on the right track under former Barnsley boss Heckingbottom.
“It is a good appointment for them,” said Sharp, whose previous scoring streak against Leeds includes strikes for Doncaster Rovers and Nottingham Forest.
“He knows the league, having been at Barnsley a while. I am sure he will do well.
“Mind, I saw on the team sheet that Liam Cooper is the longest-serving Leeds player. He signed the same day as me. It is mental.
“They have had ins and outs for the last three years. Far too many. But, hopefully, he gets a chance and will be alright.
“He is a good manager, but I am just glad we beat his team and I was able to score.
“I am not bothered how they come, but I enjoyed the first one; it reminded me of my 100th league goal for Doncaster against Leicester. That goal was for the lads.”
