Tyrese Campbell opened the scoring before half-time in the Sheffield United vs Sunderland play-off final.
With Campbell, Rhian Brewster, Gus Hamer and co. pressing from the front, Sheffield United started the stronger of the two sides at Wembley in the Championship play-off final.
They came close to an opener very early on when Kieffer Moore headed towards the bottom corner inside two minutes. However, it was Campbell who opened the scoring not long after.
Gus Hamer broke away in transition from a Sunderland corner and laid the ball through to an onrushing Campbell, with the 25-year-old notching superbly over the goalkeeper.
Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
Sam Matterface makes Kevin Campbell claim in play-off final
Sheffield United’s poor play-off record means they were desperate for automatic promotion but the striker signed from Stoke City in the summer, with whom he had been with since 2016, making his debut in 2018 and racking up over 160 appearances for the club.
Campbell left Stoke controversially on a free transfer after numerous injury issues but his departure brought about a move to Chris Wilder and Sheffield United. Having carefully managed his minutes this season, Campbell has had the best goalscoring return of his career.
He eclipsed the nine he secured for Stoke in 2022/23 earlier in the current season. But his 11th, and the most important of all so far, came after 25 minutes against Sunderland.
He took the ball in well and then chipped the ball over the onrushing Anthony Patterson to make it 1-0 heading into the break.
Of course, Campbell is the son of Kevin Campbell. His father had a hugely successful career as a striker for the likes of Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, and Everton.
Unfortunately, he sadly passed away in June of last year after illness led to organ failure. He was just 54 and it came just under two months before Tyrese joined Sheffield United.
Reacting to the goal, Sam Matterface spoke on talkSPORT commentary and he said: “His dad will be looking down on him with pride after that finish.”
It was a special moment and Tyrese will be hoping more than anyone for it to mean something by full-time, with his Sheffield United side aiming to bounce back up at the first time of asking.
Campbell won the Championship player of the month award for March and Wilder’s influence has helped get the best out of him this season in the second tier.
Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images
Photo by Ed Sykes/Getty Images
Chris Wilder has revitalised Tyrese Campbell’s career
Wilder and co. were willing to risk by taking a chance on a poor injury record last summer amid Jarrod Bowen comparisons to Campbell this season.
Campbell does not have the most blistering goal record or a particularly impressive injury record but he’s young enough to kick on and he has after he made 164 appearances for the Potters, scoring 36 goals and notching 19 assists.
Tyrese Campbell’s club career record Appearances Goals Assists
Stoke City 164 36 19
Shrewsbury Town (loan) 15 5 0
Sheffield United 38 11 2
The risk in the summer, regarding his injury record, was especially worth taking given Campbell’s versatility. The 25-year-old is able to operate as a number-nine, a second-striker, or as a right-sided forward.
Time will tell just how smart this move is in the long run for Sheffield United, but Stoke’s loss has become their gain thus far, with the move to the Blades undoubtedly revitalising him and his goal in the final was perhaps the crowning moment this season.