28th February Rotherham United 1 Sheffield United 2 (Attendance: 10,797)
Line-up:Kenny, Jagielka, Kozluk, Murphy, Page, Montgomery, Brown, McCall, Ndlovu, Windass (Allison 84), Kabba (Peschisolido 82).
Subs not used: Quinn, Morrison, Javary.
Bookings: Page 31, Windass 81.
Scorers: Brown 17 (pen), Kabba 62.

The Blades got back to winning ways again with an impressive win over Rotherham United at Millmoor tonight. It was the Maestro himself Michael Brown who ran the show, opening the scoring with a penalty and then setting up Steven Kabba for the second. Brown's class was obvious, with a voracious appetite for the ball, as The Blades brought to an end Rotherham's recent home revival. United showed a gritty determination that we have come to expect from Neil Warnock's players. It was a frenetic game which began with Steven Kabba roaming forward and hitting the post in only the second minute. But it was another blistering break by Kabba that led to United taking the lead after 16 minutes. Kabba was tripped by Chris Swailes as the Rotherham player lunged in with a hasty tackle in the box sending Kabba crashing down. Brown stepped up to slot home the penalty. After the goal the foul count mounted, the referee booking four Rotherham players and one from United as the game threatened to reach boiling point. United might have added a second goal in the 29th minute when Dean Windass spun cleverly and shot from 15 yards but Mike Pollitt matched it with a superb reflex save diving to his left. In the last minute of the half, Rotherham had their best chance of an equaliser. John Mullin's corner was headed toward goal by Alan Lee but was blocked on the line. United's extra quality shone through in the second half and they stretched their lead in the 63rd minute, Brown found Ndlovu on the left side of the penalty area, he brought a fine save out of Pollitt, and the ball rolled invitingly into the path of Kabba, who slotted the ball into an empty net. Ndlovu again went close when he hooked over Pollitt's crossbar, while Millers substitute Richie Barker put a header wide from Sedgwick's centring cross. Rotherham's goal which they hardly deserved arrived nine minutes from time. Robert Page was adjudged to have tripped Lee just inside the 18 yard box, there appeared to a minimal of contacts, but Lee collapsed to the ground and the referee pointed to the spot, and immediately the striker climbed to his feet to send Kenny the wrong way from the resulting penalty. It was a nervous last few minutes for United, but the Blades managed to hold on. Although, it would have been an injustice if United had gained anything less than a win from this game. This victory for the blades shows that even with key players out, United can still be a formidable force in Division One. But the night belonged to Michael Brown whose swaggering performance in midfield will have enhanced his fast-growing reputation.

 

28th February Richard Edghill has left the Blades after his one-month deal at Bramall Lane came to an end.Edghill made just one substitute appearance for the Blades, but United have decided the deal will not be extended.

 

27th February Phil Jagielka and Dean Windass will be given until the last minute to prove their fitness before the game with Rotherham. Neil Warnock says it's "touch and go" whether the duo will be ready for the game at Millmoor. Colin Cryan also picked up a injury midweek and is doubtful. Michael Tonge, Steve Yates, Carl Asaba and Rob Ullathorne are all out with long-term injuries. The good news is that Robert Page will play, and Steven Kabba and Shaun Murphy return after suspension. Marcel Cas and Owen Morrison could also feature in this crucial game between two of the promotion chasing teams.

 

26th February Neil Warnock has intensified his search for players as the injury crisis continues to grow at the Lane. United have major doubts over three of their key players. Phil Jagielka, Dean Windass and Robert Page, all have knocks picked up during last weekend's game against Norwich. Add Michael Tonge and Steve Yates who are already out, Wayne Quinn and Peter Ndlovu with one-match bans, and with no cover goalkeeper for Paddy Kenny. It means United need to bring in new faces quickly, for a crucial game against a useful Millers side. Warnock is known to be keen to sign a midfielder, with Craig Burley of Derby County top of the list of targets. Any deal to bring Burley to the Lane hinges on him reaching a satisfactory settlement with Derby.

 

24th February Michael Tonge and Steve Yates are facing weeks out of action, after picking up injuries in Saturday's defeat by Norwich. The Blades suffered another blow when they learned Peter Ndlovu and Wayne Quinn would be suspended for the FA Cup 6th Round tie against Leeds United after being sent off. On a more positive note, Dean Windass and Phil Jagielka will be eligible for the league game at Rotherham on Friday.

 

22nd February Sheffield United 0 Norwich City 1 (Attendance: 19,020)
Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Quinn, Yates (Cryan 67), Page, Brown, McCall (Morrison 81), Ndlovu, Tonge (Montgomery 45) , Allison, Mooney.
Subs not used: Peschisolido, Thompson.
Bookings: Quinn 17, Brown 36, Page 61, Ndlovu 74.
Sent-off: Quinn 61, Ndlovu 90.

The Blades gave a competent performance at the Lane today, but it was not to be United's day as they went down to a single goal from Norwich City's Paul McVeigh. The Blades misery was compounded by an incompetent referee who sent off two United players and contrived to spoil what should have been an entertaining game. Some inconsistent decisions made by a referee who was the centre of attention for the afternoon. A defeat that condemned United to their fourth successive league defeat as their promotion charge continues to stutter. United were forced to make five changes to the side that lost at home to Reading last Tuesday night - Robert Kozluk, Steve Yates, Peter Ndlovu, Wayne Allison and Tommy Mooney came into the side in place of the injured Phil Jagielka, Dean Windass and Jean-Phillipe Javary plus the suspended Shaun Murphy and Steven Kabba. Ndlovu almost broke the deadlock in the sixth minute as he ran from midfield with Craig Fleming and Adam Drury in close pursuit. Ndlovu lashed in a fierce left-foot shot, the ball cannoning of Robert Green's chest as he charged off his line and centre back Fleming hooked the loose ball clear. United carved out another opening but squandered the opportunity with Ndlovu again involved. Michael Brown spotted Ndlovu in space on the right and picked out Tommy Mooney who powered his header high over the target from close range. However, it was Norwich who almost twice took the lead against the run of play when David Healy managed to squeeze in a shot which forced Paddy Kenny to tip the ball round the post for a corner. Clint Easton swung over the kick and Iwan Roberts, thumped a header which was well saved by the inspired Kenny. In the second half, Kenny foiled Steen Nedergaard spectacularly palming his 25-yard shot over the bar before the Blades were reduced to ten men in the 61st minute when full back Quinn was dismissed for his second bookable offence for a foul on Healy after picking up a yellow card in the first half. What made this so infuriating to the Blades fans was the fact that a few seconds earlier a Blades player was fouled in similar fashion and the referee was unmoved. The sending off completely changed the pattern of the game, United who had clearly been the better team were forced to reorganise and Norwich began to look more threatening. McVeigh hit the winner in the 69th minute, Gary Holt feeding the striker who cut inside substitute Nick Montgomery and beat Kenny with a right foot strike from 15 yards. In the Final minute Ndlovu was also sent off for his second bookable offence after a challenge in front of the Norwich bench, and so it proved to be a miserable afternoon for the Blades. The United players cannot be faulted for the commitment to the cause. Most fans' leaving the Lane felt it was the Referee who spoilt the afternoon's entertainment. A game united all things being even, would have won.

21st February The Blades have signed Owen Morrison from Wednesday. Morrison was the only decent player in the owls' team when he played, and now he makes the journey across the city to play for the pride of Sheffield - The Blades. Morrison has had his contract at Hillsborough cancelled by mutual consent and only played 2 games this season for the losers over at Hillsborough.

 

20th February The Blades have confirmed that they are interested in goalkeeper Dave Beasant as cover for Paddy Kenny. The former Wimbledon and Chelsea keeper joined Brighton at the end of January and has made two appearances for them so far.

 

19th February Neil Warnock admitted his side had been overrun by Reading as the Blades lost their grip on third place in the First Division. The Royals came from a goal down to win 3-1 at Bramall Lane and leapfrog the Blades in the top three. Warnock said "It was disappointing as we got well and truly beaten in the end but I thought it was a game we should have won, A second goal would have been enough but they got a breakaway goal to equalise and it was an uphill battle after that. Our back four is better than that but I'm not going to name names. We just need to go away and work hard with the Norwich game coming up on Saturday. You can blame everything, the pitch, the ball, but we've just got to look in the mirror and get on with it because these lads have not done bad this season,"

 

18th February Sheffield United 1 Reading 3 (Attendance: 16,884)
Line-up: Kenny, Jagielka, Murphy, Page, Quinn, Javary (Cas 72), Brown, McCall, Tonge, Windass (Allison 38), Kabba (Peschisolido 65).
Subs not used: Yates, Mooney.
Scorer: Brown 3.

The Blades slumped to their third consecutive league defeat at the Lane. United without Peter Ndlovu, went ahead after just three minutes through Michael Brown's 12th strike of the season when he curled in a brilliant free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the Reading goal after Dean Windass had been hauled down 25 yards out by Reading's Adie Williams. But a dogged Royals team fought back to climb above the Blades into third in Division One. The Blades did look the sharper of the two sides early on, and the lead was almost doubled just four minutes later but Reading goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann made a low save to his left following Stuart McCall's stinging right-foot volley from outside the area. Reading threatened for the first time after 15 minutes, when defender Nicky Shorey whipped-in free-kick from the right which deceived everyone except Kenny, who made a fine save to divert the ball behind for a corner.United continued to create chances and after 23 minutes, Brown's looping far-post header following Phil Jagielka's excellent cross, dropped just over the bar. But United were rocked when Reading striker Nicky Forster latched on to a Steven Sidwell pass to level after 35 minutes. United were then forced into a change when Windass hobbled off to be replaced by Wayne Allison seven minutes before half-time. After 51 minutes, Brown ran past a couple of challenges before curling a right-foot shot over the crossbar from the edge of the area. But Reading continued to look the better side, Forster turned Robert Page smartly before testing Kenny with a low drive on 60 minutes. Reading midfield threesome of Hughes, Sidwell, and James Harper were dominating in the middle of the park. After 65 minutes, Paul Peschisolido came on for the disappointing Steven Kabba. Nathan Tyson almost put the Royals ahead with a rising angled drive that Kenny did well to keep out. Page made a last-gasp challenge to deny Hughes as Reading continued dominate proceedings before Neil Warnock made his final change with Marcel Cas coming on for his debut in place of Jean-Phillipe Javary. It was no surprise when Reading eventually found the breakthrough. On 73 minutes, Hughes had a strike from 20 yards superbly parried by Kenny but Williams was on hand to lift the rebound into the roof of the net from an acute angle. The Blades made a desperate attempt to claw back a point, but the Royals were in no mood to be denied, and sealed victory through Forster's second on 81 minutes, after a superb run by Tyson. Norwich are the Blades next opponents, and the Canaries are only 6 points behind, a victory is needed.

 

17th February United have a slight concern over Peter Ndlovu for the visit of Reading. The Blades winger sustained a slight knock during the FA Cup win over Walsall, but is expected to take his place in the starting line-up. Winger Marcel Cas, who has yet to feature for the first team since signing from Notts County two weeks ago, has been added to the squad as a precautionary measure. Dean Windass is available again after being cup-tied at the weekend.

17th February The Blades have been drawn at home in the draw for the 6th Round of The FA Cup, they will face Leeds United at Bramall Lane on the weekend of 8-9 March.

 

15th February Sheffield United 2 Walsall 0 (Attendance: 17,510)
Line-up: Kenny, Jagielka, Murphy, Page, Quinn, Ndlovu, Brown, McCall, Tonge, Kabba (Peschisolido 75), Mooney (Allison 77).
Subs not used: Kozluk, Yates, Ten Heuvel.
Scorers: Mooney 37, Ndlovu 56.

The Blades swept aside a toothless Walsall to book a place in the 6th Round of the FA Cup. Tommy Mooney got the opener, his first for the club since joining them on loan, and Peter Ndlovu killed off Colin Lee's side 11 minutes after the restart. United almost snatched the lead in the ninth minute after neat work from Steven Kabba picked out Ndlovu. Ndlovu went inside and lashed in a low right-foot shot from the edge of the area, tipped round the post by James Walker. Walsall striker Junior had the Saddlers' only useful effort of the half on the quarter-hour mark as Steve Corica's pass gave him a fine opportunity, but an attempted goal-bound flick was beaten away by the right hand of Paddy Kenny. Michael Brown almost broke the deadlock with a free kick from the edge of the area, the ball curling into the side netting with Walker diving to his right. Michael Tonge found space on the left as the Blades pressed for an opener, he picked out Kabba who pulled his close range header a foot wide of the mark. United finally went ahead in the 37th minute, the move started by Tonge who found Brown. He raced towards the Walsall goal before lashing in a stinging shot which the diving Walker could only push away. Mooney pounced in at the far post to slot the ball over the line. Kabba had a chance to snatch a second three minutes later after outpacing Walsall defender Danny Hay but Walker was quickly off his line to smother the ball. Ndlovu struck in the 56th minute heading in a Brown cross at the far post from the tightest of angles. Page had to clear off the line from Junior and Jorge Leitao slammed the loose ball into the side netting after Kenny had pushed away a long range strike from Corica. Amid the proceedings, Walsall manager Colin Lee was dismissed from the dug-out by the referee for 'persistent infringement in the technical area'. Lee was arguing with the fourth official throughout the match. Another win at the Lane means United have not been beaten in front of the Blades Fans' since September 28, a run of 15 matches which includes 12 victories and three draws. Today, the Blades were worthy winners against a frustrated Walsall side.

14th February United are confident Wayne Quinn will be fit for the FA Cup 5th round a home to Walsall, despite limping out of the defeat at Ipswich after hurting his back. Dean Windass misses the game, Windass is cup-tied. Wayne Allison, Tommy Mooney or Paul Peschisolido could replace Windass. The game ended 1-1 in this season's League fixture at the Lane, and the Blades won 1-0 on their visit to the Bescot Stadium.

 

12th February Assistant manager Kevin Blackwell has agreed a new two-year contract extension with United. Blackwell said he had three offers to manage other clubs, but chose to stay at the Lane to help the Blades promotion challenge.The Blades have also have offered a new deal to Michael Brown. Brown is believed to be a target for Chelsea and Liverpool.

 

10th February According to reports, Chelsea have checked out Blades midfielder Michael Brown. Apparently Brown was watched at the Millwall game, and again at the match at Ipswich Town. United confirmed last week that Brown is one of several players with whom they are to open talks with about a new contract with the club.

8th February Ipswich Town 3 Sheffield United 2 (Attendance: 26,151)
Line-up: Kenny, Jagielka, Quinn (Edghill 71), Murphy, Page, McCall, Tonge, Brown, Windass (Allison 75), Kabba (Mooney 63), Ndlovu.
Subs not used: Kozluk, Peschisolido.
Bookings: Kabba 40, Tonge 45, Murphy 90.
Scorers: Ndlovu 45, Windass 50.

The Blades unbelievably let a two goal lead go to waste as a ten-man Ipswich team staged a fightback to record a 3-2 win at Portman Road. Goals from Peter Ndlovu in first-half stoppage-time and Dean Windass shortly after the restart looked to have set the Blades on the way to a victory that would have got their automatic promotion challenge back on track after last week's defeat by Millwall. But Darren Bent gave Ipswich hope when he pulled one back, Darren Ambrose hit a deserved equaliser, and Bent popped up again with a late winner to seal a victory which leave United 12 points behind Leicester City and automatic promotion. The game appeared to go in United's favour when Pablo Counago was sent off after 20 minutes for violent conduct in an off-the-ball incident on Michael Brown. The Blades punished the 10 man Ipswich team with a goal from Ndlovu as the first half drew to a close, the winger turning past Thomas Gaardsoe before striking a good finish to reward United for their superiority. Ipswich sent on Marcus Bent in an attempt to liven up their attack in the second half, but within five minutes of the restart they looked down and out. Dean Windass burst through on a counter-attack to give United a two-goal lead with a shot from the edge of the box. But a battling Ipswich team, with Marcus Bent causing all sorts of problems, refused to be beaten. Tommy Miller had already lobbed a shot on to the bar when Darren Bent scored hitting a 12-yard volley from Jermaine Wright's pass after 57 minutes. Ipswich continued to press for the equaliser and after 78 minutes they go it, Darren Bent swung over a cross from the right and Ambrose headed the ball past Paddy Kenny. The comeback was sealed with three minutes left when Herman Hreidarsson played in Ambrose who crossed to the far post where Darren Bent thundered home a header. In stoppage time United almost grabbed an equaliser when Thomas Gaardsoe's header was volleyed just past the far post from 25 yards by Brown. United have wasted their chance to keep the pressure on Leicester, and to lose 2-3 after being 2-0 up is bad enough but to lose against a team playing with 10 men for 70 minutes is disappointing.