The Blades have signed Wolves striker Dean Sturridge on loan with a view to a permanent move. Neil Warnock moved for the 30-year-old as a replacement for Steven Kabba, out of action with a broken leg. "I think he will enjoy our way of playing, He has plenty of pace and is a goalscorer and we create chances, so I'm sure he will get plenty of opportunities in front of goal. I'm hopeful we might be able to do something permanent if things work out right." said Warnock.
Blades striker Steven Kabba will be out for at least two months after breaking his leg on Sunday. Kabba limped off after just 25 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic at the Lane, and x-rays confirmed he has a fragmented crack of the fibular. The luckless frontman was making his first start of the season after a long lay-off with tendonitis in the knee. Boss Neil Warnock say he intends to draft in reinforcements as quickly as possible.
The Blades and Wigan served up an entertaining afternoon at the Lane with two goals in less than a minute midway through the first but neither side could carve out any meaningful chances in this hard fought game. United’s goalkeeper Paddy Kenny kept Wigan out in the eight minute after the Latics had won a free-kick on the left. Jimmy Bullard's cross was met by Jason De Vos whose close-range header was pushed away by Kenny, Ellington ran on to the loose ball as Alan Wright stuck out a foot to block his shot from ten yards. Ian Breckin struck seconds later, beating his marker to stretch to a corner and again the Blades keeper reacted instantly to foil the big centre-back. Ellington scooped a low shot wide of the far post minutes later as panic set into United's defence before they slowly clawed they way back into the game. Nick Montgomery threw away a simple chance, heading a Rob Kozluk centre wide of the target from six yards before United broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute. Ashley Ward burst into the area only to be stopped in his tracks by De Vos, the ball broke to Jack Lester, who cooly skipped past John Filan to slot into an empty net. Wigan were back on level terms a minute later, Neil Roberts picked out the lively Ellington, who twisted past centre-back Phil Jagielka before hitting an angled drive beyond Kenny's reach into the far corner. Michael Tonge then failed to hit the target with a 25-yard free-kick and Peter Ndlovu's 20-yard effort flew inches over. Bullard fired a long-range free-kick inches over the bar and Lee McCulloch forced another desperate save out of Kenny before Gary Teale drilled the ball into the side netting as Wigan forced the pace. On the hour United replaced Ndlovu with Steven Kabba, who was making his first appearance of the season following tendonitis in his knee. Ellington almost grabbed a second in the 66th minute after McCulloch got his head to a Teale cross, the little Wigan striker nipped in, but miscued from six yards as the ball was scrambled to safety. With time running out; Warnock threw on Wayne Allison and Paul Peschisolido for Ward and Lester with 10 minutes to go in a bid to snatch the victory. But in the 86th minute disaster struck when Kabba limped off with what looked like a bad injury to his leg. It left United with 10 men and wigan held on for a draw. It’s a draw which keeps the Blades in third spot in Division One.
The Blades continued their surge towards the Premiership with a battling win at Highfield Road, with a Jack Lester penalty which saw Neil Warnock’s men pick up a valuable three points. It was great to see Paddy Kenny back in goal for the Blades after returning from a long term injury. Sky Blues striker Patrick Suffo went close twice in the opening ten minutes, first when he latched onto an excellent through ball from Yazid Mansouri but hit the side netting. Then two minutes later Suffo beat his team-mate Michael Doyle to an Andrew Whing ball over the top and struck the ball well but a yard over the bar. Phil Jagielka had United's first attempt, volleying over from a Stuart McCall cross. A free-kick conceded by Youssef Safri produced the next opportunity for the Blades with Peter Ndlovu getting his head to Michael Tonge's delivery but the ball drifted wide, while Nick Montgomery was cautioned for a foul on Yazid Mansouri. The second half was only eight minutes old when the Blades took the lead. Mo Konjic fouled Jack Lester in the area, earning a booking, and the former Nottingham Forest striker got up to place the penalty into the bottom right corner of the net. Coventry responded positively and Calum Davenport got his head to Steve Staunton's free-kick but his effort flew wide. Davenport had another sight of goal four minutes later but his header from a Mansouri cross was again off target. Four minutes from the end substitute Dele Adebola could have equalised from a Staunton corner but headed wide. Ndlovu hit the woodwork in stoppage time as United pressed for a second goal but Lester's spot-kick proved enough to keep up the promotion challenge.
Tottenham have confirmed they will sign Michael Brown when the transfer window reopens on New Year's Day. The London club have reached an agreement with United and Brown for him to move to White Hart Lane on 1 January 2004. Brown scored 28 goals in 142 league starts for the Blades. Neil Warnock said: "He's had one or two injuries which have interfered with his season but he's just got fully fit, so within a couple of weeks I think we'll see the real Michael Brown. It must be difficult knowing you could be going to a big club but still trying to give your all for your current club. I'm disappointed we've lost a very good player in Michael but life goes on - and we've got one or two very good players who can come in.'' Warnock confirmed the fee is around £500,000 He added: "I'm not going to disclose it at the moment but I'm quite pleased with it, knowing he's only got six months left on his contract.' We have to be very careful who we bring in, although I am hoping to increase the squad in the next couple of weeks. It's difficult unless you have millions of pounds but we try and spend what we can afford and try and be successful at the same time.''
Neil Warnock says he is not ready to make an offer for Mansfield's Liam Lawrence. Warnock has been linked with a move the midfielder, but when pressed if he was likely to table a bid for the right-sided Lawrence, Warnock said: "I can't go and watch a match without causing speculation. No, not at all. I just went to watch a match as I do from time to time." Media reports have suggested the possible move for the player, but even if Michael Brown should decide to leave the Blades, United would still have plenty of midfield talent left with the likes of Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery ready to take over from Brown. It’s more likely that Warnock will try to find a striker for the Blades promotion challenge.
21 st December Former Blades hero Gil Reece has died from illness at the age of 61. The Welsh international was an outstanding winger during the 1960s and was also part of the 1970-71 promotion-winning side.
16 th December Blades boss Neil Warnock has conceded he is struggling to bring in a top-class striker in his search for more firepower. Warnock has been scouring the country for a proven goalscorer to bolster his side's promotion push but has so far drawn a blank. "Yes, I'm still looking but the problem is that even for £500,000, I think I'd struggle to get someone who is any better than what we've already got, If I can get someone then I will. I think we've got plenty of quality already here, but at the moment the problem is that we seem to need about five or six chances to score" said Warnock.
Jack Lester rescued a point for the Blades as he grabbed a late penalty equaliser against a ten-man Watford. United, who had struggled to find their rhythm, against a hard-working Watford side, broke clear in the 20th minute, Michael Tonge picking out Nick Montgomery but the Blades midfielder, under pressure from Marcus Gayle, fired wide of the target from 16 yards. Michael Brown, recalled to the side before the start of a four-match suspension, pulled a free kick over the top before the Blades were caught on the break, Paulo Vernazza drilling in a half-volley but the Watford midfielder miscued and Alan Fettis tidied up. The Blades keeper foiled Watford again seconds before the interval, beating Helguson to Paul Devlin's centre to punch clear. Phil Jagielka broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, rising at the far post to meet Tonge's corner to head past Pidgeley from close range. Watford were in deeper trouble in the 58th minute when Pidgeley was sent off as he darted from his area and handled as Lester burst through, substitute goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain taking over between the posts. Watford got back on level terms in the 64th minute, when Devlin prodded the ball to Jack Smith whose angled drive flashed past Fettis and into the far corner. United were all over the place defensivly and Helguson added a second for the Hornets three minutes later stretching at the far post to meet Neal Ardley's cross from the left flank. United brought on Dries Boussatta as they tried to find a way back. The Hornets keeper made some outstanding saves as United stormed forward looking for an equaliser. He blocked substitute Ashley Ward's effort and then kept out Lester before Smith suffered a rush of blood to the head in the 84th minute sticking out a hand to divert a Stuart McCall centre. Lester stepped forward to convert the penalty to save the Blades blushes from what would have been an embarrassing defeat. It is a result which keeps United in 3rd spot in Division One.
The Blades surged into an automatic promotion spot after goals from Paul Peschisolido and Nick Montgomery handed them a 2-0 victory over Walsall at Bramall Lane. Peschisolido, making his first start in eight games, struck in the 41st minute, with midfielder Montgomery, killing off Walsall 11 minutes later. Alan Fettis, brought in to replace Lee Baxter after his disastrous debut at Turf Moor on Saturday, foiled the Midlands side in the opening minutes after Walsall threatened an early shock. Steve Corica produced a stinging shot fisted away by Fettis, on loan from Hull, and midfielder Gary Birch steamed in to hammer the loose ball high over the top. Peter Ndlovu squandered a half chance pulling a close range header wide as United probed for an opening. Phil Jagielka almost got the breakthrough in the 18th minute connecting with Michael Tonge's precise corner, his downward header snatched on the line by Jimmy Walker. Walsall full-back Darren Bazeley blundered seven minutes later as he cut out a Rob Kozluk cross, the ball cannoned off his knee and Walker dived to his left to keep it out before Bazeley cleared. Kozluk almost found the net with a low shot pushed away by the Walsall keeper before Darren Wrack got the wrong side of Kozluk only to pull the ball wide of the far post from just inside the box. Peschisolido was causing havoc in the Walsall defence and was inches away after stabbing the ball wide of the target after a goalmouth scramble. Four minutes later he grabbed the Blades opener, Walker failed to hang onto Alan Wright's free-kick and Peschisolido pounced to lash the ball in from eight yards for his fourth of the season. A special mention goes to Nick Montgomery who was outstanding in the middle of the park. Both Montgomery and Tonge were in total control of the midfield and it was Tonge who set up United's second in the 52nd minute running onto a Jack Lester pass before slipping the ball to Montgomery who produced an angled drive from 12 yards, his second goal in successive games. It is a victory which puts United into second place in Division One.
Michael Brown will serve a four match ban after recieving his second red card of the season at Turf Moor. The midfielder recieved his marching orders for serious foul play in the match with Burnley.
Sent-Off: Brown 59.
Robbie Blake struck twice as Burnley beat a 10-man Blades team at Turf Moor. The first chance of note fell to Burnley’s Richard Chaplow who hit the cross bar. In the 18th minute Burnley went ahead; Blake struck a 20 yard shot which United’s debutante goalkeeper Lee Baxter looked to have covered but he fumbled it into his own net to give the Claret's the lead. The Blades equaliser came when a free kick taken by Alan Wright found Allison who headed on to Ndlovu, who on the edge of the area, then passed to Nick Montgomery. Brian Jensen had no chance in the Burnley goal as the midfielder fired low and hard past him. The Blades second came when Michael Tonge's cross after 31 minutes found defender Mike Whitlow who cleverly back-headed the ball through a crowded area to put United ahead. But within 3 minutes the Clarets levelled the scores in what was a pulsating first half. This time Blake was the architect as he sent over a cross which Moore managed to meet with a glancing header, again goalkeeper Baxter was at fault when he allowed Moore's header easily beat him for Burnley's equaliser. Moore then had a header cleared off the line by Tonge, but the first-half entertainment was far from over with Burnley going in front after Mark McGregor was deemed to have been fouled by Chris Morgan, McGregor found himself trapped between Morgan and Allison and went down just inside the penalty area, the referee seemed happy to continue play, but with the linesman furiously flagging for a foul he gave a penalty. Blake stepped forward to convert the penalty. The Blades came out for the start of the second half with a new goalkeeper, Alan Fetis replacing Baxtor; whose confidence must have dropped after his two blunders. The game did not produce more goals but there was no shortage of incident as United started the brightest in the second half. A shot from Tonge was palmed wide by Jensen, and then a cross by Ndlovu found Montgomery whose close range shot was tipped over by the Clarets goalkeeper. But on the hour United blew their chances of reversing the outcome when Michael Brown was sent-off for what the referee saw as ‘serious foul play’ with a lunge in the direction of Blake, to be fair to Brown, he had just miss-kicked the ball and was trying re-gain possession. The challenge looked worse than it really was – a yellow card would have been a better punishment. Brown's absence appeared to rob the Blades of any impetus and enabled Burnley to hold out for the three points. It was a wasted chance for the Blades to close the gap on the teams at the top of the table. United had been the better team on the afternoon, but unfortunate goalkeeping errors and a questionable red card cost the Blades the points. Still with home games this week United have a chance to pick up points and put the pressure on the teams above.
Neil Warnock has made a double signing to avert a possible goalkeeper crisis at the Lane. Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis, currently with Hull City, and Lee Baxter, recently with Malmo following a spell in Sweden, are both expected to sign in time to be available for the trip to Burnley. Warnock said "We are taking Alan for a month and, if we can get international clearance in time, will also sign Lee on a non-contract basis, With such a busy period coming up in the lead up to Christmas the opportunity to bring in two players of Alan's experience and Lee's enthusiasm is too good to miss."
Neil Warnock's hopes of signing a new keeper in time for Saturday's match at Burnley have suffered a setback. The Blades have just one recognised professional keeper available, Kristian Rogers, due to Paddy Kenny's long-term knee injury and the return of on-loan Paul Gerrard to Everton. Warnock has until noon on Saturday to register another loan signing if he is to be eligible for the match at Turf Moor. Warnock talking about the situation, said "I thought I had a goalkeeper in place earlier in the week but I've been knocked back, We are looking for an experienced keeper, we've been offered quite a few young lads, but I'd rather go with Kristian than go down that road."
Neil Warnock was today celebrating after being named the Division One manager of the month for November.The Blades have taken 10 points from a possible 15, lifting them up to third place and just three points behind leaders West Brom. Warnock, said: "It is a lovely present. It is also four years to the day since I took over at Bramall Lane. There were some very tricky games in the month and we have also had to put up with a few significant injuries. The award is not just for me but for everyone at the club who are all pulling in the same direction.'