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30th November Bryan Robson is delighted with the developing battle for the number one shirt between Paddy Kenny and Ian Bennett. Kenny impressed during the wins at Coventry and Charlton after coming in for Bennett, who had a good match against Plymouth, but suffered injury with a badly-bruised hand. And Robson insists he does not have a definite first choice, but will select whoever is performing better at the time. He commented: "I don't class it as a number one and a number two situation; whoever is playing well will keep their place, especially if the team are winning. "There isn't a lot of difference between them and they both get on well off the pitch."
28th November Nick Montgomery believes United can "still challenge" for promotion after running out 3-0 winners at Charlton. The Blades midfielder suspects the shake-up at the club since their relegation is a key factor in their poor start to the season, but with some improved home form, Montgomery feels the Blades can start to climb the table following an impressive win. He commented: "That was a great performance to bring back three points against a team that is flying at the moment and all the lads are absolutely delighted. Watford and Charlton who came down with us kept their manager and the basis of their team but we didn't, which might well have helped them start the season better than us. We've had a new manager, players coming in, a couple of loan signings and trying to change our style - but if we can brush up on our home form we can still challenge this season. The manager, staff and players all want to prove a point and win games, and I can't remember such a good away performance in a long time. I would like to think that one defeat in eight league games is a bit of a statement because it takes time to adapt, but we seem to have stopped making silly errors and tonight we defended well as a team, as we did at Stoke. Charlton have some fantastic players in their dressing-room and hadn't conceded for ages so to win here is some achievement."
27th November Charlton Athletic 0 Sheffield United 3 (Attendance: 20,737) Kenny, Bardsley, Cahill, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Gillespie, Armstrong, Montgomery, Tonge, Carney, Beattie. Scorers: Beattie 34 pen, Cahill 75, Armstrong 89. Man of The Match: James Beattie.
Charlton Line-up: Weaver, Mills, Sodje, Fortune, Basey (Bougherra 66), Sam (Varney 46), Zhi, Semedo (Holland 46), Reid, Jerome Thomas, Iwelumo. Booked: Mills 76.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).
United registered their first win at The Valley since 1971 with an emphatic 3-0 victory, and put behind them Saturdays disappointing performance at the Lane. Bryan Robson switched to a more defensive 4-5-1 formation, with Michael Tonge replacing Danny Webber in the starting line-up. One enforced replacement was that of Paddy Kenny coming in for an injured Ian Bennett. The first chance went to Charlton after only 60 seconds, when Andy Reid's set-piece was headed wide by Sam Sodje after he got the better of Matt Kilgallon. United had their fair share of possession too, forcing two early corners. Then, Charlton winger Lloyd Sam beat David Carney and Gary Naysmith but could not beat a well positioned Kenny. The Blades goalkeeper was back in action moments later, this time racing off his line to clear a poor back pass by Naysmith with Sam lurking. After 20 minutes, Sam got through on goal, and Naysmith made a timely tackle, as United with the superb backing of the Blades faithful began to take control. United were well-organised and determined to make amends for last Saturday's reversal with Tonge, Nick Montgomery and James Beattie in good form throughout. The Blades high tempo started to fashion several moves of encouragement, and were given the chance to take the lead 12 minutes before the break. Phil Bardsley got down the right, and a tussle at the far post between Carney and Addicks winger Jerome Thomas saw the Australian baulked and resulted in Referee Mark Halsey pointing to the penalty spot. Beattie, operating alone up front for the Blades, stepped up and there was never any doubt as the ball nestled in the bottom right corner to give United the lead. After 35 minutes, Keith Gillespie found Tonge and the Blades midfield man let fly with a stinging drive that was saved by Charlton goalkeeper Nicky Weaver. Then in the 42nd minute a deep free-kick from United bounced out of the box and fell to Carney whose shot took a wicked deflection off Danny Mills and flew just wide of the upright and behind for a corner which came to nothing. At the start of the second half, Charlton make a double substitution, with midfielder Matt Holland and Luke Varney replacing Jose Semedo and Sam, with the Addicks lining up with a 4-4-2 formation. Five minutes in to the half, striker Varney got on the end of a Reid free-kick, but his header dropped wide of the post. Carney shot high over the bar after 56 minutes and moments later, Charlton worked an opening on the left and Thomas crossed, but with Kilgallon in close attendance, striker Chris Iwelumo's stooping header went over. After 61 minutes, Charlton midfielder Andy Reid curled a free-kick over the bar from a promising position, while Beattie had the ball in the net for the Blades moments later, tapping home a low cross from Montgomery only for it to be ruled offside. Charlton had possibly their best chance after 64 minutes, when utility man Zheng Zhi held the ball up in the box for Mills who cut inside and let fly with a low drive. The ball spun loose off Kenny but the Blades keeper recovered brilliantly to divert the follow-up effort from the giant Iwelumo over the bar. Charlton made their final substitution after 66 minutes. With defender Madjid Bougherra replacing left-back Grant Basey. Bougherra taking up the right-back position and Mills switching to left-back. On 71 minutes, Mills won the ball and threaded a pass through to Varney on the left. The striker drove the ball in and it fell invitingly for Zheng, only for the Chinese International to place his first-time shot against the top of the bar and over. But, for all the Charlton possession, the Blades were still comfortable. Defending well and soaking up the pressure when needed. And after 75 minutes it was the Blades who doubled their lead. From a Gillespie corner on the left, Sodje failed to clear the ball, and although Weaver made an initial block, he was powerless as Gary Cahill stabbed the ball in from close range to send the Blades fans into raptures of delight. The chant of 'are you wednesday in disguise' began to ring around the Valley as the United faithful drowned out their south-east London counterparts. As expected, the Addicks desperately pushed forward after United’s second goal trying to search for a way back in to the game. But the Blades defended resolutely and in the final minute were rewarded with their third goal of the evening. With Charlton still on the offensive, Kilgallon headed clear, Sodjie was beaten by Beattie, and he quickly moved up-field and slipping the ball through for Armstrong to coolly clip the ball into the top corner much to the delight of the Blades fans who continued to poke fun at the hapless Weaver in the Charlton goal. The Blades saw out the three minutes of injury time for a fine win which try to answer those who continually criticise the manager and individual players after defeats, but always crawl back into the woodwork when United win. This superb win means the Blades have lost only one game in their last eight Championship encounters and continue their climb up the table.
Kenny 7, Bardsley 6, Cahill 7, Kilgallon 7, Naysmith 6, Gillespie 6, Armstrong 7, Montgomery 7, Tonge 7, Carney 7, Beattie 8.
27th NovemberUnited boss Bryan Robson insists fringe striker Billy Sharp is still a big part of his plans this season. Sharp, who returned to Bramall Lane in the summer following a prolific spell at Scunthorpe, has only started six games this campaign. But Robson has assured the 21-year-old that he is still crucial to the Blades promotion push. The £1.5 million hit-man made his first league appearance since October when he came off the bench in his side's defeat to Plymouth on Saturday. "Saturday suited Billy. It gave him a chance to get in and around the box, and I thought he may have nicked us a goal," said Robson. "If Billy can take his chances and score goals, then he will stay in the team."
25th November Commenting after the defeat against Plymouth at Bramall Lane on Saturday, Bryan Robosn criticised his team and said: "There are no excuses when we start a game in such a disappointing way. For 25 minutes we had no tempo, no drive and you can't expect to start slowly at this level and then just pick it up just like that. "We didn't get going until the second-half after a couple of changes and we camped in their half, but credit to Plymouth - they defended well and looked dangerous on the counter-attack. Maybe Dave Carney's 'goal' in the first-half should not have been disallowed, and Bardsley's booking was a disgrace, but in any event we didn't deserve anything from the game and Ian Bennett kept is in it with two good saves." I am disappointed because the players let themselves down, us down and the fans down. You can look for positives in the game but they take care of themselves and I prefer to look at the minuses for clues about how to improve. "Players have to work hard week in and week out to become top players, and that's what separates people in this division. I thought the International break came at a good time for us because we went into it having momentum and confidence, but that didn't show today. I was expecting much more from my players than what we saw."
24th November Sheffield United 0 Plymouth Argyle 1 (Attendance: 23,811) Bennett, Bardsley, Cahill, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Gillespie (Tonge 58), Montgomery, Armstrong, Carney (Sharp 58), Webber, Beattie. Booked: Bardsley 67. Man of The Match: Ian Bennett.
Plymouth Line-up: Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Seip, Hodges, Halmosi (Sawyer 77), Nalis, Norris, Martin, Hayles, Ebanks-Blake (Easter 86). Scorer: Halmosi 24.
Referee: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).
Plymouth gained their first win at Bramall Lane in 69 years, against an poor Sheffield United side. United were unchanged from the side which won at Stoke two weeks ago. Plymouth had one change with Krisztián Timár replacing Mathias Kouo-Doumbe at centre-back. Just before kick-off there was a minute’s applause for the great Joe Shaw who died this week. Argyle had the better opportunities in the opening 15 minutes, with Lee Martin having a speculative shot blocked before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was denied by Gary Cahill from profiting from Paul Connolly's first-time clearance that caught United by surprise. The rain had been lashing down from the start, and this seemed to help Plymouth’s direct style of play. Peter Halmosi fired over from 25 yards, and after 20 minutes, Danny Webber's powerful low drive went the wrong side of goalkeeper Romain Larrieu's right-hand post. After 24 minutes, Plymouth got their opener with Halmosi reading Ebanks-Blake's intentions perfectly, and slipping in behind the Blades offside trap to take the pass with enough time to compose himself and put the ball over goalkeeper Ian Bennett. United should have equalised on the half-hour when David Norris gave the ball away cheaply in the Pilgrims penalty area, but Nick Montgomery chipped a gift of a chance wide. Plymouth were dominating proceedings, and Ebanks-Blake and Barry Hayles found themselves in the clear on several occasions beating United’s defence with their quick counter attacking play. A minute before the break, the Pilgrims should have gone two up, but Ebanks-Blake elected to go for broke after a quick break, using Martin for a dummy. But after beating Cahill he greedily elected to shoot rather than pass to his partner, and it was tipped over by Bennett. The Blades departed for the dressing-room to a chorus of boos around Bramall Lane. United emerged for the second half a minute before the opponents in a rugby style huddle before the kick-off, but Argyle were to continue with the better chances, and, in the opening minutes of the second half, Bennett did well to get everything behind a Halmosi long-ranger. United had a chance when Beattie attempted a 30-yard shot which went into the Kop with Larrieu off his line. Ten minutes into the second half, and Blake smashed a swerving 20 yard shot cannoning against Bennett's upper post. On 58 minutes, Bryan Robson made a double substitution, Michael Tonge replaced Keith Gillespie and Billy Sharp came on for Carney. After 62 minutes Bennett came to Montgomery's rescue after the midfielder’s pass put Ebanks-Blake in the clear, and then Bennett made another vital save from Martin after a Ebanks-Blake had put the midfielder through. Bardsley was then cautioned for an alleged dive on the right of the Plymouth 18 yard box. It happened in front of the Kop who wanted a penalty, and to everyone’s amazement the Blades defender was booked. The decision incensed manager Robson who briefly unfolded his arms and remonstrated with the officials. This brought humorous cheers from the lane faithful as the referee went to the touchline to have a word with the Blades boss, and no doubt told him to calm down! United tried to salvage something in the final 20 minutes, and put the Plymouth goal under constant pressure. First, Tonge's left-foot effort was saved by Larrieu. Then, from Tonge's corner on the right, Beattie won the header and Webber's effort was cleared off the line by Halmosi and the rebound was fired against the crossbar by Webber. With the crowd creating a bedlam of noise at the Kop end, Beattie headed at Larrieu from Montgomery's cross and Sharp had another effort blocked. With four added minutes United tried to maintain the momentum, but this was naturally countered by time wasting by Plymouth. But it was not to be, and the final whistle was greeted by an enormous boo which no doubt could be heard by some of Blades fans who had already left the Lane and were already heading home. This was without doubt the worst performance of the season from a disjointed United side that never got going from the start.
Bennett 7, Bardsley 6, Cahill 6, Kilgallon 6, Naysmith 6, Gillespie 5, Tonge 7, Montgomery 5, Armstrong 5, Carney 6, Webber 6, Beattie 6, Sharp 6.
18th November Joe Shaw who made total of 714 appearances for United, has died at the age of 79. Joe was born in Murton, County Durham and was signed by United in 1945. He made his league debut against Liverpool August 30, 1948, and went on to make a record 632 league appearances the Blades. He primarily played at centre-half, but could also play at wing-half and right-half. He had a superb anticipation and ability to read the game, and played in manager Reg Freeman's 'double banking' defensive system in the mid 1950's.Shaw was selected for to play for the Football League on two occasions, though the England cap that many thought he deserved was never awarded. He made is last appearance against West Ham in February 1965.
15th November Gary Cahill believes a settled Blades defence has been key to the club's upturn in fortunes in the Championship in recent weeks. United are unbeaten in their last six league matches since manager Bryan Robson settled on a back four of Phil Bardsley, Cahill, Matt Kilgallon and Gary Naysmith and have climbed up to 12th place in the table. Cahill, who man of the man against Stoke, said: "Defenders get the same joy from making last-ditch tackles as strikers do scoring goals; it is the same as being the match winner. "Most of the back four are youngsters really, with only Gary Naysmith having any real experience. We're all learning though and we're trying to play in a composed fashion." Cahill, who has formed a solid partnership at the heart of defence alongside Kilgallon, added: "We try to cover for each other and if we make mistakes we both expect the other one to help out and make a tackle or block."
10th November Bryan Robson praised his side's defensive capabilities after a backs-to-the-wall display earned United a 1-0 victory over Stoke. Gary Cahill's goal just before half-time earned Robson's men a useful win as hosts Stoke slumped to a third successive home defeat on a cold and windy night at the Britannia Stadium. The Potters, who play the long ball game, had nothing to show for all their pressure, and after Cahill headed home the Blades battled hard in the second period to keep Stoke at bay and earn the win. Robson said: "That was a fantastic defensive rearguard, we got some great blocks and headers in. "The way Stoke play, with all their long-throws and balls into the box, it's like watching the Wimbledon of old. "It wasn't a pretty game but Stoke can cause you a lot of problems." The win allowed United into the top half of the table after a disappointing start to life back in the Championship, but Robson insisted their target was still to finish in the play-off zone. Robson added: "We weren't where we wanted to be six games ago but now we've got to make sure we get into that sixth place. "Gary Cahill got man of the match but there was a lot of players who did well defensively."
10th November Stoke City 0 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 12,158) Bennett, Bardsley, Cahill, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Gillespie, Armstrong, Montgomery, Carney (Tonge 90), Webber (Lucketti 88), Beattie. Booked: Cahill 26, Gillespie 70. Scorer: Cahill 43. Man of The Match: Gary Cahill.
Stoke Line-up: Simonsen, Wright (Phillips 78), Cort, Shawcross, Wilkinson (Pericard 90), Cresswell, Delap, Eustace, Pugh, Fuller, Sidibe (Parkin 66).
Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).
A Gary Cahill goal just before half-time secured United a 1-0 win at Stoke City, taking the Blades into the top half of the Championship. It was instantly noticeable that, Stoke, who prior to this match were close to the play-off positions; seemed to have poor support with large areas of the Britannia Stadium completely empty. In the 10th minute, a long throw from the left caused confusion and after Mamady Sidibe's header was cleared; Stoke’s Rory Delap's lofted effort required a back-tracking Ian Bennett to tip over. Stoke continued with constant pressure as Ricardo Fuller set up first John Eustace and then Delap for thumping shot that was blocked. In the 20th minute, Fuller was at the heart of another move that led to him curling a dangerous effort narrowly wide. The Blades whose fans were far more audible than their quite Potteries counterparts finally came into the game after the half-hour mark, and had their first effort when James Beattie spotted Steve Simonsen off his line and tried an audacious effort from 40 yards that the goalkeeper cleared of danger. Ten minutes later, Nick Montgomery doubled United's first-half chances with a shot wide, before winger David Carney fired into the side-netting after a great cross-field ball from Danny Webber. That was a warning that Stoke failed to heed and, with two minutes of the half left, Carney's corner was not fully cleared and when Webber crossed back in, Cahill's header just made it across the goal-line before Simonsen could reach it. The second half started as the first had ended, with Stoke in the ascendancy, but playing direct route-one football. In the 55th minute Fuller found Sidibe and he beat his marker to burst into the area, but his attempted cut-back was blocked and when the pair combined again five minutes later, Sidibe's half-volley was easy for Bennett to gather. Stoke were almost caught on the break as Carney's cross sought out Beattie in the area but Ryan Shawcross got in ahead of him to clear. Pulis brought on big Jon Parkin for Sidibe shortly after to try and add some weight to his forward line, and it almost paid immediate dividends, Parkin putting Fuller through and only a last-ditch tackle from Cahill preventing an almost certain equaliser. In the 72nd minute Webber spun and struck a sweet strike that went narrowly over, but the Blades seemed content to sit on their lead. Four minutes from time Fuller headed a throw back across the area and Parkin headed goalwards but was denied by an alert Bennett. Deep into injury-time Stoke laid siege to the United goal and after Fuller had a ridiculous claim for a penalty waved away, Shawcross stinging volley was saved acrobatically and the Blades held on for another good win.
Bennett 8, Bardsley 7, Cahill 8, Kilgallon 7, Naysmith 7, Gillespie 6, Armstrong 6, Montgomery 6, Carney 7, Webber 7, Beattie 7 , Lucketti -, Tonge -
8th November United are giving a trial to former Bolton and Portsmouth midfielder David Thompson. The 30-year-old, who is without a club, will spend time with the Blades to build up his fitness. Manager Bryan Robson told BBC Radio Sheffield: "He's out of contract at the moment and is trying to build up his fitness. "There ares quite a few clubs that are interested in him and I'm glad he's decided to come to us."
6th November Bryan Robson was pleased with United's performance against Ipswich. Speaking after the match he commented: "We started a bit slowly, Ipswich had some good possession, but once the lads got a grip of what we were trying to achieve - hit Beattie and Webber working off him - then I thought we came into the game really well," "We were unfortunate not to get a second goal which takes the nervousness away from you. When Ipswich equalised it would be easy to make that as an excuse, but the lads didn't do that, they showed good character and went on to deservedly win the game." Asked whether James Beattie's 11 goals, including two against Ipswich, vindicated his decision to splash a club-record £4million on him, Robson said: "People keep talking about the £4million, but because of Rob Hulse's injury I thought it was important that we got a leader of the line, which is what Beattie is, and he can also score a goal. I wouldn't swap him for anybody in the division."
6th November The Blades have lined up in a 4-3-3 formation in recent games, but they have collected just seven points from their last seven outings. Robson said: "We need to continue to look at the balance of the side and make sure that we get that right. "We must be solid at the back, although equally we now need to improve on creating and converting our chances. "We have changed formation in games recently and that has made us more solid as a team so if we keep working hard everything will come right for us."
6th November Sheffield United 3 Ipswich Town 1 (Attendance: 25,033) Bennett, Bardsley, Cahill, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Gillespie, Montgomery, Carney (Tonge 88), Armstrong, Beattie, Webber. Booked: Webber. Scorers: Beattie 33, 72 pen, Gillespie 86. Man of The Match: Danny Webber.
Ipswich Line-up: Alexander, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Harding, Legwinski (Garvan 73), Trotter (Counago 77), Walters, Miller, Roberts (Peters 85), Lee. Booked: Trotter 69, Roberts 70, Walters 75. Scorer: Walters 54.
Referee: Graham Laws (Tyne & Wear).
James Beattie's 10th and 11th goals of the season helped secure United a 3-1 victory over Ipswich at Bramall Lane. Jon Walters lob cancelled out Beattie's clinical 33rd-minute effort but the Blades responded and Beattie added a second from the penalty spot before Gillespie smashed in a third late on to send the Lane faithful home with smile. Ipswich were the team playing the better football in the early stages and Alan Lee almost connected with a low Walters cross from the right. Lee had another good chance after 20 minutes when David Wright's pass found him in space on the edge of the box, but his scuffed effort drifted just past the post. United's first decent effort came when Phil Bardsley flashed a low shot wide after being teed up from the set-piece resulting from a clash of heads between Beattie and Wright. There was a spring in United's step at last after a sluggish start and they scored after 32 minutes when Chris Armstrong calmly squared the ball to Beattie in the box and the Championships' leading marksman applied the equally cool finish. He should have added a second late in the half but headed over Danny Webber's cross from the left. Ian Bennett comfortably saved Lee's downward header from a Wright ball in at the other end and the Blades were inches away from a second on the stroke of half-time when Webber's curling shot came back off Neil Alexander's left-hand upright. Ipswich equalised out of the blue nine minutes into the second half when a long ball over the top caught out the Blades and Walters raced on to lob the ball over Bennett. The former Chester man then headed against the bar from Lee's cross from the left before the danger was cleared with Bardsley having earlier drilled a shot wide for the hosts after Ipswich failed to clear a hanging ball in from David Carney. United had a strong claim for a penalty when Gillespie appeared to be fouled by Dan Harding in the box, but bizarrely a free-kick was awarded just outside by referee Graham Laws, to the disgust of the Shoreham Kop. The next call went their way as Nick Montgomery was judged to have been fouled in the area by Harding and Beattie confidently tucked the penalty away with 20 minutes to go. It was all hands on deck at the back briefly for the hosts but any fears of an Ipswich equaliser disappeared when Gillespie gained possession after an Armstrong shot was blocked, cut in from the left and cracked a right-foot shot beyond the helpless Alexander. After a nervous start, United went on to play probably their best football of the season and are now unbeaten in their last five league games.
Bennett 6, Bardsley 6, Cahill 6, Kilgallon 6, Naysmith 6, Gillespie 7, Montgomery 6, Carney 7, Tonge 6, Armstrong 6, Beattie 8, Webber 8.
3rd November Bryan Robson said referee Richard Beeby "robbed" United of three vital points against Burnley at Bramall Lane on Saturday. Beeby disallowed Danny Webber's header in the last minute - thus ensuring a goalless draw - after ruling James Beattie had held down a defender as he headed back across goal in the build-up. "For me, the ref has robbed us of a perfectly good goal right in the last minute," said Robson. "He said that Beattie had held down the lad down but I've seen the video and Beattie just jumped really early and it's a perfectly good goal. There is no way that should have been cancelled out by the ref." United had several good chances, with Beattie's first-half header the pick of them, but Clarets goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly was in inspired form to help produce his side's second clean sheet of the season. Robson cited Kiraly's performance and a lack of sharpness going forward combined to prevent the Blades a goal. "Their goalkeeper's made some real good saves," he said. "It was a scrappy game though and our attacking play was nowhere near as good as what it has been in other games. "Before, we were letting in poor goals. But now we are getting the defence right, our attacking part is not doing so well. So we have to get the balance right. "It's another game unbeaten game though and a clean sheet so we've got to keep building on that."
3rd November Sheffield United 0 Burnley 0 (Attendance: 25,306) Bennett, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Cahill, Naysmith, Gillespie (Montgomery 63), Tonge (Alan Quinn 63), Armstrong, Beattie, Shelton, Webber. Man of The Match: Danny Webber.
Burnley Line-up: Kiraly, Alexander, Carlisle, Unsworth, Jordan (Harley 58), Elliott, Spicer, McCann, Lafferty (Mahon 75), Gray, Blake. Subs Not Used: Jensen, James O'Connor, Akinbiyi.
Referee: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire).
United are still seeking for their first Championship home win since August following a 0-0 draw with Burnley at Bramall Lane. In a pulsating final spell, the Blades were denied a winner by a combination of resolute Burnley defending and, an adjudged push by James Beattie in the lead up to the goal. The Blades may have made an inauspicious start to the season but the way they performed belied their lowly league position. Bryan Robson made nine changes to the side that lost to Arsenal in the League Cup on Wednesday, with only goalkeeper Ian Bennett and Chris Armstrong retained. Seeking his side's second home win of the season, Robson opted for an attacking trio of Luton Shelton, Beattie and Danny Webber. Burnley made just one change from the side that faced Southampton last weekend, with David Unsworth returning to the starting line-up alongside Graham Alexander. After seven minutes, the lively Shelton teed up Webber, who lashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Burnley's response came 15 minutes in, following some excellent play by Robbie Blake. Eventually he rolling the ball back for Alexander to cross form the right, and Clarke Carlisle was too high with a far post header. The Clarets had the better of the play early on, and only a last gasp Bardsley interception denied Andy Gray a near post tap in. But, it took a point-blank save from Gabor Kiraly in the 25th minute to keep the scores level. Gary Naysmith evaded Alexander's tackle and his cross was met by a bullet header from James Beattie that the Hungarian somehow parried away on his goal line. After 32 minutes, Blake came close with a 35-yard free kick that curled into the side netting. United's first half performance had been unconvincing, with the midfield congested and with the Blades creating very few chances, and more alarmingly - looking completely clueless of ideas in their overall display. We all hoped for better, but, three minutes into the second half, Blake twisted and turned in the box and hung a cross up to the far post where Wade Elliott, totally unmarked, headed straight at Bennett. One minute later, Kiraly dived spectacularly for the photographers, the full length of his goal to save Shelton's deflected effort. On 51 minutes, Blake rolled a quickly taken free kick inside to Alexander, whose low curler from 25 yards was well saved by Bennett at the foot of the post. Alexander then made a last ditch tackle to deny a rampaging Shelton’s clear run on goal. This was followed by Webber blasting over as United began to push forward. On the hour mark, Burnley was forced into their first substitution with Jon Harley replacing Stephen Jordan. After 64 minutes, Robson made a double change with Alan Quinn and Nick Montgomery replacing Michael Tonge and Keith Gillespie in midfield. Eleven minutes later, Alan Mahon replaced Lafferty for the Clarets. Unsworth found the net with a towering header from Blake's corner. However, the referee had blown for a push on Bardsley before the ball reached the net, and rightly awarded United a free kick. In the last ten minutes United pilled the pressure on. Beattie's 30-yard free-kick flew just over, and then Shelton weaved through defenders, but was thwarted on the edge of the 18 yard box. There was mayhem in front of the Kop in the dying minutes as the Blades tried for a winning goal. Armstrong crossed from the left, and Beattie rose above Harley at the far post and his nod across goal was turned in by Webber. It looked a good goal, and the Kop rose as one with Beattie celebrating, but the referee consulted the linesman in the corner and, ruled that Beattie had fouled Harley in the process of jumping. It is a mystery how the linesman had come to such a conclusion, as his view was seemed to be blocked by several players in front of goal. In injury time, the referee again denied United when Beattie was clearly held down by defender Unsworth from Bardsley's throw, but the penalty appeals were waved away. The Blades have now extending their unbeaten run in the league to four games, and will be looking three points against Ipswich on Tuesday night.
Bennett 6, Bardsley 7, Kilgallon 7, Cahill 7, Naysmith 6, Gillespie 6, Montgomery 6, Tonge 6, Alan Quinn 6, Armstrong 6, Beattie 6, Shelton 6, Webber 7. |
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