26th April Defender Gary Naysmith has spoken of his relief after making his first appearance in over a year at the weekend.
The 31-year-old, who had surgery after suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in April 2009, played the first 70 minutes in Saturday's 2-0 win over Swansea at Bramall Lane.
Naysmith said: "It was great to be back out there in the thick of the action. I could have easily written this season off and started a fresh next year but mentally I didn't want to go a full season without playing.
"Having fought back into the reckoning just before Christmas, before suffering a slight setback, it's a tremendous feeling to return to competitive action after 12 months on the sidelines.
"Those 70 minutes on Saturday have lifted so much off me, mentally, and I knew that I could be replaced when I started to tire, which would be inevitable after so long out."
The Scotland international added: "I didn't have a great start to my time here but over the three years I have won over the majority of the crowd over and I consider this a special place now."
24th April Manager Kevin Blackwell hailed the returning Paddy Kenny, while Swansea chief Paulo Sousa remained hopeful of reaching the play-offs.
Kenny made his first appearance for The Blades since last season's play-off final defeat by Burnley after serving a nine-month worldwide ban following a failed drugs test in the 2-0 win over Swansea.
The 31-year-old was not even able to train with United and only returned to the squad at the back end of March.
After he made several fine stops to keep Swansea out, Blackwell was delighted to have his man back.
"He looked very assured and his handling was crisp and clean," Blackwell said.
"You could say, 'what could have been' when you have seen what he's done. There was a solidity about the back five.
"I felt that if he made an error the fans would accept it, but he looked as if he hadn't been away.
"It was a worldwide ban, he couldn't train anywhere. We helped him hire a personal trainer and a goalkeeping coach and he has been training in a field somewhere.
24th April Sheffield United 2 Swansea City 0 (Attendance: 25,966)
Kenny, Nosworthy, Naysmith (Seip 69), Morgan, Bartley, Montgomery, Harper, Quinn (Yeates 33), Little, Cresswell, Camara (Evans 64).
Subs Not Used: Geary, Aksalu, Fortune, Lowton.
Bookings: Cresswell 45, Montgomery 83.
Scorers: Cresswell 62, Dorus De Vries (og) 90.
Man of The Match: Paddy Kenny.
Swansea Line-up: DeVries, Williams, Britton, Pratley (Orlandi 75), Van Der Gun (Trundle 75), Dyer (Cotterill 64), Monk, Bessone, Rangel, Gower, Kuqi.
Subs Not Used: Cornell, Pintado, Allen, Serran.
Bookings: Monk 86.
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire)
Two second-half goals from United put a massive dent in Swansea's Championship play-off bid and ensured the Blades closed the curtain on their home campaign with a good win.
Paddy Kenny was back in goal for United, Gary Naysmith returned at left-back. Both players were making their first appearances of the season. Angel Rangel made his return to the Swansea line-up after injury and Nathan Dyer replaced David Cotterill out wide.
The Blades got the match underway on a sunny day at the Lane and after a quiet opening; it was Kenny that made the first meaningful contribution of the game when he got down low to keep out Darren Pratley's effort.
Shefki Kuqi had an effort blocked by Chris Morgan and Cedric van der Gun dragged a shot wide from 10 yards soon after. Henri Camara fired high and wide for the Blades with 13 minutes played only for the Swans to race forward and make the game's best chance so far. Rangel picked out Kuqi inside the area, the striker's flick played in Pratley but his snap shot was stopped by Kenny, while another attack saw van der Gun pull his effort wide moments later.
The Swans are known for their passing and were looking dangerous as they attacked and with 23 minutes played the Dutchman van der Gun turned provider, crossing low to the edge of the box to Mark Gower but his effort was blocked by James Harper.
There was an appeal for a Swansea penalty just before the break when Pratley was brought down by Nick Montgomery in front of the Shoreham Kop, the referee after chatting with the Lineswoman in front of the South Stand decided to award a free-kick on the edge of the area. Fede Bessone placed the ball, curled the ball round the wall only for Kenny to produce a stunning save pushing the ball to safety.
The dangerous Pratley was a constant menace as the Visitors they upped the ante after the break and he had three chances to open the scoring in quick succession.
First his header was blocked by team-mate Kuqi and then a dipping volley was well kept out by Kenny before another goal-bound effort was blocked, this time by Kyle Bartley. The Blades had easily contained their opponents and Kevin Blackwell’s men played some good football but had created few chances of note in front of goal, but that changed when they made Swansea pay for their wastefulness by taking the lead in the 62nd minute.
Substitute Mark Yeates fed the ball to Cresswell, who controlled the ball on his chest and hooked home an impressive volley from eight yards. A goal Wayne Rooney would have been proud of.
Swansea had a chance to restore parity just minutes later when Pratley put Gower through on goal, but the midfielder dragged his shot wide of the post.
The Swans brought on Andrea Orlandi and Lee Trundle and the latter almost making an immediate impact only to have ball robbed from his feet by Harper inside the 18 yard area. The visitors pushed for a leveller but could not fashion any more clear-cut chances, and United put the game to bed when Cresswell's effort deflected in off goalkeeper Dorus De Vries to make it 2-0 and give United the points.
Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Swansea: Kenny 8, Nosworthy 6, Naysmith 7, Seip 6, Morgan 7, Bartley 7, Montgomery 6, Harper 7, Quinn 6, Yeates 6, Little 6, Cresswell 8, Camara 5, Evans 6.
22nd April Richard Cresswell admits the lack of an apology from Jermaine Johnson is "a bit disgusting" after the Blades ace was left with eight stitches.
The Blades frontman was forced to leave the field in the Sheffield derby with blood gushing from his face after being caught by the elbow of Johnson in the 1-1 draw with Wednesday.
He commented "I've been playing the game a long time and had lots of stitches but when someone deliberately, in my opinion, swings an elbow and catches you in the face, I don't think that is acceptable.
"I've seen it on video, he's tried to catch me with one elbow and missed, so he's caught with his right. Not to apologise I find a bit disgusting. I'm very disappointed because if it had been an accident I would have had an apology.
"The referee said he didn't see the incident but life goes on. It is not too bad now, considering the actual injury. It has started to heal well, it is still sore and I've had a few headaches but I'll get through it."
19th April Kevin Blackwell has hit out at Sheffield Wednesday winger Jermaine Johnson for "elbowing" Richard Creswell in Sunday's derby.
The Blades striker was forced off in the second half of the 1-1 draw at Hillsborough following a clash with Johnson and needed stitches to a cut to his head. Blackwell says it was a clear elbow and he was furious with the Owls player afterwards.
The Blades bos said: "You have got to question what happened to Richard Cresswell out there. It was a poor challenge and you should see the severity of the cut. It was so jagged and there was so much blood that the medics couldn't get the stitches in. Unless Johnson has got studs in his arm, that was definitely an elbow."
He added: "Cressy knows that he was elbowed. Going 1-0 down when you're down to 10 men is harsh - but life is full of injustices and you just have to carry on don't you?"
18th April Sheffield Wednesday 1 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 35,485)
Simonsen, Connolly, Taylor (Bartley 61), Morgan, Nosworthy, Montgomery, Harper (Camara 53), Williamson (Little 79), Quinn, Cresswell, Henderson.
Subs Not Used: Evans, Yeates, Bennett, Seip.
Bookings: Taylor 54, Quinn 58.
Scorer: Williamson 60.
Man of The Match: Chris Morgan.
Owls Line-up: Grant, Nolan, Beevers, Purse, Spurr, O'Connor, Potter, Varney, Johnson, Tudgay, Clarke (Soares 79).
Subs Not Used: O'Donnell, Hinds, Simek, Gray, Esajas, Jeffers.
Bookings: O'Connor 58, Nolan 59.
Scorer: Potter 41.
Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
The 125th Steel City derby failed to produce a winner as goals either side of half time from Darren Potter and Lee Williamson ensured a stalemate at Hillsborough in an enjoyable encounter.
Blades manager Kevin Blackwell recalled Lee Williamson the starting line-up in place of Glen Little who dropped to the substitutes bench. Alan Irvine included Leon Clarke at the expense of Tom Soares.
United must have won the toss because they chose to defend the Kop end. The Blades had 5,500 fans at the Leppings Lane end and they were making more noise that the home fans. There were 35,485 inside Hillsborough for the match; the Owls have been getting less than 20,000 a week, so they had their usual fair weather fans who had decided to crawl out of the woodwork and buy a shirt and ticket for this one.
The Blades started the better in a frantic opening as they made several early chances and forced several corners. Darious Henderson's free header struck Darren Purse, rebounded of the post and away to safety for the home side. Minutes later, United came close to taking the lead. Blades goalkeeper Simonsen's long clearance allowed Henderson to get a vital flick on, sending Richard Cresswell clear on goal, but the Blades striker scuffed his shot wide with just goalkeeper Lee Grant to beat. After 35 minutes had elapsed Cresswell was adjudged to have fouled Owls winger Jermaine Johnson. Cresswell left the field for treatment with blood pouring down his face.
The Owls winger had clearly been the one doing the fouling. It was his elbow that had caused the injury to Cresswell. United were left with 10 players for the remainder of the half. Wednesday had several near chances and four minutes before the break grabbed the lead against the run of play. Luke Varney cut inside from the left and delivered a cross into the box that Potter met on the volley to fire past Simonsen and hand the hosts a crucial advantage.
The Owls fans started their daft bouncing routine, which for many of them must have been a new experience, with at least 10,000 more faces than for their last home match. It was disappointing for United, they had dominated the half and the loss of Cresswell near the break undoubtedly had made a difference. A slow start to the second period prompted Blackwell into action, sending on Henri Camara after 53 minutes, replacing James Harper. Stephen Quinn drilled a low effort on five minutes later that Grant did well to smother in the Wednesday goal.
But the Owls keeper was powerless right on the hour as Williamson's free kick from the left eluded the backline and went in off the far post to bring the Blades deservedly back on to even terms. Immediately after the goal, the injured Andy Taylor with replaced by Kyle Bartley, forcing Nyron Nosworthy to take up a left-back position.
Johnson lobbed a quick shot over the bar before Varney broke free into the box but was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle from Blades skipper Chris Morgan. United countered with Camara firing a low ball across the Owls 18 yard box but fortunately for the home side, there was no Blades player attacking at the far post to apply the finishing touch. Grant saved well from Camara and Purse thwarted the same player with a well-timed challenge from behind as United looked the more likely to score in the closing stages.
Substitute Little's free-kick just eluded Paul Connelly for United and at the other end Johnson's shot was pushed away at his near post by keeper Simonsen. Then in a nervy final few minutes, Varney's shot saved by Simonsen and Johnson missed a real chance right at the end. A good all round performance from the team and Unitedites can be proud of their showing today. Up the Blades!
Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Owls: Simonsen 6, Connolly 6, Taylor 6, Bartley 6, Morgan 7, Nosworthy 6, Montgomery 7, Harper 6, Camara 7, Williamson 7, Little 6, Quinn 7, Cresswell 7, Henderson 6.
10th April Sheffield United 1 Coventry City 0 (Attendance: 23,603)
Simonsen, Connolly, Taylor, Morgan, Nosworthy, Montgomery, Harper, Little (Williamson 73), Quinn (Yeates 82), Cresswell, Henderson.
Subs Not Used: Naysmith, Williamson, Bennett, Seip, Bartley, Geary.
Scorer: Cresswell 47.
Man of The Match: Glen Little.
Coventry City Line-up: Westwood, Wright, Clingan, Bell, Morrison, Cranie (Clarke 85), Gunnarsson, Baker (McIndoe 64), Sears (Eastwood 55), Barnett, Wood.
Subs Not Used: Hall, Konstantopoulos, Grandison, Jeffers.
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).
Richard Cresswell's second-half strike secured Sheffield United their first Championship win in six matches and condemned Coventry to a third straight defeat.
Glen Little and defender Paul Connolly were recalled by manager Kevin Blackwell and Gary Naysmith, yet to appear for the Blades this season after two long-term knee injuries, returned to the substitutes bench. Martin Cranie, Richard Wood and Carl Baker were all back for Coventry.
The Blades had only two headers from Darius Henderson to show for their early dominance, the first flying wide and the second comfortably held by Coventry goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.
Little's shot from inside the penalty was then blocked by Sky Blues defender Leon Barnett, but there was little else to excite the Lane faithful in the first half.
Coventry had to wait until the 31st minute before Clinton Morrison headed their first chance straight at goalkeeper Steve Simonsen, while at the other end, Richard Cresswell had a similar effort from Little's corner which was comfortably held by Westwood.
United stepped it up towards the break, with Andy Taylor firing straight at Westwood and Henderson volleying wide from 25 yards before City striker Freddie Sears overhead kick was easily stopped by Simonsen.
Westwood saved from Blades defender Chris Morgan's far-post header just before the interval, but Unitedites were given some cheer two minutes after the restart.
Little broke clear down the right and his fine ball into the penalty area picked out Cresswell, who swept the ball home into the top corner from 12 yards.
Blades midfielder Stephen Quinn's volley was then blocked and Little pulled his shot wide from inside the area.
The visitors responded and Coventry's Sammy Clingan curled a 25-yard free-kick inches over the crossbar, Baker forced Simonsen to hold his drive from outside the area and Wood headed just wide from a corner.
Eastwood, with a right-footed volley from 20 yards, and Clingan, from inside the area, peppered the Blades goal as the visitors pressed for an equaliser, but failed to seriously trouble Simonsen.
Mark Yeates, on for Quinn, went close to doubling the Blades lead from close range in the closing stages but his shot hit Barnett, while Aron Gunnarsson's 25-yard drive whistled over the Blades crossbar.
Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Coventry City: Simonsen 7, Connolly 6, Taylor 7, Morgan 7, Nosworthy 6, Montgomery 7, Harper 7, Little 8, Williamson 6, Quinn 6, Yeates 6, Cresswell 7, Henderson 6.
7th April Manager Kevin Blackwell has issued a plea to long-serving midfielder Nick Montgomery to sign a new deal and stay at the Lane. Montgomery, who has been one of the Blades' top performers this season, is out of contract at the end of the current season. With a frantic summer reshuffle on the cards, Blackwell is desperate for Montgomery to sign a new contract as he feels his presence will give his side some much needed continuity and authority. Blackwell commented: "He has been exemplary for a long time now and that's why I want him to sign, but I need help from those who sort contracts out. "I believe that the majority of our fans now appreciate what he does for us and he has been an absolute colossus for us. "Monty is well respected in the game and there are things in his game that we need. He is a Blade through and through and if I'm honest I believe deep down that he would like to stay.
5th April Newcastle United 2 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 48,270)
Simonsen, Nosworthy, Taylor, Seip (Bartley 90), Morgan, Montgomery, Williamson (Little 71), Harper, Quinn, Cresswell (Yeates 81), Henderson.
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Geary, Fortune, Lowton.
Booked: Seip 78.
Scorer: Cresswell 22.
Man of The Match: Nick Montgomery.
Newcastle Line-up: Harper, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan, M. Williamson, Guthrie (Barton 87), Routledge (R. Taylor 90), Lovenkrands (Ameobi 83), Simpson, Jonas, Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Best, Butt, Krul, Kadar.
Booked: Routledge 87.
Scorers: Lovenkrands 45(pen), Nolan 73.
Referee: Andy Hall (West Midlands).
Sheffield United hopes of pulling off an unlikely win at St James Park ended when Peter Lovenkrands’ penalty on the stroke of half-time and Nolan's 72nd minute overhead kick was enough to secure another three points for Newcastle.
The Blades made four changes with Andy Taylor, Marcel Seip, Lee Williamson and James Harper returning. Nyron Nosworthy was at right back and Seip was partnered Chris Morgan in central defence. Richard Cresswell and Darious Henderson were the strikers.
Kevin Blackwell's men arrived on Tyneside with their play-off hopes still alive, but it would mean having to win all their remaining matches.
The first on target shot went to Harper's and Williamson and Henderson combined after seven minutes as the Blades began well. Wayne Routledge should have done better when he was played in by Kevin Nolan early on, but he could not hit the target, although Cresswell was guilty of a similar miss at the other end with 17 minutes gone.
But the striker made amends five minutes later when he met Harper's corner with a glancing header, which Henderson appeared to get a touch to right on the line, as the Magpies conceded just their 10th league goal at St James' Park this season.
Routledge, Andy Carroll and Lovenkrands all went close in a flurry of activity as the half-time whistle approached, but Newcastle got themselves back on terms in the final minute of the half.
Just as they had done in the first half, the Blades started strongly after the break with the home side misfiring until Lovenkrands smashed a stinging shot just over on the hour. The Dane should have given the Magpies the lead three minutes later after being played in by full-back Jose Enrique, but he fired wide with just goalkeeper Steve Simonsen to beat.
The Referee awarded a generous penalty for Chris Morgan's untidy challenge on Carroll as Guthrie's corner came in. Morgan had just been warned and booked for allegedly fouling Carroll, so the referee was watching when the Blades defender committed exactly the same offense moments later for the penalty. Lovenkrands sent goalkeeper Steve Simonsen the wrong way from the spot to level with his 15th goal of the season.
Gutierrez went agonisingly close with 20 minutes to play when he raced past Nosworthy and cut inside, only to see his shot come back off the foot of the post with Simonsen beaten.
But the breakthrough finally came two minutes later when Lovenkrands headed down Danny Simpson's ball to Nolan, who acrobatically blasted it home to end the Blades hopes of a point.
Guthrie might have made certain of the points with 80 minutes gone, but was denied by Simonsen, although the party among a crowd of 48,270 was already well underway.
Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Newcastle United: Simonsen 6, Nosworthy 5, Taylor 6, Seip 6, Bartley -, Morgan 5, Montgomery 7, Williamson 6 , Little 6, Harper 5, Quinn 7, Cresswell 7, Yeates 6, Henderson 6.
3rd April Sheffield United 0 Barnsley 0 (Attendance: 24,808)
Simonsen, Connolly, Stewart (Taylor 28), Morgan, Nosworthy, Montgomery, Little (Williamson 84), Quinn, Cresswell, Ward (Yeates 39), Henderson.
Subs Not Used: Bennett, Seip, Bartley, Harper.
Booked: Taylor 43, Montgomery 45 Connolly 77.
Sent Off: Connolly 90 (second yellow card).
Man of The Match: Chris Morgan.
Barnsley Line-up: Steele, Moore, Foster, Butterfield, Potter, Colace, Hallfredsson (De Silva 46), Hammill, Doyle, Hume (Devaney 83), Gray.
Subs Not Used: Preece, Thompson, El Haimour, Macken.
Booked: Colace 12, Doyle 24, Moore 80, Devaney 90.
Referee: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).
Sheffield United did little to resurrect their fading Championship play-off hopes as they played out a goalless draw at the Lane with Barnsley.
Both sides started the game with just one win in their previous seven league matches and had seen their play-off chances subsequently wane and this stalemate leaves the Blades without a win in their last four games while Barnsley have not won any of their last five.
Blades skipper Chris Morgan, fellow defender Jordan Stewart, Glen Little and Jamie Ward all returned for the Blades, while Barnsley recalled Andy Gray, Iain Hume and Luke Butterfield to their starting line-up.
It was the first time Hume and Morgan had faced each other since a collision during the derby between the two sides at Oakwell in November 2008, which had left the Barnsley striker with a fractured skull.
Steele twice denied the Blades in the first nine minutes, first tipping Richard Cresswell's header over the crossbar and then saving smartly from Ward, who had steered a rebound in the six-yard box goalwards.
Ward and Cresswell were off target with two long-range shots as United dominated the first half an hour before the Blades were dealt a double injury blow in the space of 12 minutes.
Stewart succumbed in the 28th minute and was replaced by Andy Taylor and Ward, sidelined for three weeks with a torn hamstring, lasted just 38 minutes in his comeback match before making way for Mark Yeates.
The Blades momentum was checked due to the disruption and Barnsley pressed forward as half-time approached with Emil Hallfredsson's shot blocked by Nyron Nosworthy and Hugo Colace's 25-yard free-kick held by home goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.
Barnsley stepped up the tempo early in the second half, but Blades substitute Yeates fired a 25-yard shot over the crossbar and then forced Steele into a comfortable save with a curling free-kick.
The visitors enjoyed the lion's share of possession as the game entered the final 20 minutes without fashioning any clear cut chances and it was the Blades who went closest to breaking the deadlock again when Little pulled his shot wide from six yards following a cross from Yeates.
Little then crossed for Darius Henderson, who saw his close-range effort blocked by Barnsley defender Luke Potter and Blades midfielder Nick Montgomery drilled a 25-yard shot just wide as the Blades wrestled back control. Reds defender Darren Moore blocked another Montgomery shot and when Henderson powered in a header from Little's 75th-minute corner, Steele pulled off a another save.
The Blades chased the goal that would keep their season alive in the closing stages but fell short in the final third, while late substitutions for both sides failed to change the outcome.
Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Barnsley: Simonsen 7, Connolly 5, Stewart 6, Taylor 6, Morgan 7, Nosworthy 6, Montgomery 6, Little 7, Williamson -, Quinn 6, Cresswell 6, Ward 7, Yeates 5, Henderson 5.
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