December 2010

Sheffield United have appointed Micky Adams as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year after agreeing a compensation package with Port Vale.

Adams, a lifelong Blades fan, released from the club as a schoolboy, departs Port Vale after 19 months in charge having steered them to second place in League Two.

Blades chief executive Trevor Birch confirmed the appointment of Adams was a unanimous decision by the board and also revealed money would be made available to the Yorkshireman for team strengthening.

Caretaker manager John Carver, placed in charge following Gary Speed's decision to become Wales coach earlier this month, and assistant Sam Ellis have left the club.

Birch said: "I'd like to place on record our thanks for the professionalism, commitment and hard work during their time at the club and in particular their sterling work over the last few weeks with the team.

"As you'd expect we received a considerable number of strong applicants for the position, but in the end Micky was the unanimous choice of the board.

"He brings enthusiasm and great experience to the job together with a track record for success in getting the best out of a squad of players.

"We believe he can make an immediate impact this season, but he also shares our long-term strategic views on the development of homegrown talent.

"It's an added bonus that he's also a passionate Blade. Just as we lost Gary Speed to his dream job, we may just have selected a man who has found his."

Sheffield United Hull City and Norwich City have been charged with failing to control their players by the Football Association. The charges are as a result of United's games against Hull and Norwich over the Christmas period when both fixtures were marred by mass confrontations. The Blades have been hit with two separate charges from the FA following the home defeat by Hull on Boxing Day and Tuesday's loss at Norwich. The brawl at Carrow Road, which saw Blades midfielder Stephen Quinn red carded, has also led to on-loan midfielder Andy Reid facing a charge of violent conduct following an apparent headbutt. Reid, on loan from Sunderland, has until 6pm on New Year's Eve to answer the charge and, if he accepts it, he will receive a standard three-match ban.

Blades Line-up: Simonsen, Calve, Lowton, Nosworthy, Bartley, Montgomery, Reid, Quinn, Yeates, (Bogdanovic 87), Cresswell, Evans.

Sent-Off: Quinn 90+5

Man of The Match: Richard Cresswell.

Norwich Line-up: Ruddy, R Martin, Lappin, Nelson, Askou, Crofts, Fox (McNamee 62) ((Whitbread 89)), K Smith, Jackson (Hoolahan 46), Holt, C Martin.

Referee: Phil Crossley (Kent).

Wes Hoolahan stepped off the bench to score a second-half hat-trick as Norwich defeated United 4-2.

Caretaker manager John Carver made two changes to the side beaten by Hull on Boxing Day, Matt Lowton came in at left-back in place of the injured Andy Taylor and Richard Cresswell was back after his suspension in place of injured Leon Britton. The Blades lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Andy Reid in the pocket behind lone striker Ched Evans.

Norwich brought Jens Berthel Askou back into the defence as Elliot Ward was injured and Leon Barnett suspended he lined up alongside Russell Martin and Michael Nelson at the back. The Canaries had 3-4-3 formation with Martin behind the two centre backs to counter the threat of Evans.

The first chance went to the home side when Grant Holt's firmly-struck low cross took a deflection and went across the face of goal in the third minute. The Blades made a bright start and Andy Reid saw his volley from 20 yards saved by City goalkeeper John Ruddy. Nyron Nosworthy was lucky when he skimmed a Norwich cross from the right onto his own crossbar. Defender Nelson headed a David Fox cross over the bar for Norwich, who enjoyed the majority of the early possession, before United threatened again when Mark Yeates fired a shot wide from 18 yards.

Most of the game was being played in midfield with chances at a premium. But United took a shock lead in the 17th minute when they won a free-kick 25 yards out, up stepped Blades playmaker Reid to hit the back of the net with an excellent curling effort into the top corner, giving Ruddy no chance.

However, their lead was short-lived as the Canaries got themselves level within three minutes. Nick Montgomery fouled Martin, and David Fox hit a pin-point free-kick into the box from the right and Nelson was completely unmarked as he powered home a header.

The goal seemed to spur Norwich on and Nelson nearly repeated the trick in the 24th minute but this time he headed wide before captain Grant Holt also headed wide from another Fox delivery.

The Canaries reverted to more defensive formation but the reshuffle failed to stop the Blades regaining the lead in the 29th minute through Cresswell, who struck a low shot from 12 yards after good work from Stephen Quinn.

As the half entered injury time Kyle Bartley was booked for fouling Holt near the left-hand touchline but the hosts were unable to make the set-piece count and went in at the interval trailing much to the delight of the traveling Blades faithful.

Norwich boss Paul Lambert brought on attacking midfielder Wes Hoolahan for Simeon Jackson at the break. Fourteen minutes into the second half, Holt and Hoolahan combined well before the Irishman fired over from a tight angle. A couple of minutes later Norwich made their second substitution of the game, bringing on winger Anthony McNamee for Fox in a bid to provide different attacking options.

But it was Holt who gave the Canaries a lifeline in the 62nd minute, barging his way into the box before throwing himself to the turf under the challenge of Blades captian Montgomery. It was never a penalty, but the referee pointed to the spot and though Montgomery was booked in the protests which followed from the Blades, Hoolahan kept his nerve to blast the host’s level with a neat spot-kick into the left-hand corner of the net.

Evans unleashed a shot from 35 yards which was comfortably dealt with by Ruddy and Steve Simonsen made a fine save from Martin at the other end. Then, Yeates then fired over from 18 yards and Martin headed over from a corner from substitute McNamee as the game swung from end to end. Berthel Askou was denied by Simonsen with 11 minutes left and Evans blazed over when well-placed as both sides went for a winner. Hoolahan hit a low corner towards the near post and Martin dived to get a header in which bounced down and narrowly wide of the upright.

Norwich went in front for the first time in the match came after 83rd minutes, when Korey Smith played the ball into Hoolahan and his first-time return pass struck the hand of Kyle Bartley and the referee to pointed to the spot for the second time. Hoolahan despatched the penalty into the net to give the home side an undeserved lead.

United responded by making a substitution, Daniel Bogdanovic replacing an out-of-sorts Jean Calve, and for the Canaries Zak Whitbread replaced McNamee.

The Blades piled forward trying to get something from what remained in the game. But, deep into the four minutes of injury time United's frustration got the better of them and after a mass scuffle in which Holt cracked Quinn round the head as he ran by. Quinn as you might expect, took the bait retaliated and was shown a straight red.

They nearly grabbed a dramatic equaliser as Ruddy made a superb reaction save to deny Evans and then as City broke free on the left flank in the dying seconds Holt squared for Hoolahan to slot home from inside the box to complete a miserable afternoon for the Blades. Overall, this was a better performance than on Boxing Day. The midfield played well and Evans led the line well. In defence, United have problems and hopefully this will be the first thing to be sorted out when the new manager comes in.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Norwich: Simonsen 6 , Calve 5 , Lowton 6 , Nosworthy 6 , Bartley 5 , Montgomery 6 , Reid 7 , Quinn 6 , Yeates 6 , Bogdanovic -, Cresswell 7 , Evans 7 .

Blades Line-up: Simonsen, Calve, Nosworthy, Taylor (Lowton 12), Bartley, Montgomery, Britton, Reid, Quinn (Ward 44), Yeates, Evans.

Man of The Match: Ched Evans.

Hull Line-up: Mannone, Zayatte, Ashbee, Harper, Kilbane (McShane 17), Devitt (Garcia 77), Koren (Bullard 62), Simpson, Gerrard, Rosenior, Stewart.

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).

A stoppage-time goal from sub Jimmy Bullard gave Hull their first win at Bramall Lane since 1971, a 3-2 Boxing Day win over a poor quality Blades side.

United caretaker-manager John Carver named the same side that started in the 1-0 win over Swansea in his first game in charge last Saturday. Kevin Kilbane was recalled at left-back for the Tigers in place of the suspended Andy Dawson.

Simpson gave Hull a flying start when he clinically despatched Stewart's fine cutback from 12 yards in the third minute after a flowing move down the right involving Robert Koren and Liam Rosenior.

The Blades were dealt another early blow when Andy Taylor went down in the Hull 18 yard box and was forced off on a stretcher with what looked like a serious injury and replaced at left-back by Matt Lowton in the 12th minute.

Hull winger Jamie Devitt clipped a free-kick over the crossbar soon after, following Ched Evans' high tackle on Kilbane, which led to the visiting defender hobbling off several minutes later due to a gashed head. Fellow Irishman Paul McShane was sent on in his place.

The Blades were forced into another change late in the first period when injured midfielder Stephen Quinn was replaced by Jamie Ward.

Neither side created a clear goalscoring chance after Simpson's opener until Hull doubled their lead deep in time added on at the end of the first half.

Blades centre-half Nyron Nosworthy was completely beaten for pace and tripped the impressive Simpson in the area and the former Arsenal striker picked himself up and confidently sent goalkeeper Steve Simonsen the wrong way with the subsequent penalty. Unitedites sitting freezing in subzero tempretures booed off their side at the break, after what had been a wretched first half showing.

Lowton's header from Andy Reid's corner six minutes into the second half prompted Hull goalkeeper Vito Mannone into his first meaningful save and Blades winger Mark Yeates fired over the crossbar soon after.

Bullard replaced Koren in the 62nd minute, but the Blades cut the deficit moments later when Evans lashed the ball into the bottom corner following Reid's ball into the box.

Reid set Evans up for his second and the Blades equaliser nine minutes later. The Irish midfielder, on loan from Sunderland, crossed again from the right and the Wales international finished in similar fashion from inside the area.

But United were dealt a late knockout blow when Bullard swept home Stewart's cross in the third minute of time added on to extend the Tigers' unbeaten run to seven matches.

Anyone who tells you this was a tremendous fight back really does not know what they are talking about. They should not have gotten themselves two goals down before the break and the overall performance from United was poor, lacking in method, the ball just being kick in any forward direction. Some of the defending was the worst seen for maybe 30 years, particularly that of Nosworthy who was being jeered at his every touch. Hopefully the new manager will make some changes and reverse this mess, if not we will be facing relegation. This was very poor, the faithful freezing on the Kop see it, and those who run the club don’t!

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Hull: Simonsen 6, Calve 5, Taylor 6, Nosworthy 4, Lowton 5, Bartley 6, Montgomery 6, Britton 6, Reid 7, Quinn 6, Ward 6, Yeates 7, Evans 8.

Sheffield United 1 Swansea City 0 (Attendance: 17,496 )

Blades Line-up: Simonsen, Calve, Taylor, Nosworthy, Bartley, Montgomery, Britton, Quinn, Yeates, Reid (Ward 78), Evans (Batth 90).

Man of The Match: Ched Evans.

Swansea Line-up: De Vries, Williams, Tate, Beattie (Easter 45), Orlandi, Dyer (Cotterill 67), Monk, Sinclair, Rangel, Allen, Gower (Pratley 45).

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).

Ched Evans grabbed the winner as Sheffield United began life after Gary Speed with a 1-0 victory over high-flying Swansea at Bramall Lane.

John Carver has been placed in temporary charge following Speed's appointment as the new Wales manager and in freezing temperatures saw a spirited display from his charges at the Lane.

The temporary United manager made two changes from the side that started last weekend's defeat at Barnsley. Steve Simonsen and Stephen Quinn returned and amongst the substitutes was Lee Williamson, in contention for the first time this season due to injury. The Blades lined up in an attacking 4-3-3- formation with Mark Yeates and Andy Reid supporting Evans up front. Swansea stuck with the same side that was held by Millwall eight days earlier. The visitors included two former Blades in the starting eleven - ex-loanees’ Craig Beattie and Nathan Dyer and David Cotterill, was named amongst the substitutes.

The match kicked off in subzero conditions with temperatures down to around -10c. The first chance was the result of Evans flicking on a Simonsen clearance and Yeates could not resist a half-volley, but he was off target. Evans had a shot blocked and neat flicks from Quinn and Yeates preceded a Blades free-kick in a dangerous position but Reid's effort hit the wall. After 10 minutes, Reid supplied Quinn to fire the ball past goalkeeper De Vries but an assistant's flag was up and a free-kick awarded to the visitors.

Swansea withstood United's burst and hit back with a couple of chances of their own. Scott Sinclair stormed past three of his markers along the touchline, though that came to nothing, while Alan Tate's flick from a Mark Gower corner was easily held by Simonsen in the Blades goal.

With 20 minutes on the clock Sinclair latched on to Andrea Orlandi's through ball the wide man shrugged his marker but shot straight at Simonsen. Ashley Williams also flashed a header wide from a corner which was one of few highlights of a quiet first-half.

Moments after Yeates had picked up a booking for a foul on Orlandi, it was United who grabbed the lead. The Swans were on the counter and It was broken up and then Reid picked out Evans with a superb pass. The Wales striker took his time before slotting underneath goalkeeper Dorus de Vries.

Sinclair tried to get his side back into the game in stoppage-time but he found the back of the Shorham Kop from 18-yards.

The visitors made two substitutions at the interval. Winger Cotterill was introduced as Swansea's final substitution with a quarter of the game remaining and the visitors were doing most of the attacking but United's defence remained solid as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

Nosworthy blundered when he was robbed by Jermaine Easter, fortunately Sinclair could only fire over. Carver's first change was introducing Jamie Ward for the tiring Reid with 12 minutes remaining.

The final ten minutes, unsurprisingly, saw Swansea on the attack. Sinclair saw a lot of the ball but United had the chance to ease the pressure on 87 minutes. Quinn did well to hang on to possession and Evans took advantage of a slip by Ashley Williams but De Vries made a save from an acute angle.

Swansea were adding more men to their forward line as the seconds ticked away and the fourth official's signal of four minutes of added time gave the visitors hope.

Simonsen was quickly off his line to punch away a Alan Tate cross and Carver handed a late home debut to Batth as United looked to run down the remaining minutes.

Goalkeeper De Vries added himself to United's box for a late corner but United held on for the three points.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Swansea: Simonsen 7, Calve 6, Taylor 6, Nosworthy 6, Bartley 7, Montgomery 7, Britton 6, Quinn 7, Yeates 7, Reid 7, Ward 6, Evans 8, Batth -

Barnsley 1 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance: 12,976 )

Blades Line-up: Wright (Simonsen 53), Calve (Ward 75), Taylor, Nosworthy, Bartley, Ertl (Lowton 63), Montgomery, Britton, Yeates, Reid, Evans.

Man of The Match: Steve Simonsen.

Barnsley Line-up: Steele, Trippier, Foster, Shackell, Hassell, Hammill, Colace, Doyle, O'Brien, Lovre (Hayes 90), O'Connor.

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).

Hugo Colace's solitary goal settled a tempestuous South Yorkshire derby that saw Barnsley overcome United 1-0 at Oakwell. It was the Reds first win over United since 1999.

United's team for the derby showed five changes and included a debut for goalkeeper Alan Wright. There were recalls for Johnny Ertl, Andy Taylor, Jean Calve and Mark Yeates. Surprisingly, Steve Simonsen was dropped to the bench where he was joined by Jamie Ward.

Barnsley made just one change with Nathan Doyle returning to anchor the midfield alongside Colace. Diego Arismendi dropped to the bench while Garry O'Connor started the final match of his loan spell from Birmingham City.

Early on, Leon Britton saw a shot deflect through to Reds goalkeeper Luke Steele, while Jim O'Brien almost got in at the other end seconds later as he raced onto a pass from Nathan Doyle, but was flagged offside. Then O'Connor drilled one against Nyron Nosworthy in a sumwhat subdued opening six minutes of play. The first real chance of the match came from a set piece, with Adam Hammill lashing a 25-yard free kick just over the bar. The Reds wingers’ 10th minute effort spurred the home side into life, with a goal-bound drive from Doyle was fortunately blocked by Kyle Bartley five minutes later.

Barnsley continued to dominate proceedings but the Blades almost capitalised on their inability to break the deadlock, with Taylor's venturous long-range effort coming close. The home side had their own daring effort from distance on the half hour mark, with O'Brien turning smartly before firing over from the edge of the box.

O'Brien caused more problems seven miutes later when his trickerybrought a foul from Calve. Hammill's quick free kick was well worked by Jason Shackell missed his from ten yards. O'Brien was the architect of the opening goal in the 37th minute when he drove across a right-wing cross that Colace smashed home from close range with Blades defenders standing like statues.

United went close to a equaliser on 40 minutes as Yeates let fly but his dipping effort clipped the bar and flew over. Hammill then brought a save from Wright three minutes later. With the first half having petered out, the Blades hopes of responding after the restart received an early blow when Wright saw his Blades debut cut short by injury.

Regular goalkeeper Simonsen came on to replace the 33-year-old and was quickly forced into action, preventing Hammill from extending the home side's lead. Minutes later Simonsen did well again to palm wide a rasping drive from left-back Bobby Hassell as the Reds looked to double their advantage.

It was almost two on 53 minutes when O'Connor's cross embarrassed Nosworthy in the air but Shackell could not react quickly enough to poke home, although he was caught a little surprised after the ball had fallen for him.

Hammill raced past the Blades defence six minutes later and brought a fine save from Simonsen. From the resulting corner Goran Lovre could not get his strong header on target. United were struggling in attack. Evans blazed well over on 61 minutes after Steele had been blocked off as he went for Yeates corner. Simonsen came to United's rescue again on 64 minutes as he somehow turned Hassell's powerful strike away from the bottom corner after a neat passing move on the edge of the area had the Blades defence in a right mess.

O'Brien again had the United defence all over the place on 77 minutes as he found space to cross, but Hammill's low shot was well blocked. United had been none existent as an attacking force and defensively it was as bad as it gets. When we think back to some of the great derby matches at Oakwell between the two sides, this performance from United was a disgrace to behold for the traveling faithful.

Barnsley continued to look dangerous on the attack as the Blades left it until the last five minutes before they started to look dangerous up front. Despite the raucous support of the 2,003 Unitedites, an equaliser proved elusive as Barnsley's resolute defence held off United's late surge.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Barnsley: Wright 6 , Simonsen 7 , Calve 6 , Ward 6 , Taylor 6 , Nosworthy 5 , Bartley 6 , Ertl 5 , Lowton 5 , Montgomery 5 , Britton 5 , Yeates 6 , Reid 6 , Evans 5 .