9th November Danny Wilson is annoyed with his side after their Football League Trophy penalty shoot-out defeat to Bradford at Bramall Lane.

Chris Mitchell scored the decisive spot-kick for the Bantams on Tuesday night after Erik Tonne's effort was saved by Jon McLaughlin.

The tie finished 1-1 at full-time. Matt Phillips put the home side ahead in the 27th minute before Bradford captain Michael Flynn equalised five minutes before half-time.

"It's one that got away, quite honestly," Wilson said. "We should have had enough in the team there to get through the tie. In key areas we haven't worked as hard as them. They've let themselves down in too many areas.

"It was a great opportunity to get through to the next round, which is one off a final, and that's the thing that annoys me more than anything.

"We've let it go too easy. It doesn't matter what it is, whether it's a JPT (Football League Trophy) or whatever it may be, it shouldn't matter. If you go out, you go out kicking and scratching and biting and we haven't done that."

8th November Bradford progressed to the Football League Trophy northern quarter-finals with a 6-5 shoot-out win over United at Bramall Lane.

Chris Mitchell scored the decisive spot-kick after Erik Tonne missed for the Blades and the tie had finished 1-1 in normal time. Matt Phillips put United ahead just before the half hour mark but Bradford skipper Michael Flynn levelled five minutes before half time.

The Bantams should have taken a 12th-minute lead but Ross Hannah headed over when unmarked from six yards after being picked out by Jack Compton's cross from the left. Craig Fagan wasted another golden chance for the visitors five minutes later, heading Hannah's centre straight at Steve Simonsen with the goal gaping.

Phillips then punished Bradford's profligacy by putting the home side ahead after 27 minutes. The Blackpool loanee cut inside from the left-wing before drilling a right-foot effort in off the left-hand post from 25-yards.

Flynn levelled the contest after 40 minutes, rifling a 30-yard effort across Simonsen and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Centre-half Luke Oliver tested Simonsen with a header on the hour mark before the United keeper denied Marcel Seip's follow-up effort, while Phillips stung the palms of Jon McLaughlin midway through the second period and the City stopper somehow denied Billy Clarke in the final moments.

5th November Stevenage 2 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 4,996)

Blades Line-up: Simonsen, Lowton, Williams (Jean-Francois 70), Maguire, Collins, Montgomery, Doyle, Quinn, Phillips, Clarke (Evans 54), Cresswell (Porter 82).

Subs Not Used: Long, McDonald.

Booked: Lescinel 76, Porter 87.

Scorer: Evans 69.

Man of The Match:. Steve Simonsen.

Stevenage Line-up: Day, Wilson, Laird, Ashton, S. Long (Shroot 77), Reid (Harrison 77), Roberts, Beardsley (Edwards 82), Mousinho, Bostwick, Henry.

Subs Not Used: Julian, Cowan.

Booked: Beardsley 76.
Scorers: Roberts 42, Laird (pen) 82.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).

Sheffield United threw away more points after a late penalty secured  Stevenage the points. United brought back goalkeeper Steve Simonsen in to the starting eleven along with Michael Doyle in a 4-4-2 formation. This was the Blades first ever visit to Broadhall Way and Danny Wilson’s men knew what they could expect on the field. Stevenage have gained a reputation for a physical play and the long ball approach.
The opening ten minutes of the match only produced one chance for each side, with neither particularly threatening either goalkeeper. In fact the first chance was more of a threat to the away fans behind the goal, as a corner found its way to Stephen Quinn at the back post and he struck it on the volley, but it flew high and wide of Stevenage goalkeeper Chris Day's goal.
The hosts returned with an effort minutes Later, a tame shot from Craig Reid after Chris Beardsley had gained the ball in the middle of the field. After applying pressure to the United back line he deflected a clearance over the defence and into the striker's path, Reid opted to take a touch and when he eventually got his shot away it did not have the power required to beat Simonsen in the Blades goal.
Then, Billy Clarke struck a free-kick, but Day never seemed worried as it flew wide of the post. Minutes later, the action was in front of the travelling Unitedites again when a corner was won, it coincided with the turn of the 24th minute when the Blades support erupted into applause and a chorus of 'Billy Sharp' a tribute to their former number 24 whose son died last week.

Right-back Matthew Lowton came close after a commanding run from the back helped him latch onto a through ball but his low shot was wide of the bottom corner. The home side won a corner and it was headed back out to the edge of the box, but was put straight back into the area by a header from Jon Ashton which took a deflection before finding Mark Roberts, the Stevenage captain blasted it across goal and into the top corner of the net to give his side a 1-0 half time lead.

The home side almost doubled their lead just a minute into the second half, Stacy Long chested the ball down inside the area before hitting a half volley which had Simonsen beaten but struck the crossbar.
United were trying to contend with the hosts long ball bombardment, but eventually began to settle back into the game with successive corners and a dangerous free kick nervously dealt with in the penalty area. With the clock on 54 minutes Ched Evans replaced Clarke in the Blades side. The game had opened up and both sides were having their chances, a break on the left hand side resulted in Scott Laird playing the ball across the face of goal, it fell to a surprised Beardsley at the back post who only had to poke it home, but the striker got it all wrong and missed the ball.

Quinn had the next opportunity of the game when Marcus Williams found Matt Phillips on the left hand side, Phillips cut in and put the ball into the back post where Quinn met it with his head but Day was equal to his effort.

United then deservedly equalised when Evans took a free kick and drilled it under the wall and into the bottom corner expertly to draw the Blades level in the game. A substitution followed for United when Williams was replaced by Lecsinal Jean-Francis at left-back. With eight minutes remaining Lawrie Wilson collected the ball on the right wing and dribbled through three United players, he eventually progressed into the area before Jean-Francis fouled him and the referee pointed to the spot. Laird struck it to the keepers left, with Simonsen diving to the right to give the home side the victory.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Stevenage: Simonsen 7, Lowton 6, Williams 6, Jean-Francois 5, Maguire 6, Collins 7, Montgomery 6, Doyle 6, Quinn 5, Phillips 6, Clarke 6, Evans 7, Cresswell 6, Porter 6.