April 2013

Sheffield United 0 Preston NE 0 ( Attendance: 19,888)

Blades Line-up : Long, Westlake, Maguire, Hill, Collins, Doyle, McDonald (Whitehouse 75), Kitson (Porter 60), Murphy, Ironside, McFadzean (Robson 70).

Unused: Coyne, Barry, Chapell, Forte.

Man Of The Match: George Long.

Preston: Rudd, Keane (Procter 79), Huntington, Wroe, Holmes, Buchanan, Welsh, Mousinho, King, Hayhurst (Monakana 65), Wright (Foster 45).

Unused: Stuckmann, Cummins, Byrom, Garner.

Referee: Steve Rushton (Staffordshire).

Sheffield United enter the League One play-offs with just one win from their last eight games following a disappointing 0-0 draw with Preston.

The fifth-placed Blades face Yeovil over two legs after adour match in which North End midfielder Lee Holmes came closest to a goal when his 67th-minute free-kick flicked off the top of the United crossbar.

The Blades thought they should have had a penalty in the 10th minute when teenager Joe Ironside went down under a challenge in the box but the claims were waved away by the referee before Kevin McDonald tested goalkeeper Declan Rudd from the resulting loose ball.

United winger Callum McFadzean was denied by Rudd three minutes into the second half and striker Ironside headed over moments later when well-placed.

The Lilywhites responded and almost edged ahead when Holmes' right-wing cross picked out the head of Jack King, only for United keeper George Long to repel the striker's close-range effort.

Blades' substitute Chris Porter had the ball in the back of the net in the 62nd minute but his bundled finish was ruled out for handball, five minutes before Holmes struck the woodwork at the other end.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Preston: Long 7 , Westlake 6 , Maguire 6 , Hill 6 , Collins 6 , Doyle 6 , McDonald 6 , Whitehouse 6 , Kitson 6 , Porter 6 , Murphy 6 , Ironside 7 , McFadzean 6 , Robson 6 .

Crewe Alexandra 1 Sheffield United 0 ( Attendance: 5,379)

Blades Line-up : Long, Westlake, Higginbotham (Murphy 46), Maguire, Collins, Doyle, McDonald, Robson (Chapell 70), McFadzean, Porter, Forte (Ironside 65)

Unused: Coyne, Barry, Flynn, Whitehouse.

Man Of The Match: Callum McFadzean.

Crewe: Phillips, Davis, Ellis, Leitch-Smith (Ray 88), Moore, Turton, Mellor, Osman, Aneke (Ellington 86), Inman, Stewart.

Unused: Garratt, Tootle, Clayton, West, Colclough.

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).

Crewe's Chuks Aneke scored a screamer as Sheffield United's end-of-season form continued to stutter following a another poor showing in a 1-0 defeat at Gresty Road.

The Blades had already booked their play-off place but Aneke's winner means they have won just one of their last seven games.

Harry Maguire almost gave United an early lead but his header was saved by goalkeeper Steve Phillips and Kelvin Mellor did well to deflect Neil Collins' follow-up over the bar.

Jonathan Forte sent a couple of efforts from the edge of the box high and wide before Phillips was in action again.

The keeper dived low to parry Callum McFadzean's drive and then recovered quickly to smother Chris Porter's rebound.

Crewe's Oliver Turton and Harry Davis sent efforts off target while Aneke's daisy-cutter was tipped around the post by goalkeeper George Long as the home side struggled to create any clear-cut first-half chances.

But Aneke stunned the Blades four minutes after the break when he beat Long with a superb 25-yard finish to put the Alex in the driving seat.

A fierce Barry Robson free-kick which Phillips did well to palm away almost got the Blades back in it while the keeper got a fingertip to a late shot from Joe Ironside.

At the other end, Aneke looked to double his account with a volley which dipped over the bar and a low effort which he dragged wide after a surging run.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Crewe: Long 6 , Westlake 6 , Higginbotham 5 , Murphy 5 , Maguire 5 , Collins 5 , Doyle 6 , McDonald 6 , Robson 5 , Chapel 6 , McFadzean 7 , Porter 5 , Forte 5 , Ironside 6 .

Portsmouth 3 Sheffield United 0 ( Attendance: 18,433)

Blades Line-up : Long, McMahon (Westlake 59), Higginbotham, Hill, Collins, Flynn (Forte 46), Doyle, McDonald, Porter, Kitson (Robson 46), Murphy.

Unused: Coyne, McFadzean, Whitehouse, Ironside.

Man Of The Match: Michael Doyle.

Portsmouth: Eastwood, Cooper, Sodje, Connolly, Moutaouakil, Gyepes, Ertl (Awford 90), Racon, Agyemang (Harris 86), Butler, Wallace (Maloney 89).

Unused: Smith, Walker, Akinde, Webster.

Referee: Lee Collins (Surrey).

After a scrappy start by both teams, Pompey took the lead after 21 minutes. Patrick Agyemang sent over a looping cross following good work by Jed Wallace on the right-wing and Shaun Cooper headed powerfully into the bottom left corner of the net.

The home side, whose fans completed a buy-out of the club on Friday night, doubled their lead just three minutes later when Wallace fired a low ball into the six-yard box which David Connolly poked home from point-blank range to stun the 1836 Unitedites inside Fratton Park..

And just after the half-hour Wallace got his name on the score sheet, side-footing home from eight yards out after a fine left-wing run and cross from Connolly.

The Blades offered little going forward and looked disorganised in defence. A disallowed Chris Porter header on the stroke of half-time was the closest they came to breaching the Pompey defence. This defeat along with results elsewhere means it is now mathematically impossible for United to catch the division's top two.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Portsmouth: Long 6 , McMahon 5 , Westlake 6 , Higginbotham 6 , Hill 5 , Collins 5 , Flynn 5 , Forte 5 , Doyle 6 , McDonald 6 , Porter 6 , Kitson 5 , Robson 5 , Murphy 5 .

Sheffield United 2 Brentford 2 ( Attendance: 23,431)

Blades Line-up : Long, McMahon, Hill, Collins, Maguire, Doyle (Robson 59), McDonald, Flynn (Forte 46), Murphy, Porter, Kitson (Higginbotham 75).

Unused: Coyne, Ironside, Whitehouse, McFadzean.

Sent-Off : Maguire 72.

Man Of The Match: Dave Kitson.

Brentford: Foderingham, Flint, Ferry, J. Collins (Francis 72), Roberts (L. Rooney 62), McCormack, Williams, Ward, De Vita (A. Rooney 56), Byrne, Luongo.

Unused: Devera, Navaro, Bedwell, Waldon.

Sent-Off : Craig 51. Donaldson 77.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Dorset).

Bradley Wright-Phillips dealt United's hopes of automatic promotion a blow as Brentford secured a 2-2 draw. The Bees substitute pounced during the closing moments of an extraordinary match which produced three red cards and four penalties to snatch a point for Uwe Rosler's side.

United looked set to record their second triumph under new manager Chris Morgan when Dave Kitson headed home following substitute Barry Robson's spot-kick.

But Brentford, who had taken the lead courtesy of Marcello Trotta's penalty, had other ideas and dragged themselves level in the 89th minute.

The visitor's were creaking under the weight of some strong Blades pressure when Trotta fired them ahead from the spot following Clayton Donaldson's 24th-minute collision with United goalkeeper George Long.

Michael Doyle had twice tested Brentford's Simon Moore with powerful efforts while Kevin McDonald also went close.

Kitson, one of five players cautioned during a tetchy first-half, saw a low drive scrambled clear before heading Tony McMahon's corner wide before McDonald saw a volley fly over the Brentford crossbar.

Brentford skipper Tony Craig saw red after tangling with Kitson in the area but McMahon's spot-kick rebounded back off the crossbar.

Robson converted from the spot following Lee Hodson's handball before Harry Maguire followed Craig down the tunnel, with Sam Saunders missing a penalty.

Although Kitson's header looked to have settled the match in United's favour, Wright-Phillips pounced at the death after Donaldson had also been dismissed.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Brentford: Long 7 , McMahon 6 , Hill 6 , Collins 7 , Maguire 6 , Doyle 7 , Robson 8 , McDonald 7 , Flynn 6 , Forte 7 , Murphy 7 , Porter 6 , Kitson 8 , Higginbotham 6 .

Sheffield United 2 Swindon Town 0 ( Attendance: 19,298)

Blades Line-up : Long, Maguire, Hill, Collins, ,McMahon, Flynn, Doyle, McDonald (Whitehouse 79), Murphy (McFadzean 70), Porter (Ironside 84), Kitson.

Unused: Coyne, Higginbotham, Robson, Forte.

Man Of The Match: Chris Porter.

Swindon: Foderingham, Flint, Ferry, J. Collins (Francis 72), Roberts (L. Rooney 62), McCormack, Williams, Ward, De Vita (A. Rooney 56), Byrne, Luongo.

Unused: Devera, Navaro, Bedwell, Waldon.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne).

Chris Morgan's reign as Sheffield United boss got off to the perfect start as promotion rivals Swindon were beaten 2-0 at Bramall Lane.

United, previously without a home win since mid-February, dispensed with the services of Danny Wilson in midweek and tasked their former centre-half with the job of trying to steer them back into the Championship.

On this evidence, it appears an inspired move as Morgan's men were well worth their victory.

Chris Porter's 38th-minute effort ensured the Blades' superb first-half display did not go unrewarded. The striker, starting for the first time since returning from a loan spell at Shrewsbury, powered home Tony McMahon's in-swinging free-kick to end the Blades two month wait for a goal at the Lane.

McMahon, who struck the woodwork with another set-piece soon afterwards, had earlier delivered the cross from which Harry Maguire had a shot deflected onto a post while Jamie Murphy twice went close as Swindon looked like being overwhelmed.

The visitors, though, began the second period in much more decisive fashion. Nevertheless, Porter could have doubled United's advantage on the hour mark after meeting Ryan Flynn's pass only for his control to let him down.

Simon Ferry produced a well-timed tackle to thwart David Kitson after Michael Doyle's pass fortuitously wriggled its way though.

But the former Reading centre-forward was not to be denied and made sure of the points with a commanding header from another superb McMahon delivery.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Swindon: Long 7 , Maguire 7 , Hill 8 , Collins 7 , McMahon 7 , Flynn 7 , Doyle 8 , McDonald 7 , Whitehouse 6 , Murphy 8 , McFadzean 6 , Porter 8 , Ironside 6 , Kitson 7 .

Sheffield United 0 Crawley Town 2 ( Attendance: 18,680)

Blades Line-up : Long, Higginbotham, Hill, Maguire, Collins, Flynn, Doyle (Robson 83), McDonald, Kitson, Forte (Porter 66), Murphy (McFadzean 66).

Unused: Coyne, Westlake, Kennedy, Ironside.

Man Of The Match: Ryan Flynn.

Crawley: P Jones, Sadler, Essam, Walsh, Hunt, Clarke (Connolly 86), Torres (O'Brien 88), Bulman, Adams, M Jones, Proctor (Hayes 70).

Unused: Maddison, Dumbuya, Malins, Elford-Alliyu.

Referee: Nigel Miller (Co Durham).

Billy Clarke and Paul Hayes bagged late goals as Crawley dented Sheffield United's automatic promotion hopes with a 2-0 win at Bramall Lane.

Former Blades loanee Clarke tapped in with 13 minutes remaining of Tuesday night's League One clash following an error by United defender Neill Collins before substitute Hayes seized on Harry Maguire's hesitation to seal it.

The Blades twice hit the woodwork but failed to score at home for a fourth successive game.

Winger Ryan Flynn almost broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval but his low angled drive from the right rebounded off Paul Jones' far post.

Crawley forward Clarke was denied on the stroke of half-time when his close-range header was instinctively repelled by goalkeeper George Long.

Blades captain Michael Doyle rattled the Crawley woodwork for a second time minutes after the restart as his dipping left-foot volley thumped off the right-hand upright.

But the visitors went on to win it as striker Hayes robbed Collins midway inside the United half to set up Clarke before sliding in the second after dispossessing Maguire on the edge of the box.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Crawley: Long 6 , Higginbotham 6 , Hill 6 , Maguire 5 , Collins 5 , Flynn 6 , Doyle 5 , McDonald 6 , Kitson 6 , Forte 5 , Porter 6 , Murphy 5 , McFadzean 6 .

Walsall 1 Sheffield United 1 ( Attendance: 7,042)

Blades Line-up : Long, Higginbotham, Hill, Maguire, Collins, Doyle, McDonald, Robson (McFadzean 60), Kitson (Porter 46), Forte, Murphy,

Unused: Coyne, Westlake, Kennedy, Whitehouse, Ironside.

Man Of The Match: Chris Porter.

Walsall: Johnstone, Butler, Chambers, Paterson, Brandy (Sawyers 90), Purkiss, Downing, Baxendale (Hemmings 84), Taylor (Benning 57), Mantom, Westcarr.

Unused: Holden, Featherstone, Bowerman, Roberts.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northampton).

Walsall were unable to mark their 125th anniversary celebrations with a win as Sheffield United snatched a 1-1 draw.

It looked like they might when Craig Westcarr scored a minute before half-time, netting his fifth goal for the club.

But Blades boss Danny Wilson made two key substitutions at the start of the second half and one of the newcomers, Chris Porter, grabbed the equaliser just after the hour mark.

Walsall, really needing a win to boost their play-off hopes, dominated the first half but the Blades defended deep and enjoyed several close shaves.

Meanwhile, home defender Andy Taylor, playing against his old club, made one excellent tackle in the box to deny Jamie Murphy in the 23rd minute.

The Saddlers poured forward repeatedly and dangerman Febian Brandy missed a great chance, shooting wide after breaking clear in the 42nd minute.

But Walsall took the lead when Ben Purkiss combined with James Baxendale, who crossed low for Westcarr to beat goalkeeper George Long with a low shot.

Brandy missed a great chance to seal it for the Saddlers when he shot wide in the 51st minute with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Porter prodded the Blades level from close range after 64 minutes after Kevin McDonald's shot came back off a post.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Walsall: Long 6 , Higginbotham 6 , Hill 6 , Maguire 6 , Collins 6 , Doyle 7 , McDonald 6 , Robson 6 , McFadzean 8 , Kitson 6 , Porter 8 , Forte 6 , Murphy 6 .

Sheffield United 0 Carlisle United 0 ( Attendance: 19,005)

Blades Line-up : Long, Maguire, Hill (Higginbotham 45), Doyle, McDonald, Kitson (Ironside 63), Collins, Forte, Robson, Poleon (J. Murphy 45), McMahon.

Unused: Coyne, Westlake, McFadzean, Porter.

Man Of The Match: Harry Maguire.

Carlsile: Gillespie, Simek, McGovern (Manset 83), Livesey, Welsh (P. Murphy 77), Noble, Thirlwell, Miller, Berrett, Mustoe, O'Hanlon.

Unused: Collin, Loy, Cadamarteri, Potts, Beck.

Sent-Off: O'Hanlon 74 (second bookable offence).

Referee: Keith Hill (Hertfordshire).

Sheffield United were held to a third straight 0-0 home draw as 10-man Carlisle earned a share of the spoils.

Carlisle midfielder Liam Noble came closest to breaking the deadlock, but his 44th-minute drive came back off a post before the visitors had defender Sean O'Hanlon sent off for a second bookable offence 16 minutes from the end.

In a tight opening 45 minutes, Carlisle winger Jon-Paul McGovern saw his 20-yard drive turned away by Blades goalkeeper George Long, while visiting goalkeeper Mark Gillespie was forced to palm Kevin McDonald's stinging half-volley behind for a corner at the other end.

Blades loanee Jonathan Forte should have put United ahead in the 67th minute, but he scuffed wide when only a few yard out after being teed-up by substitute Joe Ironside.

Cumbrians centre-half O'Hanlon then headed narrowly wide of Long's goal, moments before he was dismissed following a foul on teenage forward Ironside. The bald-headed defender had been the villain from a earlier booking, and the United fans waved him off with jeers of derision.

The Blades pushed hard for a winner putting the Carlisle goal under siege, but Greg Abbott's side dug in to hold on for a point.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Carlsile: Long 6 , McMahon 6 , Hill 6 , Higginbotham 6 , Maguire 8 , Collins 8 , Doyle 7 , McDonald 6 , Robson 7 , J.Murphy 7 , Poleon 5 , Ironside 7 , Kitson 7 , Forte 6 .