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da fezbet： Sheffield United were given the weekend off due to Chesterfield taking on Swindon at Wembley in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. United fans are hoping that playing 90 minutes at Wembley will make for tired legs on Wednesday night, when the Spirites travel to Bramall Lane, in what is to be considered a friendly rivalry.
With Chesterfield beating League Two promotion hopefuls Swindon and what was clearly a joyous occasion for the town and club, visiting the Lane midweek may be a comedown; back to reality as it was. However, John Sheridan will surely be making it clear to his players that, as enjoyable as a day out at Wembley was, the real target for the season is to retain League One status, and that is far from certain.
Since the win at Brentford, the gap has disappeared between second and third in League One, with both Wednesday and Huddersfield both putting together a string of good results. A hard fought draw against Colchester last midweek saw the gap close to just 2 points, and United’s last game in hand was not taken advantage of. United lined up unchanged from Brentford, with Hoskins starting his second consecutive game on the right wing, leaving Porter upfront with Evans, and Collins still absent in defence. United controlled much of the first half and took a deserved lead just after the half hour, as the prolific Evans teed up Hoskins to curl the ball around keeper Williams. The Blades managed to take the lead going into half time, but were pegged back on 56 minutes when a hopeful ball forward was held up well by former Barnsley man Odejayi, before laying it off to Gillespie, who smashed the ball against the crossbar and post, before eventually crossing the line. The rest of the match was rather scrappy, with neither side wanting to commit men forward, and by the end it was clear that both sides were rather content to take the draw.
United were confident of keeping the chasing pack at bay with a weekend visit of Tranmere to Bramall Lane, with most thinking it would be a straightforward home win. However, under Ronnie Moore, Tranmere have put together some impressive results, going into the game on the back of two straight wins. Their recent good form was clear for all to see, as they looked organised in defence, and adventurous going forward. Evans gave United the lead on the half hour with a scrappy goal inside the six yard box, and the Blades faithful sensed the Blades would push on from there to secure a much needed three points. However, Tranmere looked to be made to sterner stuff, and equalised nine minutes after half time, with Akins heading home when unmarked in the box from a corner. Not the kind of goal Neil Collins wanted to concede on his return to the defence. United had the chances to win the game, with Collins and Porter going close near the end, but United had to settle for another point.
At this stage it looked like all momentum was lost, and had transferred itself to the blue side of the city, as Wednesday continued to look impressive under new boss Dave Jones. But United made a real statement of intent that they were not finished yet with a 5-2 thumping of Notts County at Meadow Lane.
The game saw the return of Kevin McDonald to the starting line up after spending weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. United started brightly, and took the lead just after quarter of an hour played, when a neat passage of play down the right eventually found Stephen Quinn unmarked in the box, and the Irish midfielder made no mistake, stroking the ball past County keeper Nelson with his weaker right foot. The Blades kept on the front foot, and a hopeful and uncharacteristic ball over the top from Maguire was flicked on inside the box by Porter, finding Evans with his back to goal. Holding off two defenders, he showed good ability to turn to his right and squeeze the ball past the keeper from a tight angle. But the Blades weren’t finished there, and Lowton added the third in impressive style. A free-kick midway inside the County half from the left was headed clear, but only as far as Lowton, who struck the ball first time, left footed from 25 yards out, straight into the bottom corner. Collins was then on hand to make it four before the break. A short corner on the right wasn’t closed down by Notts, and McDonald dinked the ball into the six yard box which was met by Collins.
United will have been disappointed not to keep a clean sheet in a game they were rarely tested in, but County pulled one back through Alan Judge before Neal Bishop saw his second yellow of the game for a sloppy challenge on Quinn. United’s fifth came from Lee Williamson, with a poor back pass being latched onto by Williamson, and having been allowed time to stroll through, picked his spot past the helpless keeper. The result was a real statement that Wilson’s boys are not losing second place without a fight.
As the weekend draws to a close, the Blades find themselves in unfamiliar territory, occupying third place in the table, as Wednesday’s win at Leyton Orient took them above United by a point. But with likely tired legs under the floodlights at Bramall Lane on Wednesday, United will feel confident of three points against struggling Chesterfield, and of regaining second place. Huddersfield’s victory against top of the table Charlton is also added inspiration for the Blades, as a win would peg the Addicks back to just seven points, proving that there are twists and turns yet in the ever changing face at the top of League One.
By Sheffield United blogger Will Ollett
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