Venue: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 25510
Referee: C.Webster (4/10)
Man Of The First Half: Jamie Ward
Man Of The Second Half: Stephen Quinn
Man Of The Match: Lee Williamson
Blades Line-Up:
Bunn, Walker, Morgan, Kilgallon, Taylor, Ward, Williamson, Harper, Quinn, Evans, Cresswell
Substitutes:
Bennett, France, Camara, Little, Stewart, Reid, Kallio
First Half:
1 Change for the Blades as the Suspended Montgomery is Replaced by Williamson, naturally.
A largely Predictable Scrappy affair took place on the Return of Former Manager Neil Warnock, but the result was never in doubt once United took hold and showed an outstanding Class rarely seen this term.
It was the Hosts that were threatening early, Ward making great progress down the right but his Low Cross made it easy for Butterfield to deflect Evans Effort wide, as Ward, after beating 3 men, got clear but his shot lacked any real Pace or Power. The Tide continued in the Hosts favour as time and time again, Quinn, Ward and Harper pierced the Visitors almost Fragile Midfield with considerable ease. However the next chance came for the Visitors, an Inspired Fonte was left to make headway but was Foiled by Morgan, The Ball eventually being gathered by Bunn.
The deadlock was finally broken when Taylor robbed Derry, who was looking to make an individual run, and found Quinn Scampering down the Left Flank. Quinn's High cross took a bounce past Evans but WILLIAMSON was on hand to Convert, albeit only just, as Palace's, Former United, Defender Davis attempted to Claw clear off the line.
1-0 (21) Williamson
![[cheerleader]](./images/smilies/cheerleader.gif "Cheerleader")
The Tide didn't turn but plenty of solid tackles and last ditch Blocks followed, Clearly Off-Form Evans being the most wasteful. 3 chances in succession being the most obvious. First, a great piercing run from Ward, 1-2 with Harper to send the little striker free down the right, sent another low cross to unmarked Evans having lost his Marker, Fonte, but he mis-hit and it bobbled wide.
The next came from a Corner from Ward. The ball being dropped by Speroni to the feet of Evans, but again, The Striker failed to connect properly and Davies cleared to Halfway. Taylor picked up the loose ball, Scampered forward, Quinn helping out to get him Clear down the left. His Outswinging Cross was accepted by Evans who connected with Power but Speroni was more than Comfortable with it.
The remainder of the half was a good advertisement for a Wrestling Match as Morgan clashed with Lee and was visibly Shaken by the experience, The referee Infuriating the Home crowd with a booking for The United Skipper. Derry followed him into the Referee's Notebook after being short changed by Williamson. The Combating Midfielder more than Frustrating Derry, which left Derry to do what he does best, clattering Williamson from behind after the Blades Man yet again Foiled and Robbed the Visitor. Ertl then went into the book on Half time as Palace failed to break down United's newly Resolute Midfield.
HT 1-0 (45+2)
Second Half:
Ambrose Off, Scannell On.
United were boosted as Palace substituted there leading goal scorer Ambrose who was struggling with a dodgy virus prior to the match, replacing him with relatively unknown Striker Scannell.
Palace kicked off the half on much the same stance. Soak the pressure and hit on the break but it was United break the Palace Rear guard again. Quinn this time showing Hill a clean set of heels and sending a Great croos to the far post, Beating Speroni, But Evans again was unable to steer into an open net. United's faithfull full of noise for only the second time this season, was again shouting at the referee moments later. A block tackle by Danns on Walker which looked much worse than it actually was, was deemed to have been a Yellow card. Butterfield Limped offf after clashing with Cresswell, Replaced by Clyne(55) as Hill broke clear of Taylor but his effort was typical of a Full Back and flew nearer to the corner flag than the goal. Warnock threw on Sears for a disappointing Ertl but the Home sides' waves of pressure didn't stem. The referee waving away what seemed to be a clear Penalty when Hill parried another Evans shot from 16 yards
![[yikes]](./images/smilies/yikes.gif "Yikes")
Hill's luck was reversed when he tackled through Walker on the right, The left back receiving a yellow card for his troubles. The away side was again riding their luck when Poor marking from Danns and Hill left Walker to breeze past on the right, but Walker trying to match the Enginuity of Hill by Firing just over the angle from 20 yards.
As United continued to pour forward, Palace saw a rare opportunity minutes later. Williamson making a run through the middfle was caught in possession, Walker this time thwarting Derry but the ball broke loose and was picked up by Moses on the Left, Moses beating Taylor and finding Danns with Palace's most threatening attack of the Match. Danns beating Kilgallon then Morgan to fire straight at Bunn.
Stewart replaced Evans moments later to infuriate the crowd at the Defensive tactics employed by Blackwell. The United Players responded positively tho. Ward meeting a clearance from Kilgallon, Beating Hill and Scurrying clear down the right, but Tired legs prevented his normal effort, Speroni Claiming with ease. Just moments later however, Walker beat Moses to the throw out and Hill beaten again, Sent a low pass to Ward lurking on the edge of the Area, but his Shot went well wide. Ward replaced just after by Camara.(87)
United made sure of the points in 5 Minutes of Injury time. Palace, piling forward looking for an equaliser, left gaping holes in the rear guard. Kilgallon robbed Lee and released Quinn down the Left, He sent a great piercing pass to Cresswell who beat 2 men and when everyone expected the Deserved Shot, he laid off to an Unmarked Camara but he dummied and the ball found Quinn again Unmarked on the Left of Centre in the 12 yard box, Steadied with the Right foot and sent a pile driver with his Left past a Sprawling Speroni's Left Hand.
2-0 (90+1) Quinn
Palace ended the game on the attack. Sears showing Walker a clean set of heels before pasting the ball into the side netting.
FT 2-0 (90+5) Williamson, Quinn
Ok Fella's, Rate 'em:
Bunn
Walker
Morgan
Kilgallon
Taylor
Ward(87)
Williamson
Harper
Quinn
Evans(80)
Cresswell
Stewart(80)
Camara(87)
![[bigok]](./images/smilies/thumbsup.gif "Thumbs Up")
