Summary:
Stephen Ireland’s first goal for the club, a first-time volley with his left foot from outside the area with 13 minutes left, was enough to give City a much-needed win. The home side had much of the play but could not break down City’s solid defence, and Nick Weaver made a couple of fine saves when required.
Pre Match news:
Stuart Pearce reshuffled his pack and went with a 3-5-2 formation. Bernardo Corradi returned from suspension to partner Vassell in place of Paul Dickov. Ousmane Dabo made his first start since Reading in September, replacing Ben Thatcher. This meant that Distin and Trabelsi would play as wing backs, with Onuoha, Richards and Dunne at the back.
The Match
City passed the ball about comfortably in the opening phase and it was Ousmane Dabo who made the first real chance on 11 minutes. The French midfielder’s long-range shot bounced in front of Kenny and hit the keeper in the face, luckily for him Corradi could not latch onto the rebound.
Steve Quinn forced a good save from Weaver three minutes later, City’s stopper turning the volley around his left post. The Blades claimed a penalty at the corner when Davis’ shot hit Richards on the hand, but referee Clattenburg ignored their protests.
Weaver, booed by the home fans for his loan spell at Hillsborough, made an even better save on 18 minutes, fingertipping a Jagielka volley behind for a corner.
A United hand looked to stop a Vassell snap-shot in the area on 25, and three minutes later a Richards header from a corner was stopped by Rob Kozluk’s hand almost on the line but once again no spot kick was awarded.
Stephen Ireland chanced his arm from distance on 33, and Paddy Kelly had to push the midfielder’s curling effort around his left post.
Kozluk caused alarms in City’s box just before the break when he was able to wriggle past Distin and get a shot in from off the floor, but thankfully his effort lacked power and Weaver saved easily.
Half time
Sheffield United 0-0 City
Georgios Samaras replaced Corradi at the break.
Blades fans could not believe their eyes when Hulse skied a great chance a long way over Weaver’s bar from close range, and City fans had the same reaction when Samaras’ wild shot from a tight angle missed and went out of play on the far side
Ousmane Dabo was in the right place at the right time on 70 minutes to head a corner right off the line by the post, and from the next corner Weaver had to punch the ball away from virtually the same place.
Georgios Samaras had to do his defensive duties on 72 to head away inside his own area after a goalmouth scramble at a Gillespie free kick.
And with 13 minutes left, City took the lead after absorbing minutes of Blades pressure. Trabelsi chipped it towards Samaras, who chested it into Stephen Ireland’s path, and the Irishman volleyed from outside the area low and across Kenny into the bottom corner of the net.
The Blades were as stunned as City were delighted, although the celebrations were marred by two City supporters running onto the pitch before they were removed by the stewards.
Jordan replaced Onuoha, and Miller came on for Vassell as City reverted to 4-4-2.
The hosts repeatedly flung long balls up towards their front men as time ticked away but City’s defence, lead by Richard Dunne, kept them at bay.
Ishmael Miller could not quite link up with Barton after a good run in stoppage time, but Barton was booked for tangling with Morgan as the ball went out for a throw in.
Mark Clattenburg blew for full time shortly after, and City had a hard-earned win, the home side coming in for a deal of stick from their own fans as the Blues’ travelling support acclaimed their own team.
