THE BLADES PUT 4 PAST SCUNTHORPE
Tuesday night saw the Blades host a struggling Scunthorpe United side, who have not picked up 3 points since their match against Chesterfield on 17th February 2015.
Coming into this game Sheffield United were having troubles of their own at home. Nigel Clough’s side had not won in 3 home league matches before their 1-0 win against Port Vale on the weekend. Pressure has been mounting on the side from the United faithful due to the play off spaces looking less and less secure. Going into this match, the Blades were sitting 3 points inside the play off places with a lot of teams in close range of them. This match was their game in hand so 3 points was a must.
As soon as the game was under-way it was Sheffield United who had the pick of the chances. Ryan Flynn and Jamie Murphy both playing down the wings were giving the Iron back four worrying signs of what was to come. 14 minutes gone and United had already bagged their first goal of the evening. Jason Holt, who is on loan from Hearts, swung in a low ball from the left hand side. With nobody getting a touch on it, he saw the ball fly into the bottom right corner to put the Blades 1 nil up.
39 minutes into the game, the referee pointed to the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge from Scunthorpe’s Jordan Clarke on Ryan Flynn as the winger darted into the box. Jose Baxter stepped up for the Blades and shot with great power into the roof of the Scunthorpe net.
After the break it was the same story. Sheffield United were just too powerful for the timid Scunthorpe United, who seem to crumble in front of supporter’s eyes, and were creating a heap of chances to shout about. United’s third goal came from a well worked counter attack. Freeman sent a beautiful ball to Jamie Murphy who, with a drop of the shoulder, was one on one with the goalkeeper. No trouble for the Scotsman who chipped the ball over the head of the advancing Daniels.
Just when the Sheffield United fans thought it couldn’t get any better, the referee gave another penalty. This time Miguel Llera was the culprit. Having already received a booking earlier in the game, the referee Mark Heywood, who was having a busy night, had no doubts but to award him his second yellow card of the game. Scunthorpe down to 10 men. Baxter converted confidently again, in front of the Kop faithful. He calmly struck the ball into the top left corner. The Scunthorpe manager Mark Robins could only look on from a dis-heartened Scunthorpe bench.
Full Time: Sheffield United 4-0 Scunthorpe United
This win sees Sheffield United lying a bit more comfortably in 5th position in the league, clear of Peterborough United by 5 points. Scunthorpe have on the other hand been dragged into a nervy relegation battle. Their next game is against Notts County at Meadow Lane on Saturday. Robins will want to bounce back from this heavy defeat with a win. He told BBC Radio Humberside,
“That was a championship performance from them. They were outstanding.”
Sheffield United (Starting XI) 24 Turner, 26 Freeman, 06 Basham, 05 Brayford (C), 03 Harris, 18 Coutts (Doyle 79′), 35 Holt, 11 Baxter, 07 Flynn (Davies 82′), Davies (McNulty 75′), 09 Murphy. SUBS – Alcock, Doyle, McNulty, Willis, Done, Davies, Adams
Scunthorpe United (Starting XI) 26 Daniels, 33 Clarke, 32 Llera, 06 Canavan, 17 Townsend, 22 O’Neil, 18 Lundstram, 35 Osbourne (van Veen 60′), 28 McSheffrey (Boyce 86′), 09 Madden, 16 Adelakun (Wootton 76′) SUBS – van Veen, Evans, Boyce, Wootton, Williams, Davey, Anyon
Man of the Match – Ryan Flynn
