SHEFFIELD UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 1-2 Sat 7 Apr
2007
Sheffield United's relegation worries increased after a 2-1 defeat
to Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.
Obafemi Martins put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute when he
volleyed home from the edge of the area after James Milners
knockdown.
Blades substitute Christian Nade fired home on the angle from 10
yards in the 74th minute but, six minutes later, Steven Taylor
out-jumped Leigh Bromby to head past Paddy Kenny.
Having dropped into the Barclays Premierships bottom three after
Charltons goalless draw at Manchester City on Good Friday, Neil
Warnocks side find themselves just two points ahead of
second-bottom West Ham United following the Hammers shock victory
at Arsenal.
In truth, for long periods they played like a side with relegation
on their mind, with the majority of the 32,572 crowd enduring
similar feelings.
The manager made three changes to the team beaten 1-0 at Bolton
last week, replacing Matthew Kilgallon, Michael Tonge and Nade with
Chris Armstrong, Stephen Quinn and former Sunderland striker Jon
Stead.
Craig Moore (groin) was passed fit and so Newcastles two changes
saw Kieron Dyer and Celestine Babayaro make way for Milner and
Antoine Sibierski.
In the third minute, Quinn won a free-kick after Milners late
challenge. Mikele Leigertwood curled in a cross but Chris Lucketti
could not get any power on his header and the ball bounced to
safety.
At the other end, Damien Duffs low corner from the left found its
way through a crowd of players to Sibierski but he scuffed a shot
wide from 12 yards.
In the ninth minute, a misunderstanding between Phil Jagielka and
Kenny as to who had to deal with a long ball forward presented
Martins with a chance but the goalkeeper scrambled clear.
But if the Blades had had a lucky escape then they were not so
fortunate in the 17th minute.
Duffs high cross from the left was headed back towards the edge of
the penalty area by Milner and the former Inter Milan striker
volleyed the ball past the unsighted Kenny.
In the 25th minute, Nick Montgomery collected a knockdown from
Kazim-Richards and let fly from 25 yards but Shay Given tipped it
on to a post and behind - only for referee Mark Halsey to award a
goal-kick.
Armstrong then drilled a long-range shot straight into the chest of
Steven Taylor.
In the 37th minute, Duff cut in from the left, played a one-two
with Sibierski, before bundling a right-foot shot just wide of
Kennys right-hand post.
Montgomery responded with a 25-yard volley which was deflected for
a corner off Parkers head.
When the cross came in Bromby flicked it up but Lucketti directed a
weak six-yard header straight at Given.
The second half began with Given making a good save from a Bromby
header, although the defender had already been flagged offside, and
Duff blazing into the side-netting after bursting down the
left.
Parkers ankle injury saw him replaced by Emre with 10 minutes of
the half gone, while Warnock threw on striker Nade and midfielder
Michael Tonge for Quinn and Leigertwood, with Kazim-Richards moving
out to the left wing.
Sibierski should have put the result out of reach in the 62nd
minute when he blazed over an empty goal after Kenny had charged
out wide to try to beat Martins to the ball but then, inexplicably,
tried to shepherd it out of play.
Martins curled the ball in and it rebounded off a post to the
former Manchester City forward who embarrassingly fired over.
Tonges miss at the other end was not as bad - Given was stood in
his goal - but it was just as wayward, while Nades diving
71st-minute header from Gillespies curling right-wing cross rolled
agonisingly past the post.
However, the French striker made no mistake in the 74th minute when
Gillespies right-wing free-kick reached him via Kazim-Richards and
Montgomery.
He drilled home on the angle from 10 yards to lift the roof off
Bramall Lane.
However, the joy lasted six minutes as Taylor out-jumped Bromby to
head the Magpies in front again from Milners right-wing
corner.
Lucketti had a similar chance from close range with eight minutes
to go but headed across goal and wide.