Sheffield United

Sheff Utd v Aston Villa
Sheffield United could have midfielders Mikele Leigertwood and Alan Quinn back in contention after they missed the win over Charlton with knocks. But Neil warnock has no fresh injury concerns and faces the dilemma of whether to change a winning side. Sheffield United (from): Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Jagielka, Hulse, A Quinn, S Quinn, Kazim-Richards, Kozluk, Gillespie, Leigertwood, Geary, Nade, Webber, Montgomery, Law, Bennett, Short, Kabba. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill: \"Overall I've been very pleased with the players but we have to be absolutely at full stretch at this minute to compete with any one of the sides because we can get turned over and I think we know it. \"Sometimes, despite the fact you might have a bit of confidence from the games, then thoughts of last season's struggle might come back. I prefer to stay with this year and try and drive it on from here.\"

Sheff Utd 2-2 Aston Villa
Sheffield United and Aston Villa each climbed a place in the Premiership table after an entertaining draw. Villa came out of the blocks fast with Stiliyan Petrov slamming in a first goal for the club within two minutes. Chris Sutton also hit the bar but Villa failed to take advantage of lacklustre hosts who bounced back after the break. Stephen Quinn's volley from a long throw drew the Blades level and Danny Webber hooked in a second, but within seconds Milan Baros pounced to level. It was a fair result in a match that epitomised the cliche of a game of two halves after a remarkable turnaround from the hosts. They fell behind on 76 seconds when the recalled Sutton linked up on the edge of the area with Petrov, and after the striker's initial shot was blocked by Leigh Bromby, the Bulgarian struck. More than a quarter of the game had gone before United found their feet and belatedly pushed forward with anything approaching menace. But that only buoyed Villa and the verve of their play suggested a first win in a month was there for the taking. Sutton, back from a calf injury, headed a floated Petrov free-kick on to the crossbar and but for a fine double save by Paddy Kenny from Gary Cahill, Villa would have doubled their lead following a teasing Petrov cross. Having failed to muster a shot on goal of any significance in the first half, United took a leaf out of Villa's book and took the game to their visitors from the off after the interval. Quinn's first senior goal for United, after Liam Ridgewell mis-directed a header from a long Rob Kozluk throw into his path in the box, signalled a change in momentum. Suddenly the Blades had found a cutting edge and looked the more likely victors. Rob Hulse headed powerfully straight at Villa goalkeeper Stuart Taylor from Keith Gillespie's corner before Webber put the hosts ahead. United worked a short corner before sending in a deep cross, Chris Morgan climbed above Gavin McCann and Webber hooked the captain's header in. But Bramall Lane was still celebrating when Baros thundered a shot beyond Kenny from close range 44 seconds later. Steven Davis clipped a ball into the box, Sutton drew two defenders and Baros found himself in an ocean of space to pick his spot and crack in the flick-on from his strike partner for a first goal in eight months. That lack of concentration at the back ultimately cost United a third successive Premiership victory. The tempo of the game continued to increase and both teams had chances to find a winner, but there was to be no fifth goal in a topsy-turvy, end-to-end match. Hulse and substitute Christian Nade saw efforts blocked in an almighty goalmouth scramble after Taylor had initially saved well low to his left. And Quinn forced a fine block from Taylor, who ended the game limping, with a rasping shot from the angle. At the other end Gabriel Agbonlahor wasted a chance before Petrov had Kenny scrambling across his goalmouth with an injury-time free-kick which whistled wide. Villa's seventh draw in nine away games meant they missed out on the chance to climb into the top five, while the Blades are now three points above the relegation zone. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock: \"What a great game it was, but for a manager it's a bit of a nightmare. We just give teams massive lifts. \"We claw our way back into it and then we celebrate and give the ball away. \"A sloppy pass from Webbs on halfway and they end up scoring a goal. I wish I'd taken him off when he'd scored.\" Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill: \"We got ourselves a goal in front and could have been two, three, four up and out of sight. But we weren't able to nail it. \"We were absolutely in control, but then had to rely on another brilliant goal to get something from the game. \"Creatively we were excellent and there were many great things to take out of the game, but obviously we'll have to do better defending the set-pieces.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Bromby, Morgan, Geary, Gillespie, Jagielka, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Hulse, Webber (Nade 68). Subs Not Used: Davis, Alan Quinn, Armstrong, Kazim-Richards. Booked: Kozluk, Bromby. Goals: Stephen Quinn 50, Webber 64. Aston Villa: Taylor, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma (Hughes 67), Agbonlahor, McCann, Petrov, Davis (Osbourne 75), Sutton (Angel 83), Baros. Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Gardner. Booked: Cahill. Goals: Petrov 2, Baros 64. Att: 30,957 Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).

Wigan v Sheff Utd
Wigan captain Arjan de Zeeuw is back in contention after missing the last four matches with a toe injury. Midfielder Paul Scharner is back after a ban, but Gary Teale, Antonio Valencia, Steve McMillan and Ryan Taylor all remain out through injury. Sheffield United midfielder Michael Tonge is in contention after missing seven weeks with an ankle injury. Fellow midfielder Mikele Leigertwood is still sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in the win at Watford. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wigan (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, Camara, Kilbane, McCulloch, Johansson, Landzaat, Heskey, Boyce, Cotterill, Skoko, Baines, De Zeeuw, Scharner, Wright, Webster, Pollitt. Sheff Utd (from): Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Jagielka, Hulse, A Quinn, S Quinn, Kazim-Richards, Kozluk, Gillespie, Geary, Nade, Webber, Montgomery, Law, Bennett, Short, Kabba, Tonge, Armstrong. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stand-in Wigan captain Leighton Baines: \"It's going to be another tough test, but it's one we're really up for. \"They've done well this season but the mood in our dressing room is excellent at the moment and we want to build on Wednesday's performance. \"Although we lost against Arsenal there are a lot of positives that we are taking into the Sheffield United game.\" Sheffield United defender Leigh Bromby: \"I feel we've grown as a squad. There's more confidence about the place, especially after the last three games. \"We're creating chances, scoring goals, and we've proved we can play in this league. There is belief in the squad. \"Now we want to build on the run we're on, and although it's going to be a difficult game as is every away game in this league, we're going there full of confidence.\"

Wigan 0-1 Sheff Utd
Rob Hulse's goal gave Sheffield United their third Premiership away win of the season at the expense Wigan. Hulse illuminated an otherwise dull first half by turning in Stephen Quinn's cross at the near post. As the game sprang to life in the second half, Blades keeper Paddy Kenny denied Wigan with three good saves. Referee Peter Walton controversially reversed a decision to award Blades a penalty when Arjan De Zeeuw appeared to handle, after consulting his assistant. Swathes of empty seats at the JJB Stadium hinted plenty of fans had opted for Christmas shopping and the first half suggested they had made the right choice. Wigan, without a goal in their previous three home games, facing a Sheffield United side with only two Premiership goals away from home this season did not look likely to provide a goal feast. Midfielder Michael Tonge had a shot blocked by De Zeeuw, and Danny Webber headed over at the near post from Quinn's cross as the Blades sought a breakthrough. De Zeeuw proves a tough barrier for Michael Tonge to pass It was very much huff-and-puff stuff as both defences pushed up to compress space and neither side had anyone of quality to put their foot on the ball. Connoisseurs of defending would have appreciated the sterling work of Wigan skipper De Zeeuw in keeping Hulse in check, while Claude Davis was ahead on points in his heavyweight contest with Emile Heskey. As the game meandered towards the interval, Sheffield United took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Gillespie's deep cross was too high for Hulse but fell for Quinn who returned the ball for Hulse to turn in only the Blades' third away goal of the season at the near post. Wigan came out fast for the second half and Danny Landzaat's thumping drive provided Kenny with his first employment. Kenny then excelled himself as Rob Kozluk was caught in possession by Kevin Kilbane but the Blades' keeper spread himself to block. Sheffield United thought they had a chance to seal the points when referee Walton pointed to the penalty spot after De Zeeuw appeared to handle Gillsepie's cross. But after protesting Wigan players forced him to consult his assistant he reversed his decision. Kirkland's only job in the first half was to pick the ball out of his net but he kept Wigan in touch with a double save to deny Gillespie and then Webber's follow-up effort. The game at last sprung into life and Kenny reacted for a third time to deny Lee McCulloch, and substitute David Wright headed wide with the goal at his mercy. Five minutes injury time added to a frantic climax, which saw Nick Montgomery clear McCulloch's header off the line.

Warnock handed transfer war chest
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has been handed \"a lot of money\" to strengthen his squad in January, says Blades Plc chairman Kevin McCabe. Warnock has £2m of remaining transfer funds to spend as well as £5m raised from a loan arrangement. A Sheffield United spokesman would not confirm the specific sum that will be set aside for transfer funds. But McCabe said: \"It's a lot of money, although that's an allocation of money that is also for player contracts.\" The Blades chief says he is content with the current crop of players but is keen for Warnock to add new faces in January. He added: \"In this transfer window we need to freshen things up a little. \"The squad we have now is good enough to keep us up, but every team needs freshening up at some stage. \"When you look at who we can recruit, the list is pretty small if the criteria is that we need players who are better than those we have. It's not easy.\"

Warnock fumes at 'TV intrusion'
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has hit out at media intrusion after an alleged half-time incident in the Boxing Day defeat by Manchester City. It is believed referee Mark Clattenburg was shown or told about a Rob Kozluk handball he missed, which could have led to a City penalty and a dismissal. \"I'm disappointed with the TV people because they called the referee about the Kozluk incident,\" said Warnock. \"That shouldn't have been allowed to happen in the tunnel.\" Replays showed Kozluk swatting a first-half Micah Richards header off the line with his left hand, which the referee failed to spot. Warnock claimed that, having seen the replay, Clattenburg told Kozluk he had been \"lucky to get away with it\". \"I thought it was totally out of order,\" he added. \"Unfortunately, the TV people forgot to mention a penalty we should also have had. I don't think a referee should be mentally tried with statements like that at half-time. \"It has put pressure on him.\" City manager Stuart Pearce resisted the temptation to get drawn into the dispute. \"I was told by the referee at half-time he missed a handball, that one of their boys punched the ball off the line,\" he said. \"As referees normally do, they give some and don't give others. We leave it with them. \"You just hope that when decisions like that are missed, they even themselves out or they don't have a bearing on the result.\"

Warnock nets £5m transfer budget
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has been handed a £5m war chest for the January transfer window. Warnock has been given the money by the Blades shareholders to try and keep the club in the Premiership. The shareholders approved a resolution at an EGM in which they plan to raise an overall £10m via the proposed issue of convertible loan notes. The remaining 50% would be used by the Bramall Lane outfit to invest in two proposed joint off-the-field ventures. The Blades are 17th in the Premiership, just one place and two points away from the relegation zone.

Middlesbrough v Sheff Utd
Middlesbrough's Julio Arca could return after missing the defeat at Blackburn with a knee injury. Utility man Abel Xavier will also be pushing for a starting place as Boro look for a New Year boost. Sheffield United keeper Paul Gerrard will play his first game in eight months at Middlesbrough with Paddy Kenny (groin) and Ian Bennett out. Stephen Quinn, Derek Geary and Mikele Leigertwood are also likely absentees in an otherwise fit squad. Middlesbrough (from): Schwarzer, Davies, Taylor, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Boateng, Cattermole, Arca, Morrison, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu, Jones, Parnaby, Xavier, Mendieta, Rochemback, Christie, Euell, Maccarone, Johnson. Sheffield United (from): Gerrard, Davis, Morgan, Jagielka, Gillespie, Kozluk, Tonge, Armstrong, Bromby, A Quinn, Montgomery, Webber, Hulse, Law, Kazim-Richards, Nade, Sommeil.

Burnley re-sign Blades' Akinbiyi
Burnley have re-signed striker Ade Akinbiyi from Premiership side Sheffield United in a £750,000 deal. The 32-year-old, who left Turf Moor less than 12 months ago, has agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with the club. Burnley manager Steve Cotterill said: \"I'm absolutely delighted to bring Ade back as I'm sure the supporters and his team-mates will be. \"We look forward to welcoming him back but need to let him settle back into the club that loves him.\" Akinbiyi joined Sheffield United last January for a then club record fee of £1.75m but has made only five appearances in the Premiership this season. The Blades will receive £650,000 for Akinbiyi with a further £100,000 payable in the summer. Cotterill, whose side are mid-table in the Championship, now intends to make Akinbiyi a central figure in his plans for promotion. \"This is just the kind of lift we need at this moment, probably for Ade as well,\" Cotterill said. \"He is a great character. He will need to time to settle in though as he hasn't played much in the last year.\"

FA charges Blades defender Morgan
Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association. The charge against the 29-year-old defender relates to an incident involving Robin van Persie during the 1-0 win against Arsenal on Saturday. Morgan appeared to strike the Arsenal forward out of sight of match referee Alan Wiley. He has until 1800 GMT on Thursday to respond and a disciplinary commission will consider the case the next day. Centre-back Morgan was on the receiving end of a punch earlier this season, with Wigan's Lee McCulloch punished with a three-game ban. United grabbed a vital three points on Saturday when they shocked London giants Arsenal with Christian Nade's winning goal just before half-time.

Morgan found guilty of FA charge
Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan has been found guilty of violent conduct and banned for three games by the Football Association. Morgan was charged after appearing to punch Arsenal winger Robin van Persie in the Blades' Premiership win over the Gunners on 30 December. An FA statement said: "Referee Lee Mason confirmed to the FA that he did not see the incident. "But he would have shown Morgan a red card for if he had seen it."

Warnock wraps up double signing
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has signed Senegalese defender Mamadou Seck and Jamaican striker Luton Shelton on a busy day at Bramall Lane. As well as the two new arrivals, Neil Shipperley, who has not played this season, has had his contract terminated by mutual consent. Seck, 27, signed a two-and-a-half year deal after a free move from Le Havre. Shelton, 21, cost around £2m from Swedish club Helsingborg, subject to receiving international clearance. Shelton is an international team-mate of Blades defender Claude Davis and has scored one goal in four appearances for Jamaica.

Warnock set for fifth new signing
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock is expected to complete the signing of Egypt international Ahmed Fathi. The 22-year-old midfielder will become Warnock's fifth capture in 11 days and has been playing for club side Ismaily. "He's 22 and is a nice type of lad who knows what the English game is all about," said Warnock. "He'll get stuck in, has an eye for a pass, can score a few goals as well, although I'm not going to expect too much of him." Warnock added: "You don't know how quick players will settle in when they come from abroad. "But he's coming to the club at the right time. He'll be a good acquisition to the squad because we do need another midfielder."

Blades upbeat over Hulse injury
Sheffield United's Rob Hulse has undergone surgery and boss Neil Warnock believes the striker will be back sooner than was first expected. Hulse suffered a double fracture to a leg after colliding with Chelsea keeper Petr Cech in the 3-0 loss on Saturday. "The surgeon was delighted with how things had gone," Warnock told his club's website. "We might be looking at a recovery of about six months, which is considerably less than we initially imagined." Hulse, United's leading scorer this season, was stretching to reach a low Keith Gillespie cross midway through the first half when he collided with Cech. "When I went for the ball we hit each other and I knew it was a strong hit," Cech told his club's official website. "I was happy the ball went the other way and it wasn't a goal but when I saw him lying behind, I saw his leg so I knew it was going to be a problem. "Of course it was an accident but it is always sad when you see a fellow professional injured on the pitch. It was very unlucky." Warnock's side slipped a place to 17th in the table after the defeat and are four points above the relegation zone, with eight matches remaining. But instead of dwelling on the setback of being without Hulse for the run-in, Warnock focused on the positives. "We have to move on and it gives others an opportunity," he added. "We've got Jonathan Stead, Christian Nade and Danny Webber, and then there's Luton Shelton, who is getting better." Hulse has scored eight Premiership goals this term, which is almost a third of the club's total and more than double any of his team-mates. Webber has struck three times, while Nade and Stead, a January arrival from Sunderland, have two to their name in the league. Jamaican international Shelton, who also arrived in the January transfer window, is yet to make his United debut after joining from Helsingborg.

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