Sheffield United

Sheff Utd 1-0 Boston Utd
Ian Ross scored a debut goal to settle a dour clash with Boston. The Blades' homegrown star capitalised on Keith Gillespie's corner to spare the Championship side's blushes. Chris Armstrong should then have doubled the advantage but was wasteful when presented with a great chance to shoot inside the box. And then Paul Ifill was unlucky not to score, but flowing football was in short supply and the Blades will simply be relieved to be through. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Utd: Barnes, Kozluk (Wright 62), Morgan, Bromby, Geary, Gillespie (Forte 86), Alan Quinn, Ifill, Armstrong, Shaw (Mulligan 77), Ross. Subs Not Used: Nix, Stephen Quinn. Goals: Ross 50. Boston Utd: Abbey, Canoville, Ellender, White, McCann (Whelan 84), Thomas, Rusk (Maylett 77), Talbot, Noble (Holland 77), Lee, Joachim. Subs Not Used: Clare, Wright. Booked: Ellender, Noble. Att: 6,014. Ref: K Stroud (Dorset).

Speight earns deal with Seadogs
Scarborough have completed the signing of Sheffield United striker Jake Speight on a permanent basis. Speight, 19, has agreed terms following a successful work experience stay with the Seasiders. His short-term deal with the Blades was due to expire in September but he scored in in each of his first two appearances for Scarborough. Speight's goals helped earn Scarborough four points and convince boss Nicky Henry to offer him a deal.

Striker Pericard loaned to Blades
Portsmouth striker Vincent Pericard has joined Sheffield United on loan for three months with the possibility of a permanent move to follow. Pericard, who was at Juventus for two years before joining Pompey, has recently returned to action after a serious knee injury. "He was always one of my top targets," said Blades boss Neil Warnock. "I've seen him a few times last season. I think he's just what we're looking for," he told Sir Stanley.

Watford 2-3 Sheff Utd
Leaders Sheffield United came from two goals down to beat 10-man Watford courtesy of a late own-goal off the knee of defender Clarke Carlisle. Goals either side of the break by substitute Darius Henderson put Watford on course for a fourth straight win before the Blades hit back. Phil Jagielka headed the first shortly before Paul Ifill's shot was deflected in to make it 2-2. Malky Mackay saw red before Carlisle deflected in Nick Montgomery's header. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watford manager Adrian Boothroyd: "There are defining moments in games and we didn't react particularly well to some of those defining moments and that's a massive learning curve for us. "It will do us good in the long term. I'm sure about that and as Neil Warnock said if we can keep everybody fit and keep the power and pace and the momentum going then we will be a match for them." Sheff Utd manager Neil Warnock: "I thought it was a super advert for the Championship. "It was a sending off. He (Malky Mackay) backheeled him (Rob Kozluk). After that they lost a little bit of discipline. "The ref was a little bit lenient but they have such difficult jobs." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watford: Foster, Doyley, Carlisle, Mackay, Stewart, Devlin (Blizzard 74), Spring, Fletcher, McNamee (Chambers 58), King (Henderson 17), Young. Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Bangura. Sent Off: Mackay (67). Booked: Henderson, Carlisle. Goals: Henderson 39, 53. Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Bromby, Morgan, Unsworth, Ifill, Jagielka, Montgomery, Alan Quinn (Gillespie 77), Shipperley (Webber 56), Kabba (Nalis 90). Subs Not Used: Tonge, Geary. Booked: Kozluk, Bromby. Goals: Jagielka 56, Ifill 66, Carlisle 81 og. Att: 15,399. Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).

Shrewsbury 0-0 Sheff Utd
(After extra-time, Sheffield United win 4-3 on penalties) Shrewsbury keeper Joe Hart produced a fine display, then missed the shoot-out spot-kick which sent Shrewsbury crashing out of the Carling Cup. Hart made a host of good saves as the League Two side held out against the Championship leaders for 90 minutes. He also made three stops in extra-time, turning away two Alan Wright efforts and Lilian Nalis' powerful strike. But with the Blades leading the shoot-out 4-3, Hart clipped the outside of the post to send United through. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shrewsbury: Hart, Herd, Whitehead, Hope, Ashton, Denny, Tolley (Sharp 101), Sorvel, Smith (Hogg 72), McMenamin, Darby (Stallard 45). Subs Not Used: Walton, Thompson. Booked: Tolley. Sheff Utd: Barnes, Geary, Morgan, Francis, Wright, Gillespie (McFadzean 90), Nalis, Tonge, Stephen Quinn, Webber (Marrison 89), Mulligan (Nix 90). Subs Not Used: Horwood, Annerson. Booked: Francis, McFadzean. Sheff Utd win 4-3 on penalties Att: 4,250 Ref: A Hall (W Midlands).

Adams expects more Adebola bids
Coventry boss Micky Adams expects further bids for Dele Adebola in the January transfer window following his impressive start to the season. City turned down a "substantial" offer from Sheffield United last month for the 30-year-old striker, who has scored four goals so far this campaign. Adams told Sir Stanley: "Dele is a handful, and he has been since I took over here in January. "I can understand why other clubs are looking at him at the moment." Adams added: "Sheffield United made offers for him before the transfer window closed. They were substantial for our club in its present financial situation. "But we were able to turn them down quite easily because I said to the chairman 'he's not for sale'." Adebola, who has also played for Crewe, Birmingham and Crystal Palace, signed a new two-year contract at the Ricoh Stadium in June.

Gillespie earns new Blades deal
Championship leaders Sheffield United have rewarded winger Keith Gillespie with a new contract. The Northern Ireland international, 30, joined the Blades on a 12-month deal in the summer and has now signed up for a further year. "He's an absolute gem and deserves a new contract. I love him at the moment and he's not even in the team," boss Neil Warnock told his club's website. Gillespie joined the Blades after leaving Leicester last season. He has started just four games for United but has been used as substitute in each of their other fixtures so far.

Referee Hegley faces FA hearing
The Football Association has charged referee Grant Hegley for failing to properly apply the laws of the game. The decision relates to Hegley not sending off Sheffield United's Keith Gillespie at Reading after the game. Gillespie was angry at not getting a late penalty decision and confronted Hegley after the Blades lost 2-1. Hegley did report Blades boss Neil Warnock for his outburst at the end of the game and he has been charged for foul and abusive language.

BLADES SUPREMO - LEAVE US ALONE
Sheffield United vice-chairman Terry Robinson is determined to agree a new deal with manager Neil Warnock before the end of the season. Warnock's current deal expires in June 2006 and, though the Yorkshire club's board are adamant he will not be leaving, the 57-year-old held talks with Barclays Premiership side Portsmouth last week before ultimately opting to remain at United. "We've got until the end of the season to resolve the issue, so we could be making an announcement about a new contract any time between now and then," Robinson said. Robinson has criticised the latest round of reports linking Warnock with a move to the top flight. Having turned down Pompey, Warnock refused to rule out a move to the Premiership due to his "contractual situation". Robinson hit back at the media storm surrounding Warnock, and said: "There is a final statement the club would like to make about the manager's new contract. "The manager is under contract. There is an option to extend that contract for another year and any discussions about that extension will be done by Sheffield United, in private. "It has been all over the newspapers and the television. Someone asked Neil a tongue-in-cheek question, saying: 'If Manchester United came in for you, would you go?' Of course he is going to say yes. "We have no news about Premiership clubs making enquiries about Neil's position." Robinson wants an end to the recent speculation that has seen Warnock also linked to Newcastle. He said: "It's time to leave us alone and go and pick on someone else." Warnock had told the Yorkshire Post: "At the moment I have no intentions but if Newcastle come in for me next week, or Manchester United or Chelsea...you never know."

Veteran Deane to sign for Blades
Sheffield United legend Brian Deane is joining the club for a third time. The 37-year-old striker has been training with the Blades this week and has agreed to sign a deal until the end of the season. Deane has just returned to England after an unsuccessful spell with Australian club Perth Glory. Blades boss Neil Warnock told Sir Stanley "He was thinking about packing in altogether but I feel he may be able to help us in certain games." Warnock added: "He'll spend the next week or so getting fully fit and he should be available to us early in the New Year. "This signing doesn't mean I'm not trying to bring anyone else in. I still have several other targets that I'm chasing ." Deane began his career at Doncaster and has also played for Leeds, Sunderland, Leicester, West Ham, Benfica and Middlesbrough.

Akinbiyi and Dyer move to Blades
Sheffield United have completed the £1.75m club record signing of Burnley's 31-year-old striker Ade Akinbiyi. And the Blades added further cover up front with the capture of Bruce Dyer, 30, from Stoke on a free transfer. Boss Neil Warnock said he had admired Akinbiyi for a long time - and admitted he had tried to sign him before. "I didn't know I would have to have 18-month's worth of patience to get him - but the wait has been worthwhile," Warnock said. Akinbiyi is among the leading scorers in the Championship this season with 12 league goals. "Ade is a record signing for me and I'm ever so pleased. We're looking at quite a few years ahead as well," added Warnock. "He's just the right type of lad I think we need at the club - which is already a very good squad." On Dyer, Warnock added: "Bruce has a contribution to make and with the likes of Danny Webber out injured and Brian Deane stretching his hamstring the other day, I felt we were very thin on the ground. "And in case there had been complications with Ade, I wanted Bruce." Burnley chairman Barry Kilby has said he hopes to make most of the transfer money from the Akinbiyi sale available to boss Steve Cotterill for new players. "The offer we had was too good to miss for us," he said. "The big plus from the deal is that we now have money to recycle and strengthen the squad with. "The vast majority of the money will be available to the manager for both fees and wages. "We have several targets in place and we hope to try and bring them all in before the deadline."

Horsfield makes Sheff Utd switch
West Brom striker Geoff Horsfield has joined Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season. The deal is with a view to Horsfield signing permanently and the 32-year-old told the Blades' website: "I'm pleased to be coming back to Yorkshire. "Sheffield United are flying at the moment and this is a great chance to get back in the Premiership. "I'm delighted it is done and that I can come back up to Yorkshire and complete the deal." The Barnsley-born striker has previously played for Halifax, Fulham, Birmingham and Wigan. He made his final appearance for West Brom on Saturday as the Baggies were thrashed 6-1 at Fulham.

Marrison to stay on at Gigg Lane
Sheffield United striker Colin Marrison is to stay on loan at League Two Bury for a second month. The 20-year-old has so far made five appearances for Chris Casper's relegation-threatened side and is still looking for his first goal. Meanwhile, Bury have appointed former Shakers player Nicky Reid as their new physio after Joe Hinnigan's departure to Chester. Reid has previously worked on Burnley's backroom staff.

Sheff Utd sign defender Collins
Sheffield United have signed Sunderland defender Neill Collins on loan until the end of the season. The 22-year-old has not made a league appearance for the Black Cats this season, spending much of the campaign on loan at Hartlepool. Blades boss Neil Warnock told the club website: "We have a lot of injuries to defenders, so I'm very pleased to get Neill on loan. "He played very well against us in the league at Sunderland last season."

Warnock issues players' pub ban
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has imposed a pub ban on his players until the end of the season. The ban comes in after midfielder Alan Quinn's arrest following an alleged incident at a pub last week. Warnock told the club website: "I'm not going to fine Alan but we can't go into pubs because we can't let anything detract from what we're trying to do." "This is not an alcohol ban however, they can get drunk at home after the game if they want to." Warnock is worried that his players may be distracted from their main aim of securing promotion to the Premiership. And he added: "Even if a player is drinking orange juice he can still get into trouble in a pub if certain people are there."

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