Sheffield United

Sheff Utd 0-0 Crewe
Championship promotion hopefuls Sheffield United dropped two points as they were held to a goalless draw by bottom-of-the-table Crewe. The visitors defended resolutely in the first half but the home side applied plenty of pressure after the break. The Blades pinned Crewe back and only some desperate defending denied Garry Flitcroft during a goalmouth scramble. Ade Akinbiyi had a late shout for a home penalty before Kenny Lunt cleared off the line to help Crewe to a point. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock: "If you've got referees of the standard we are getting, if they can't see legitimate free-kicks then do managers have to teach players to cheat? "It isn't in his nature but that doesn't help me. If you can see 70 yards away that he is being pulled back then surely you can see it from 15 yards. "There's no player in the Premiership who wouldn't have gone down. You breathe on them in the Premiership and they go down, and we have a guy being pulled back. Does that mean you have to cheat?" Crewe boss Dario Gradi: "I'm not sure we played any better than we have at other times but we had a bit of luck defending. "We defended with resolution which we often do. "They did what they had to and caused enough problems to create chances, I thought we had the best two chances." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Utd: Kenny, Bromby (Montgomery 63), Morgan, Armstrong, Geary, Flitcroft, Jagielka, Quinn (Ifill 52), Gillespie (Kabba 72), Akinbiyi, Webber. Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Horsfield. Crewe: Turnbull, Billy Jones, Foster, Bougherra, Otsemobor, Bell, Rodgers, Grant, Lunt, Steve Jones, Taylor (Higdon 71). Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Walker, McCready, O'Connor. Booked: Foster. Att: 22,691 Ref: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).

Jagielka wins Championship award
Sheffield United midfielder Phil Jagielka has been named Championship player of the year. Jagielka, 23, emerged as the Championship's top player at the inaugural Football League awards. He said: "It's a massive honour and a massive surprise considering the players like Steve Sidwell and Andy Johnson who could have won it. "I got this award because of the fantastic season we've had and the confidence of all the squad." Former England Under-21 international Jagielka is a product of Sheffield United's youth system. The midfielder has been a key player for Blades' boss Neil Warnock in their push for automatic promotion to the Premiership. Jagielka added: "The gaffer will give me some banter. He nurtured me and will probably take all the plaudits. "We're champing at the bit to play in the Premiership so we're desperate to keep hold of second place and get automatic promotion." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The full list of winners from the awards were: Championship Player of the Year - Phil Jagielka (Sheffield Utd) League 1 Player of the Year - Lee Trundle (Swansea) League 2 Player of the Year - Karl Hawley (Carlisle) The Football League Young Player of the Year - David Nugent (Preston) The Young Apprentice Award For the Championship - Lewin Nyatanga (Derby County) League 1 Apprentice - Scott Golbourne (Bristol City, now moved to Reading) League 2 Apprentice - Ikechi Anya (Wycombe Wanderers) Goal of the Year - Stefan Oakes (Notts County v Yeovil Town) Most Admired Football League Club - Crewe Alexandra Community Club of the Year - Brentford Fan of the Year - Jeff Hall (Chesterfield) Best Club Sponsorship - Norwich City Best Club Marketing Campaign - Preston North End Best Kit Design - Leyton Orient Programme of the Year - Crystal Palace Best Club Website - Nottingham Forest Contribution to Football Award - Gerry Murphy (Huddersfield) Best Ground - Hull City Good Sport Award - Lee Bullen (Sheffield Wednesday)

Gills keen to get Mulligan back
Gillingham manager Ronnie Jepson is trying to re-sign Sheffield United striker Gary Mulligan on loan. Mulligan, 20, was stretchered off in the third game of his loan spell for the Gills last month but the injury is not as bad as first feared. Jepson told Sir Stanley: "I spoke to Gary earlier on this week and he is responding well to treatment. "Hopefully we can bring Gary back on board. If we can get him back it would be a real bonus for us." Jepson added: "He's got an unbelievable work ethic and possesses all the attributes I like in a player."

Coventry 2-0 Sheff Utd
Coventry maintained their 12-match unbeaten home run and dented Sheffield United's automatic promotion hopes. Gary McSheffrey lobbed Coventry ahead, seizing on Blades defender Chris Morgan's under-strength header back to keeper Paddy Kenny. Dele Adebola tucked away Marcus Hall's cross to double Coventry's lead. Phil Jagielka wasted Blades' best chance to get back into the game, dragging his shot wide after being sent clear by Nick Montgomery. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coventry boss Micky Adams: "Sheffield United can rest assured we'll try to do them a favour by doing everything we can to beat Leeds. "I had a blip when I was manager of Leicester and still got them up. "Sheffield United have enough quality, but it is a case of them believing it." Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock: "Rather than feel sorry for myself, I am more determined and positive than ever. "We never do things the easy way at this club and we'll go to Norwich next week to win the game from the start. "We lost this game because of the mistakes we made and had we got a goal back with 20 minutes left we could have got a result." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coventry: Fulop, Whing, Page, Shaw, Hall, Scowcroft, Wise (Thornton 90), Doyle, McSheffrey (Hutchison 75), Adebola, John (Morrell 86). Subs Not Used: Ince, Williams. Booked: Wise, Adebola, Fulop. Goals: McSheffrey 5, Adebola 32. Sheff Utd: Kenny, Jagielka, Short, Morgan, Geary, Flitcroft (Kozluk 45), Montgomery, Armstrong, Akinbiyi (Kabba 66), Shipperley (Horsfield 72), Webber. Subs Not Used: Dyer, Lucketti. Att: 23,506. Ref: K Stroud (Dorset).

Norwich v Sheffield Utd
Youssef Safri is set to figure for Norwich for the first time in a month. With no new injury worries, boss Nigel Worthington's main concern is what system to employ and whether to go for a 4-4-2 and recall Robert Earnshaw. Sheffield United trio Michael Tonge, David Unsworth and Paul Ifill are all back in contention for a starting spot. Midfielder Alan Quinn could also return, but he remains a doubt due to his knee injury, while new boy Chris Lucketti is pushing for a first start.

Norwich 2-1 Sheffield Utd
Norwich stepped up their late bid to reach the play-offs as they condemned promotion-chasing Sheffield United to a third defeat in four games. Chris Armstrong put Blades ahead after 17 minutes with a left-foot shot. Norwich equalised with their first effort on goal after 33 minutes, Leon McKenzie pouncing from close range. Rob Earnshaw put Norwich ahead on the stroke of half-time from Craig Fleming's cross, with keeper Robert Green then keeping the visitors at bay. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich boss Nigel Worthington: "I thought it was outstanding. "We had to earn the right to play, as you have to against Sheffield United, and we went out there and gave an excellent account of ourselves. "Overall it was very pleasing and now we've got to keep this going. "There is a real belief here and some very good signs. There's a buzz about the place and that's good to see." Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock: "Our defending in the lead up to their goals left a lot to be desired. "The lads are disappointed about that but overall they were fantastic for me. "A performance was required and that's exactly what they gave me. If we keep playing like that for the final seven games I'll have absolutely no complaints." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwich: Green, Fleming, Shackell, Doherty, Drury, McVeigh (Safri 54), Hughes, Robinson, Huckerby (Charlton 89), Earnshaw, McKenzie (Johansson 69). Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Etuhu. Goals: McKenzie 33, Earnshaw 45. Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Short, Morgan, Unsworth, Tonge, Jagielka, Montgomery (Gillespie 80), Armstrong, Shipperley (Akinbiyi 80), Webber (Dyer 87). Subs Not Used: Quinn, Lucketti. Goals: Armstrong 17. Att: 25,346 Ref: P Taylor (Hertfordshire).

Warnock stands firm over gesture
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock remains unrepentant after flicking two fingers at Norwich boss Nigel Worthington on Saturday. Warnock was unhappy after Worthington refused to shake his hand and told the Yorkshire Post: "I won't deny that I flipped my fingers in his direction. "But only because I was so disgusted and frustrated at being humiliated by a fellow manager. "If the same circumstances arose I would do the same again." Norwich won Saturday's match 2-1 - further loosening United's grip on the second automatic promotion place in the Championship. Warnock does not expect to receive any punishment from Football Association following his gesture. "I held out my hand for six or seven seconds but he kept on talking and turned his back," added Warnock. "There was no mix-up, he even looked me in the eyes. "I am sorry if it upset any fans. There was definitely no offence intended to anyone inside the ground apart from their staff. "When the governing body looks at the incident I think they will decide to take no action."

Horsfield on his way back to WBA
Geoff Horsfield looks set to leave Sheffield United, less than a month after joining on loan from West Brom. The 32-year-old has made just one start since arriving from The Hawthorns and is now considered surplus to requirements at Bramall Lane. A club statement said: "It has been mutually agreed to investigate ways of terminating the current arrangement." The Blades have seen their promotion bid wobble in recent weeks and slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Norwich on Saturday.

Worthington hits back at Warnock
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington said it was disrespectful of Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock to flick two fingers at him on Saturday. Warnock was unhappy after Worthington refused to shake his hand and told the Yorkshire Post: "I won't deny that I flipped my fingers in his direction. "But only because I was so disgusted and frustrated at being humiliated by a fellow manager." Worthington said: "There is a manager's code of conduct and that's not in it." Norwich won Saturday's match 2-1 - further loosening United's grip on the second automatic promotion place in the Championship. "I held out my hand for six or seven seconds but he kept on talking and turned his back," added Warnock. "There was no mix-up, he even looked me in the eyes. "I am sorry if it upset any fans. There was definitely no offence intended to anyone inside the ground apart from their staff." Worthington did not see the incident until he watched it on TV afterwards. He said: "I'm not bothered about it in any way, shape or form but I did find it a little bit disrespectful and unprofessional. "What I can confirm is that I did shake hands with Neil Warnock after the game." The incident has been reported to the FA. Referee's chief Keith Hackett said: "With incidents such as this, if any of the four match officials has not seen it, then the match assessor can report it. "Had it been seen during the course of a match the outcome would have been that the manager would have been sent to the stands."

Blades upbeat over interim profit
Sheffield United have reported an interim profit for the first time in six years after turnover more than doubled to £20.3m. In the six months to 31 December 2005, the Blades also announced pre-tax profits of £126,000 compared to a loss of £902,000 in the same period in 2004. Executive chairman Kevin McCabe said: "The key achievement is the progress made in our off-the-field business. "That generates revenues to help our investment in the first-team squad." McCabe added: "We feel Sheffield United has certainly transformed from being perceived as a somewhat old-fashioned club to a modern progressive football organisation. "Hopefully promotion to the Premiership beckons at a time where Sheffield United is in fine shape and with a stadium ready to host top-line football again at Bramall Lane for many hopefully years to come."

FA charges Warnock over gestures
Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association. The charge relates to gestures Warnock made towards the Norwich City bench following the final whistle of the match at Carrow Road on 18 March. The 57-year-old was incensed that former Sheffield Wednesday defender Worthington ignored him, refusing a handshake after Norwich's 2-1 victory. Warnock did not expect action to be taken and has until 4 April to respond. Worthington claimed not to have realised Warnock made any sort of offensive gesture until he watched replays of the game. But after viewing the incident he labelled it "disrespectful and unprofessional". However, Warnock had previously insisted: "When the governing body looks at the incident I think they will decide to take no action. There was definitely no offence intended to anyone inside the ground apart from their staff Neil Warnock "I won't deny that I flipped my fingers in his direction but only because I was so disgusted and frustrated at being humiliated by a fellow manager. "If the same circumstances arose I would do the same again. "I held out my hand for six or seven seconds but he kept on talking and turned his back. There was no mix-up, he even looked me in the eyes. "I am sorry if it upset any fans. There was definitely no offence intended to anyone inside the ground apart from their staff."

Sheff Utd 3-0 Southampton
Sheffield United claimed their first win in five games to re-ignite their hopes of automatic promotion. Two goals in three minutes on the stroke of half-time sealed the win. Phil Jagielka swept home Chris Armstrong's cross for the first before Paul Ifill's low effort doubled the Blades' advantage. Former Saints striker Neil Shipperley netted with a clinical strike after 77 minutes as Southampton failed to battle their way back into the game. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United boss Neil Warnock: "The next win was always going to be the big win and it was great to get it under our belt. "Well done to Reading. We've played them twice and we've been the better side in both games, but that just shows what a good team Reading are. "I'm upset that we're not up there but we've had problems they've not had." Southampton boss George Burley said: "We are in a relegation fight and we didn't compete. "As soon as we conceded a goal we became jittery and worried, and in the second half it was men against boys. "After the first goal there was only going to be one winner and if we continue to play like that we will be in trouble." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Short, Unsworth (Montgomery 86), Jagielka, Ifill (Gillespie 73), Tonge, Armstrong, Shipperley, Webber (Akinbiyi 83). Subs Not Used: Dyer, Lucketti. Goals: Jagielka 43, Ifill 45, Shipperley 77. Southampton: Smith, Ostlund, Brennan, Lundekvam, Higginbotham, Kosowski (Blackstock 45), Chaplow, Baird, Surman, Madsen (Dyer 82), Jones. Subs Not Used: Potter, Kenton, Miller. Booked: Madsen. Att: 22,824 Ref: A Bates (Staffordshire).

Stoke 1-1 Sheff Utd
Danny Webber scored a late equaliser to claim a hard-fought draw for Sheffield United, a result which puts them seven points clear of third-placed Watford. Stoke took the lead on 15 minutes after keeper Paddy Kenny's punch found Josip Skoko, who headed into an empty net. Mamady Sidibe and Darel Russell both had chances for the home side as the Blades struggled to impose themselves. A Skoko effort was pushed onto the post late on but United levelled when Webber beat two players before sliding home. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke manager Johan Boskamp: "Our performance was very good and only the result is disappointing for us. "We gave it away and at moments we played very good football, with good ball circulation. "Apart from their goal, I don't think Sheffield United created one chance against us. I thought we played a good game." Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock: "We were a yard off the pace in the first 30 minutes and they wanted to win the battles. "It is difficult when you come away from home and the home team plays with one man up and it's hard to break down. "We're delighted. You're not going to get a much more difficult game than Stoke away." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Broomes, Hill (Buxton 70), Dickinson, Mbuyi (Brammer 70), Skoko, Russell, Chadwick, Sidibe, Gallagher (Sigurdsson 77). Subs Not Used: de Goey, Kopteff. Booked: Hoefkens. Goals: Skoko 16. Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Short, Unsworth, Jagielka, Ifill (Kabba 58), Tonge, Armstrong, Shipperley (Akinbiyi 57), Webber. Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Gillespie, Lucketti. Booked: Morgan. Goals: Webber 83. Att: 17,544 Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).

Warnock admits FA conduct charge
Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has admitted a charge of improper conduct by the Football Association. Warnock was hit with the charge over a gesture he made towards the Norwich bench after the final whistle of their match at Carrow Road on 18 March. The 57-year-old was incensed that Norwich counterpart Nigel Worthington ignored him, refusing a handshake after the Canaries' 2-1 victory. Warnock has also requested a personal hearing regarding his charge. The Blades boss had previously said: "When the governing body looks at the incident I think they will decide to take no action. "I won't deny that I flipped my fingers in his direction but only because I was so disgusted and frustrated at being humiliated by a fellow manager. "If the same circumstances arose I would do the same again. "I held out my hand for six or seven seconds but he kept on talking and turned his back. There was no mix-up, he even looked me in the eyes. "I am sorry if it upset any fans. There was definitely no offence intended to anyone inside the ground apart from their staff."

Sheff Utd v Hull
Promotion-chasing Sheffield United are set to be unchanged for the visit of Hull City. Midfielder Keith Gillespie has recovered from a slight knock but is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench. Hull manager Peter Taylor is hoping to name an unchanged side following last week's 1-0 win over Leeds. However, left-back Alan Rogers and midfielder John Welsh are both struggling with illness.

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