Scunthorpe United v Sheffield United

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Football League Championship

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Williams, Byrne, Jones, Mirfin, Togwell, McCann (Woolford 77), O'Connor (Thompson 90), J.Wright, Hayes, Hooper (Forte 84).
Subs not used:
Lillis, Spence, Canavan, A.Wright.

Sheffield United :
Bunn, Morgan, Kilgallon (Reid 61), Stewart (Taylor 70), Davies, Walker, Harper, Little (Treacy 62), Quinn, Henderson, Evans.
Subs not used:
Bennett, Fortune, France.

SULSESC REPORT

by Sheffield Star at Glanford Park

A CRIPPLING injury crisis provided Kevin Blackwell with a ready-made excuse for this defeat at Glanford Park.

But the Sheffield United manager resisted the temptation to hide behind a catalogue of tweaked tendons and broken bones when asked to explain a result which leaves the visitors 11th in the table and without a victory in their last four games.

"We got exactly what we deserved," was his brutally honest assessment. "And that was nothing."

Although succinct, Blackwell's opening gambit inside Scunthorpe's claustrophobic press room was a shade too harsh on a patched-up group of players who seized control of a fixture they appeared destined to win until Gary Hooper's magical interventions ensured it finished in the home side's favour.

But Blackwell's anger was excusable given the catalogue of woeful errors which followed Ched Evans' equaliser and influenced the outcome every bit as much as the Scunthorpe forward's trickery.

"It would be too easy to explain things away in terms of fitness and selection problems," Blackwell continued. "To do that would be disrespectful to our opponents, and I'm certainly not going to.

"Sometimes people have to push themselves through the pain barrier."

Blackwell had spent the past week wrestling with Bramall Lane's ever-growing body count and expressing concerns about the size and vulnerability of his squad.

Continued speculation surrounding Matthew Kilgallon's future is likely to sour his mood still further before tomorrow's meeting with Blackpool.

The centre-half, who exchanged angry words with a member of United's coaching staff after being substituted following Scunthorpe's third and final goal, has made no attempt to disguise his determination to forge a Premiership career.

Kilgallon has just seven months of his contract remaining and there is no indication that a new one will be signed anytime soon.

Bolton Wanderers, Burnley and Wigan Athletic are reportedly monitoring the situation, and the relationship between Kilgallon and his employers appears strained.

But Blackwell, despite holding the centre-half responsible for Scunthorpe's final effort, will be loathe to see United's back four disrupted further.

"I hope it isn't," he said, responding to a question about whether talk of a lucrative move is proving a distraction. "He's a good lad and a good professional.

"I hope the situation is not affecting his game but I don't know. That's life, isn't it.

"The contract is for the club to talk about. I've wanted it sorted for ages but I haven't got a clue what will happen. We'll just have to wait and see."

A series of high-profile absentees and departures have seen United lose much of the momentum which carried them into last season's play-off final. But their teamsheet will still have made formidable reading when it was delivered to the home dressing room before kick-off.

Glen Little and Kyle Walker, employed in a more advanced role after suffering a blow to the ankle during training, tested Scunthorpe's resolve during the early skirmishes, with Andrew Davies, one of five loanees among United's number, coming close to converting at the far post and James Harper, also featuring despite a knock, unleashing a snap-shot which Joe Murphy saved.

United's two main protagonists combined during an incisive interchange which saw Little's drive deflected to safety, but Grant McCann altered the complexion of the afternoon with a delicious finish which looped over Mark Bunn from long-range.

Evans levelled soon after the re-start after a well-worked set-piece routine with Stephen Quinn.

Blackwell felt David Mirfin, whose tackle prevented the Wales international striker from having a clear run into the penalty area, was fortunate to escape with a caution.

"We can't say anything these days. Managers aren't allowed to comment," he said.

And his frustration was compounded when Paul Hayes', whose partnership with Hooper could yet hold the key to Scunthorpe's campaign, took full advantage of his colleague's delicate touch to fire across Bunn.

Hooper was the architect of the hosts' third and McCann's second and could count himself unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty when Davies upended him towards the end.

"I thought, all things considered, the lads we had out there should still have been good enough to get a result," Blackwell said.

"And with the chances we had during the first half we should have got one.

"All three goals we conceded - even though one of them was a wonder-strike - were preventable."