retired_eneko5613

March 2007

March would be make or break for Sheffield United's promotion ambitions. Everyone knew that. What they didn't know was that Sheffield United fans were about to get a March that they would never, ever forget, regardless of the eventual outcome of the season. They would have to wait, though, as the best would most definitely be saved for last.

The month started in disappointing fashion, with a narrow and undeserved defeat at third placed Bolton. An unchanged side battled hard all game, but the former Premiership side were equal to everything that United threw at them, and eventually they nicked it with a near post header in the 76th minute. Fans trooped back across the pannines inconsolable at the thought that they were now back on the brink of not making the playoffs, in 6th place, level on points with Burnley who had a game in hand.

There was an immediate bounce back for the same team on Tuesday night against Watford. Webber and Quinn, with his tenth of the season, scored in the first half, and the former Watford man got his own tenth of the season in the second. Monty came on as a second half substitute, but picked up a nock which would make him a doubt for the next game. A comprehensive 3-0 victory though, that, combined with a defeat for Burnley, made the situation slightly healthier. 6th place, two points clear of Preston in 7th and 3 points clear of Burnley in 8th.

Good and bad news during the rest of the week. In the bad camp came new that Paddy Kenny would miss about 5 weeks after straining a thigh muscle in training. Also bad, David Sommeil's loan spell was due to end, and the battle to sign him on a permanent contract for next season was won by Leeds rather than the Blades. Therefore he wouldn't be allowed to renew his loan contract. To balance things out a little, Burnley lost their game in hand against Hull, giving United breathing space in 6th place.

Little did the United fans realise just how close to disaster they were. On Saturday 10th March, Fulham came to Bramall Lane. If ever a team completely outplayed United, it was in this game. Only Caldwell (in for Sommeil) and Webber could take anything positive from the match, with Geary, Unsworth, Tonge, Quinn and Abeyie being particularly poor, and Ifill having a stinker. Fulham started slowly, going 1-0 up after quarter of an hour. United continued playing their own style of football, but Fulham scored a couple of quickfire goals around the half hour mark. A goal for Webber on half time gave hope for a comeback, but the fourth goal with twenty minutes to go sealed United's coffin, and as heads dropped Fulham hit two in two minutes at the end. 6-1, a stuffing. All advantage now gone, United were back to goal difference keeping them in 6th, and only just at that.

Down to Southampton for the televised game the following Sunday. Jagielka joined Quinn in midfield, replacing Thompson. Southampton took the lead in the first half, and the Blades fans sat and waited for their side to fight back. Half time came and went, and twenty minutes into the second half the Saints won a penalty to make it 2-0. Thompson had replaced Ifill at half time, and Mellor came on to replace Webber for the final 25 minutes. For the first time in a Blades shirt, Mellor clicked. Thompson soon got one back from a freekick, and five minutes later Neil Mellor finally opened his United account with the equaliser. But that wasn't enough of a comeback for the Blades. Gresko's cross was put away by Abeyie for a third with four minutes to go, and thanks to more hard work by Mellor, the dutchman got a second a minute later. The comeback was complete, and if ever there was an important three points, this was it. Abeyie took the man of the match, and United rose to 4th, above Southampton in the table.

With six games to go, the table looked a bit like:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Wigan82Bolton82----------Fulham80Sheff U67So'ton66Reading65----------Burnley64Derby64Preston62</pre>

What better way to build up to the Steel City derby at Hillsborough? The fans would have a fortnight to exchange banter, with the international break intervening.

Team selection for the derby didn't seem particularly difficult for the Blades boss. Thompson replaced Ifill on the right, but otherwise the side was the same as the Southampton game. In front of nearly 40000 fans, the two teams kicked off. United were on top straight away, with the pace of Webber and Abeyie a problem as ever, but the Owls kept them out for over quarter of an hour. On 18 minutes, a long ball down the right by Geary found Thompson. Already clear of the defence, the former Blackburn winger pushed forward before crossing deep for his left wing counterpart Michael Tonge. Tongey simply laid the ball back across goal into the path of Abeyie, who tapped in from close range. More chances for the United strikers followed, and an excellent opportunity for Jagielka, breaking from midfield, foiled by the keeper. It wasn't until 40 minutes in that the next goal went in. A long ball from Annerson found Tonge on the wing, midway in the Owls half. He slipped the ball inside to Quinn, who laid a perfect ball into the path of Webber, releasing the striker from the Wednesday defence. Webber rounded the keeper and slotted home at the near post for 2-0. Three minutes later, Abeyie made it 3-0, after Jags and Webber had combined well in midfield. 30 goals for the season from the loanee, and the Blades would go into half time with the game already won. Unless Wednesday could fashion some sort of comeback.

Jordan made changes at half time, bringing on Coles and Mellor for Unsworth and Webber, with one eye on forthcoming fixtures. It was a slow start to the second half, with no real action for the first quarter of an hour, at which point Burton O'Brien hacked down Abeyie in the area as he closed in on goal. He had to go, which is just what Wednesday didn't need. Abeyie wasn't going to let anyone else have the ball, and he completed his hattrick to make it 4-0. Five minutes later, Simek tripped Mellor less than ten yards from the left wing corner flag. Thompson curled in the freekick, and Jags' header beat the keeper and both men on the line to make it a fabulous five. Credit to Wednesday, their heads didn't drop. In fact, at 5-0 down, they had their best pressure of the game. Brunt had a freekick tipped round the post by Annerson. But it didn't last long. By the last ten minutes, United had them on the rack again. Things were about to get farcical for the blue and whites, however. With the ball out of play for a throw in on 83 minutes, Sturrock finally lost patience and substituted his keeper Djukic, replacing him with David Lucas. As the keepers changed position, Glenn Whelan kicked out at David Thompson. The ref saw it, and yet again had no choice but to send the Wednesday player off. Sturrock was furious on the touchline, but there was nothing he could do about it. It took just five minute for United to take advantage of the shambles, Thompson once again getting to the touchline and crossing, for Jagielka to divert a header into the far bottom corner. Smashing Six to United! It wasn't quite over yet. Two minutes into stoppage time, United broke from a Wednesday corner. Mellor found himself on the edge of the area, surrounded by two defenders, but still managed to find the bottom corner of the net. A stupendous seven goals, and a memorable victory.

A perfect performance from the United team. Abeyie got the nod for man of the match, but Thompson and Jags were equally worthy, and the rest weren't far behind. The fans, not surprisingly, went absolutely crazy. It was days before the first Wednesday fan dared to air their voice on Football Heaven, although there were a significant number of emails to the show suggesting that Sturrock should do the honourable thing and quit. The United boss didn't waste any time in making his own thoughts about his Wednesday counterpart clear, with some snide remarks to the media in his post-match comments.

Phil Jagielka picked up the player of the month, with Caldwell third and Abeyie the young player of the month. Nothing else needs to be said about March. Let the fans take it away...

retired_eneko5613

April 2007

Whatever happened in April, it would be an anti-climax. With the fans going ballistic at any given opportunity, the manager of Sheffield United had a real challenge on to bring the players back down to earth and focus their concentration on the next game. There would be no Gresko for the Plymouth game, in fact the Slovakian was set to miss the whole month after suffering a back strain in training. Keenan came into the side as a direct replacement. Plymouth themselves were comfortably midtable, with not a lot to play for at this stage of the season. Which might explain why they seemed not to turn up.

Webber opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark, and a freekick from Thompson made it 2-0 ten minutes later with an excellent freekick. 5 for the season from the much-improved midfielder. By the half hour mark United had another three points securely in the bag, thanks to a second of the game for Danny Webber. United eased back, doing just enough to keep the visitors at bay for the rest of the first half and most of the second. Then Plymouth had Aliou Cissé sent off, and things got exciting again. A breakaway goal for Abeyie on 79 and then an absolute screamer from 25 yards for Derek Geary four minutes later. Not a bad way to score your first goal of the season. Unsworth finished the game off, typically, with a last minute penalty, and the Blades had six of the best again.

Other results meant that United's slim chances of an automatic promotion spot were over. It would be the playoffs, or bust. They were 4th in the table, with a massive +36 goal difference, three points clear of Southampton and Derby, and four clear of 7th placed Reading, who were next up on Easter Monday.

The boys from the Madjeski stadium were the single biggest threat to United's playoff ambition. Playing them at such a late stage of the season meant the result was critical. Playing them on an Easter Monday meanth the players were jaded, but at least that applied to both sides. United were unchanged, unsurprisingly given recent results, but Reading started the more lively side. They bossed the game for the first half, and went in one goal to the good. They could have had more, but didn't spend long worrying about it as they added a second just after the break. Paul Ifill's introduction at half time seemed to wake United up, though. He got a goal back on the hour, and Webber nicked an equaliser with ten minutes left. No doubt who had the momentum now, and who would back against United in this situation? David Unsworth, perhaps, as he contrived to get himself sent off with just four minutes to go. Or maybe Jo Keenan, who deflected a Reading shot into his own net in the last minute. A painful defeat for the Blades.

United really needed a win now. Fortunately, their next visitors were Swindon, who had already found themselves relegated. Sometimes, sides find relegation a new lease of life, and perform above expectations for the rest of the season. Not Swindon. Jags dropped into defence to replace Unsworth, which gave Sierra a chance to start in midfield, and the match also marked Kenny's return between the sticks. In Swindon's midfield, Frederik Svanbäck was about to have a day to forget. His own goal put the Blades ahead withing ten minutes, and with United still struggling to find form he decided to make things easier by getting sent off ten minutes before half time. Against ten fairly incompetent men, United finally got their game together. Abeyie netted before the break, and Sierra afterwards to claim a comfortable 3-0 victory, and reduce sales of Andrex throughout Sheffield. Thompson took the man of the match award, in a strange decision by the committee, as he wasn't involved in any of the three goals.

Two games to go, then, and the pressure is back on Reading. They didn't play on Saturday, and so the standings are:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">4. Sheff Utd76 (+38)5. So'ton76 (+19)6. Derby74 (+8)------------------------7. Reading72 (+17) [from 43]</pre>

The red and white half of Sheffield gathered in their pubs and front rooms on Monday night, transformed temporarily into fans of the claret and blue of Burnley. There would have been some beer drunk and a few nursed hangovers, as Burnley banged in two goals without reply to seriously dent Reading's chances of a playoff spot. The fans knew that a win against Derby would guarantee that playoff place.

Jordan moved Jags back into midfield, as Unsworth returned to defence, for a game which had far too much at stake for both sides to be a decent spectacle. The whole of Pride Park increasingly held their breaths as the match gradually progressed without goalscoring incident. Derby probably had the edge for most of the first half, but that was to end on the stroke of half time. In probably the most costly decision of the season for Rams fans, Nathan Doyle decided that the best way to stop Danny Webber scoring was to pull him back on the edge of the area. The ref judged him to be the last man, and sent him off. United still couldn't make the advantage pay, stumbling through the second half and looking more and more like the game was going to finish 0-0, or be decided by a mistake or a moment of brilliance. In the end, the only goal summed the game up perfectly. Two minutes into stoppage time, a cross from Thompson was blocked, but returned to the winger. At the second attempt he got it across, and Quinn's header had the United fans rising from their seats. Lee Camp was there, though, and blocked well, but the ball came to Webber on the back post. With his back to goal, the United striker still had a lot to do, but he turned well and fired a shot across the body of the keeper. The defender on the line couldn't get to it, and in the tightest of tight games, the Blades had come through to claim a vital victory. They would be in the playoffs, no matter what happened in the final game of the season.

So, yes, the Leeds game was meaningless, but Jordan kept the same team regardless. No keeper on the bench, though, as Jamie Annerson suffered an injury in midweek training that would keep him out for however much of the season remained. Fittingly, Abeyie scored United's goal in the Sunday afternoon fixture, but Leeds rescued a point through a penalty midway through the second half. 33000 fans went home happy in one way or another. The Leeds fans content they'd got a point from a game they were second favourites for, and the Blades fans looking forward to a trip to St Mary's in six days time.

retired_eneko5613

Watch this bugger up...

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Bolton | | 46 | 30 | 5 | 11 | 90 | 39 | +51 | 95 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | P | Wigan | | 46 | 28 | 9 | 9 | 92 | 50 | +42 | 93 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | Pl | Fulham | | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 87 | 53 | +34 | 90 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | Pl | Sheff Utd | | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 95 | 56 | +39 | 80 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | Pl | Southampton | | 46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 68 | 49 | +19 | 79 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | Pl | Reading | | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 76 | 59 | +17 | 76 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Derby | | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 66 | 59 | +7 | 75 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Burnley | | 46 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 57 | 49 | +8 | 74 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Hull | | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 68 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Cardiff | | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 66 | 65 | +1 | 68 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Preston | | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 66 | 68 | -2 | 68 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Plymouth | | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 53 | 54 | -1 | 64 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Q.P.R. | | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 56 | 64 | -8 | 62 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Leicester | | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 54 | 62 | -8 | 62 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Stoke | | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 61 | 68 | -7 | 61 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Leeds | | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 52 | 61 | -9 | 55 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Ipswich | | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 48 | 56 | -8 | 54 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Sheff Wed | | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 65 | 79 | -14 | 53 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Millwall | | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 50 | 65 | -15 | 49 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Watford | | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 59 | 70 | -11 | 45 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Luton | | 46 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 39 | 74 | -35 | 45 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | R | Bristol City | | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 51 | 66 | -15 | 44 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | R | Doncaster | | 46 | 7 | 12 | 27 | 45 | 87 | -42 | 33 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | R | Swindon | | 46 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 36 | 92 | -56 | 27 | | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_eneko5613

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Coca Cola Championship ====================== Playoff Semi Final 1st Leg - 5th May 2007 ========================================= Southampton FC Sheffield United FC ============== ===================* 1. Antti NIEMI * 1. Paddy KENNY 2. Carmelo CARIOTI * 2. Derek GEARY* 3. Baris DENIZ * 3. David UNSWORTHs 4. Stephen WRIGHT 4. Danny COLES* 5. Pascal CYGAN 5. Chris MORGAN* 6. Stephen MCPHAIL * 6. Phil JAGIELKA 7. David MCGOLDRICK s 7. Paul IFILL 8. Matthew OAKLEY 8. Pawel ABBOTT* 9. Brett ORMEROD 9. Neil SHIPPERLEY 10. * 10. Danny WEBBER* 11. Michael CHOPRA * 11. David THOMPSON* 12. Nigel QUASHIE * 12. Alan QUINN 13. SANTI 13. Ian ROSSs 14. Ricardo FULLER 14. Lilian NALIS 15. Matt JACKSON s 15. José Luis SIERRA 16. David WRIGHT * 16. Stephen CALDWELL 17. Robbie FOWLER s 17. Nick MONTGOMERY 18. Rory DELAP * 18. Michael TONGE* 19. Chris RIGGOTT 19. Keith GILLESPIE 20. David PRUTTON * 20. Joe KEENAN* 21. Sam RICKETTS 21. Jonathan FORTE 22. Chris COHON s 22. Simon FRANCIS 23. 23. Eugen BOPP* 24. Kamil KOSOWSKI 24. Vratislav GRESKOs 25. Drew SURMAN * 25. Quincy Owusu ABEYIE 26. Amer SHAFIH 26. James ASHMORE 27. Matt HILL 27. Sharu NARAJI 28. 28. Adrian HARPER 29. 29. 30. s 30. Roberto COLAUTTI* 31. Djamel BELMADI 31. Dominic ROMAs Tom ROWE 32. Kyle MCFADZEANs TOTTI 34. Gary MULLIGAN 35. Neil MELLOR 40. Jamie ANNERSON 41. Lee SAN</pre>

Jordan's by now familiar team ran out at St Mary's stadium with the hopes of a few thousand travelling supporters - and a great deal more back home in Yorkshire - firmly with them. After 46 games, they couldn't afford to make a mess of this at the first attempt. Southampton were thinking similar thoughts, and it was an untidy first half which the home side probably edged. Quashie was their main threat, with a couple of decent chances, whilst Antti Niemi was hardly troubled.

United started the second half brighter, a good effort from Quinn forcing Niemi into his first save of note not long after the break. Ormerod replied with a decent header across the face of goal which Kenny had to tip over the bar for safety's sake. Perhaps the first real miss of the game came on the hour mark, and Alan Quinn was the guilty party. Good build up down the right led to Thompson playing a pinpoint pass inside to Jags. Jags found Abeyie, who was practically one on one with the keeper, but he chose to square the ball for Quinn who shot disappointingly wide on the volley. Of the two managers, Jordan chose to make a move first, replacing star of the season Abeyie with so-far disappointing Roberto Colautti. The change paid dividends five minutes later, as Colautti, on the half way line, received clearance from a Southampton free kick. The deftest of touches released Thompson who was moving at pace down the right. The winger still had a lot to do, but he made a beeline for goal, and before the defence could get a tackle in, shot past Niemi at his near post. The travelling United contingent were in raptures! A vital goal, and with only twenty minutes to hold out to take a lead back to Bramall Lane!

Almost unnoticed amidst the celebrations, Southampton brought Stephen Wright on in place of Sam Ricketts. United also made a change, looking to tighten up the midfield by bringing Montgomery on for Quinn. They looked to be settling well, stifling Southampton in the middle of the park, and the south coast side looked increasingly desparate as, with ten minutes to go, they brought on Ricardo Fuller, another striker, to replace Kosowski. He had a major role in getting his side back on level terms on 83 minutes, with a rasping shot from outside the area that Kenny could only parry. Brett Ormerod was there to pick up the pieces, and the Blades fans fell silent whilst the Saints celebrated.

United still had a chance to win it as, with two minutes to go, Colautti (who was having by far his best game for the Blades) brought a fine finger tip save from Niemi. but it was to be 89th minute heartbreak for United, and all of their own doing. A harmless defensive free kick, 15 yards inside their own half, was played forward by Caldwell to Jags. The experienced midfielder, one of United's most consistent players throughout the season, dwelled too long on the ball, and was robbed by Quashie, who could only stab the ball forward. Oremerod raced free of the defence in the hopes of getting onto the loose ball, but Kenny - storming out of his area - was a clear favourite to get there first, wasn't he? The travelling support held their collective breaths, but could only look on as Ormerod injected some previously unseen pace, and beat the keeper to the ball. Realisation dawned, and by the time the Saints striker had side-footed the ball into the empty net, many fans had their heads in their hands.

There was no time for any more action. It would be a long way back, in more than one way.

retired_mully

Very good so far, looking forward to next update, one thing starting my game today, i was wondering when writing do you write are you play? or write it all up at once when your month has finished, and also do you write it somewhere first then paste to forum message, or type straight into forum message box.

retired_eneko5613

[i]Thanks Mattie! To answer your questions: I prefer to write as I play, but I do tend to get carried away, especially when on a winning run, so make pretty detailed notes. Sometimes I write from these notes, sometimes I load the game and go back and watch replays etc.

I always write up in a Text Editor (notepad would do) before posting, and then copy and paste into the forum box. Two benefits - I can expand my notes into the story, and I always have a copy in case the mods have another off day and purge the forum.

retired_eneko5613

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Coca Cola Championship ====================== Playoff Semi Final 2nd Leg - 8th May 2007 ========================================= Sheffield United FC Southampton FC =================== ==============* 1. Paddy KENNY 1. Antti NIEMI* 2. Derek GEARY 2. Carmelo CARIOTI* 3. David UNSWORTH * 3. Baris DENIZ 4. Danny COLES 4. Stephen WRIGHT 5. Chris MORGAN * 5. Pascal CYGAN* 6. Phil JAGIELKA * 6. Stephen MCPHAILs 7. Paul IFILL 7. David MCGOLDRICKs 8. Pawel ABBOTT s 8. Matthew OAKLEY 9. Neil SHIPPERLEY * 9. Brett ORMEROD* 10. Danny WEBBER 10. * 11. David THOMPSON * 11. Michael CHOPRA* 12. Alan QUINN * 12. Nigel QUASHIE 13. Ian ROSS 13. SANTI 14. Lilian NALIS s 14. Ricardo FULLERs 15. José Luis SIERRA 15. Matt JACKSON* 16. Stephen CALDWELL s 16. David WRIGHTs 17. Nick MONTGOMERY 17. Robbie FOWLER* 18. Michael TONGE 18. Rory DELAP 19. Keith GILLESPIE * 19. Chris RIGGOTT * 20. Joe KEENAN * 20. David PRUTTON 21. Jonathan FORTE * 21. Sam RICKETTSs 22. Simon FRANCIS 22. Chris COHON 23. Eugen BOPP 23. 24. Vratislav GRESKO * 24. Kamil KOSOWSKI* 25. Quincy Owusu ABEYIE s 25. Drew SURMAN 26. James ASHMORE 26. Amer SHAFIH 27. Sharu NARAJI 27. Matt HILL 28. Adrian HARPER 28. 29. 29. 30. Roberto COLAUTTI 30. 31. Dominic ROMA 31. Djamel BELMADI 32. Kyle MCFADZEAN * 50. Tom ROWE 34. Gary MULLIGAN TOTTI 35. Neil MELLOR s Neil ARMSTRONG 40. Jamie ANNERSON 41. Lee SAN</pre>

Bramall Lane was packed to the rafters for the second leg of the Playoffs. Blind optimism combined with sheer hope to create a cacophony of noise. United fielded an unchanged side, manager Jordan clearly confident of his sides goalscoring prowess. Southampton made a couple of changes, notably replacing their injured keeper with an untried 16 year old. That was certainly a sight for sore eyes for the Blades fans.

A couple of early yellow cards were the only highlights of a dull first quarter of an hour, but it was Southampton who had the first chance as Brett Ormerod's low shot was tipped round the post by Kenny. From the resulting corner, United launched a trade-mark counter attack. Webber picked up Jags' headed clearance, and set Abeyie free with a lovely curled pass. Abeyie was left to round the keeper and tap the ball home in his own time, to take him to 35 goals for the season. United were back on terms, and Southampton's game plan was seriously altered. They came back hard, Chopra failing to take advantage of a couple of opportunities in the next five minutes. Just before the half hour, Jags should have done better as he was released by Webber on the edge of the area, but his shot was wayward and never worried the keeper.

Danny Webber was clearly on top of his game today, and when Abeyie played a simple ball into his path level with the last defender, he found a way past the keeper just inside the near post to make it 2-0 to United. Southampton now desparately needed to get one back before half time, and this time it was Quashie who was guilty of spurning a shooting chance. They would regret it before the break. The third goal came in the last minute of the half. Abeyie, on the half way line, laid the ball back to Jags who played a high ball releasing Webber at inside left. Webber cut in from the corner of the penalty area, and went wide to draw the keeper, before rolling the ball into the near corner. Fabulous goal, his 50th for Sheffield United, and sending his club into half time with a fairly solid looking lead.

Any carefully laid out plan that the Southampton manager had expanded on in his teamtalk was blown apart within a minute of the restart. United had replaced Abeyie and Jagielka with Abbott and Montgomery at the break, obviously thinking the game was won and looking to save legs for the final. Monty was involved in the buildup to a cracking fourth, which was hit by Quinn from 30 yards out, a fabulous curling shot which left the young keeper rooted to the spot. Southampton heads dropped. Webber could have had a hattrick almost immediately, but had to wait until the 67th minute when Sierra, who had just replaced Quinn a couple of minutes earlier, swung across a corner to the far post. Webber's excellent positioning gave him the perfect scoring opportunity, and he made no mistake in making it 5-0. A trio of Southampton substitutions, and a couple of meaningless yellow cards, added little to proceedings, and just for good measure Pawel Abbott completed the rout by heading a Tonge cross firmly into the bottom corner in stoppage time. 6-0, and all thoughts of those late goals at St. Mary's were abandoned. United were going to Wembley.

The fans had plenty to say. Far more than could possibly be included here, but some highlights:

Fulham played their own comeback card, with an ominous 3-1 home victory over Reading, to turn round a 1-0 scoreline from the first leg.

retired_eneko5613

Playoff Final 2007 buildup

Whilst the fans concentrated on queueing for tickets, and making sure their hotels were booked and their travel plans sorted, day to day business continued at Bramall Lane. Robert Colautti returned to Newcastle at the end of his loan spell. Not that anyone really cared. He was destined to become a quickly forgotten name as far as the Sheffield United fans were concerned. Travis Binnion and Jordan Robertson both agreed to sign for Torquay in the summer. Maybe they'd take up surfing whilst they were there? They certainly weren't good enough to play football for United, and most of the fans wouldn't miss them. There was reported unrest amongst some of the other reserves, but no solid news.

The club made a big deal out of appeasing Pawel Abbott's barely stated worries over getting a first team place. The Polish striker hadn't even directly mentioned that he was upset in the interview in question, yet United's official response made it sound like he'd threatened to storm out. There was a rat to be smelled here, but the supporters were so hyped up about Wembley that they didn't notice what was being covered up.

They'd notice on Sunday. Quincy Owusu Abeyie, top scorer with 31 goals, would not play for United in the Playoff final.

retired_eneko5613

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Coca Cola Championship ====================== Playoff Final, 20th May 2007, Wembley ===================================== Fulham FC Sheffield United FC ========= =================== 1. * 1. Paddy KENNY 2. * 2. Derek GEARY* 3. Carlos BOCANEGRA * 3. David UNSWORTH 4. 4. Danny COLES* 5. Billy JONES 5. Chris MORGAN* 6. Theo WALCOTT * 6. Phil JAGIELKA 7. Chris JAMES s 7. Paul IFILL* 8. Claus JENSEN * 8. Pawel ABBOTT 9. Dexter BLACKSTOCK 9. Neil SHIPPERLEYs 10. Saheed SANKOH * 10. Danny WEBBER 11. Fabrice FERNANDES * 11. David THOMPSON 12. Dalibor STEVANOVIC * 12. Alan QUINN 13. Callum LEGATE 13. Ian ROSS 14. Giorgos NTOVAS 14. Lilian NALIS* 15. Collins JOHN 15. José Luis SIERRA 16. Nicky BUTT * 16. Stephen CALDWELL* 17. Daniyel CIMEN s 17. Nick MONTGOMERY* 18. JUNIOR * 18. Michael TONGE 19. Dominic PETIZ 19. Keith GILLESPIEs 20. Zander DIAMOND * 20. Joe KEENAN* 21. Zesh REHMAN 21. Jonathan FORTE 22. Matthew TAYLOR s 22. Simon FRANCIS* 23. Alexander FRUTOS 23. Eugen BOPPs 24. Gareth ROBERTS s 24. Vratislav GRESKO* 25. Jaroslav DREBNY 25. 26. 26. James ASHMOREs 27. Darren PRATLEY 27. Sharu NARAJI 28. 28. Adrian HARPER 29. 29. 30. 30. 31. Djamel BELMADI 31. Dominic ROMA 32. 32. Kyle MCFADZEAN* 33. Niclas JENSEN 33.s Corrin BROOKS-MEADE 34. Gary MULLIGAN s 35. Neil MELLOR 40. Jamie ANNERSON 41. Lee SAN</pre>

The rumour that Abeyie was absent snowballed as kickoff approached and the fans made their progress down the M1. Was it an injury? Had he just disappeared? People reported seeing him checking out of his hotel, others said he had been seen in Hallamshire A&E department. One or two came out with even more unlikely stories. Their fears were confirmed when they got hold of the official matchday programme, minus Uniteds number 25's name. To find out that the apparently want-away Abbott was starting instead was enough to make a minority boo the decision.

On paper, this Fulham team was beatable. Their squad had been decimated since their fall from the top flight last season, and they were carrying injuries in what remained. By all accounts they liked to play a strange 4-1-2-2-1 formation, with an anchor man in midfield, two advancing wingers and a single striker. That striker was another dutchman with 30 goals for the season, Collins John. Or at least it was for the first nine minutes. At that point he had to leave the field through injury, but he had already had the ball in the back of the net, only to see it disallowed for offside. Fulham only attacking option was 19 year old Saheed Sankoh, but rather than adapt to a new formation, Chris Coleman chose to play the inexperienced youngster alone. United fans took heart from this, as with Keenan and Geary tightly marking the two wingers, it seemed to severely reduce Fulham's attacking threat.

Alexander Frutos had the only other Fulham chance of the opening 20 minutes, a long shot which was easily gathered by Kenny. At the other end, Quinn had a chance to score when in space on the edge of the area, but his shot was way off target. It was Fulham who opened the scoring when, despite the close attention of Keenan, Walcott drifted clear at the far post to hit home on the half volley. Jagielka could have lifted United heads straight away, when Thompson put him clear in the area, but again his shot was disappointing. Two minutes before the break, Paddy Kenny kept his side in the match, with a comfortable enough save from Junior. United broke straight down the other end, and won a corner, but couldn't make anything of it and the teams were soon back in the dressing room.

United had to find a goal in the second half. Oh, how they could do with Abeyie right now! It was started the second half on the attack, with young forward Sankoh denied by Kenny again, picking up a slight knock in the process. It was to be a rare attacking foray from the cockneys, as they looked to hold on to what they had and tighten up the game. Twenty minutes to go, and Coleman replaced Junior with Pratley, a like for like swap in midfield. Quinn finally forced a save from Drobny with 15 minutes to go. It was a fine curling shot, but the Fulham keeper was equal to it. Time for some changes from the United bench. Ifill replaced Thompson, and Mellor came on for Abbott. Time ticked away, and Fulham tried to waste a bit more of it by subbing the substitute Sankoh for left back Roberts, making their intentions clear. United fought their way through the last few minutes, looking for the breakthrough, but Fulham's now packed midfield repelled them back to Kenny at every opportunity. Inevitably, the final whistle came before a goal. The dream was over. It was to be another season in the Championship, a third for Jordan, and a 14th for the Blades. Would it be too much for the fans?

retired_smelesko

*Gasp*

What happened?

BTW, good luck on the final. Come one!