By Deadbat
The Blades continued their steady improvement in both performances and results with a hard-fought, 1-0 home victory over fellow play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough.
In a game of few chances, United were certainly not at their best for much of the first half, as the visitors shaded proceedings, but an improvement after the break led to the eventual breakthrough. Man of the moment Richard Cresswell was once again the hero, heading home Andrew Taylor’s left-wing cross.
The Blades then kept their composure and shape and held on to maintain their climb into the top six of the Championship.
United made one change from the side that beat QPR in midweek, with Kyle Walker coming in for Derek Geary. Darius Henderson, Jamie Ward and Henri Camara were all on the bench.
Boro had three debutants in Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen, all of whom arrived from Celtic in the week, and started with Jeremie Aliadiere up front. Former Blade Marcus Bent had to make do with a place on the bench.
United began the game with a fluent move, but Boro had also started well as an attacking force. However, with the exception of a strong United appeal for a spot kick when Walker’s ball seemed to hit Robson’s hand, there was precious little of note before the break.
The visitors had probably kept the ball better, but other than a couple of straight-forward saves from Mark Bunn, they had not really made any advantage tell. United should have been disappointed to not really test Danny Coyne.
After a talking-to from Kevin Blackwell though, United showed more urgency and used the width of the pitch to greater effect. Both Walker and Stephen Quinn got deep into Boro territory and the best opening came when Walker skipped down the right and his low cross somehow evaded everyone.
United were certainly the more dangerous of the two teams and, just before the hour, they created their first clear chance and scored. The ball was moved left by Ched Evans to Taylor, and the left-back hit a dangerous, driven cross that Cresswell stooped to head home.
Middlesbrough came back at United and had appeals for a spot-kick waved away when Aliadiere went to ground as Chris Morgan and Walker both converged on him. In truth there may have been some contact, but the Frenchman’s theatrical dive probably did him no favours.
United had their own appeal moments later as sloppy work by Boro saw Cresswell dart in and go to the floor as Chris Riggott challenged. Once again Andy D’Urso was unmoved. In truth, neither were clear penalties; certainly not as clear as the hand ball in the first half.
Adam Johnson came on for Boro and his reverse ball almost led to a chance for Robson, but the best move of the match saw Cresswell play in Evans, who cushioned the ball into the path of James Harper but the midfielder’s first-time, instinctive effort was over the bar.
After taking the lead, United had prevented Boro creating many clear-cut chances, and the solid, defensive pairing of Morgan and Marcel Seip continued to see off any openings. Indeed, United finished the game the stronger, and another decent move saw Harper combine with Quinn. The Reading loanee appeared to be taken down by Riggott, but the referee played the advantage as the ball span into the path of Camara, who curled a first-time effort that beat Coyne but hit the foot of the post and rebounded rather fortunately straight back into the arms of the keeper.
After this, United saw out time and were able to celebrate a workmanlike three points and their ascent into the play-off positions.
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