The Blades got back to winning ways as they saw off relegation threatened Burton Albion 2-0 at Bramall Lane in a re-arranged fixture. A goal in each half saw off the Brewers but United were thankful for some key saves from goalkeeper Jamal Blackman with a final scoreline that may have flattered the home side. The crucial goals came from Enda Stevens, his first for the club after good work from Mark Duffy and George Baldock and then from sub David Brooks; thanks to more good work from Duffy and Billy Sharp. United were not totally convincing but once the second goal went in; they eased to the victory.

United made two changes with Duffy and Wilson in for Lundstram and Ched Evans – who was not even in the matchday squad. Burton were right in the mire and included former England striker Darren Bent in their line up.

The game began with no real chances of note and the game mired in midfield. Stevens got down the wing twice but his balls came to nothing before a challenge saw Evans and Allen both injured and the latter had to come off after only 10 minutes replaced by Sbarra. Burton had the first chance when Dyer had a shot blocked at the near post by Blackman after poor marking.

Fleck’s cross shot evaded everyone after a quick throw down the left and then Duffy could not quite find Wilson after a clever ball. United won a corner and from it; Fleck’s shot caught his own man Wilson and then Evans fired over the ball as it came back to him.

On the half hour United went ahead. A throw from Baldock found Duffy who played it down the line. The wing back got on the ball and centered and STEVENS came inside and from the penalty spot converted smartly past Bywater for his first United goal. It had been made by one wing back and converted by the other.

Burton came back well though and had two clear chances before the break. They attacked down the right and the cross came over Akpan nearly converted but it was deflected just wide. Soon after they came down the other side and Dyer came in and unmarked hit a rising shot that Blackman superbly tipped over.

The second half saw United begin well and Baldock nearly got on the end of a flowing move but his shot was blocked and then Wilson put over a low cross that Sharp stabbed wide on the stretch. It was a good chance. The game became much more open and Sordell somehow missed with the goal at his mercy and the action was transferred to the other end and Sharp found Duffy whose powerful shot was saved from Bywater. Sharp could not force the rebound home.

Bent then headed wide from a corner when he climbed above Baldock. It was another good chance. Stearman then headed over his own goal under pressure as Burton penned United back. A change was needed and Brooks came on for Wilson.
It was not long before the sub made an impact. A lovely touch from Sharp played it to Duffy who played a lovely ball into the path of BROOKS who took one touch and then rolled a delightful left foot finish into the corner past the despairing dive of Bywater. It was Brooks first goal at the Lane in a competitive first team fixture and reminiscent of the goal at Leeds with Duffy again the architect.

This seemed to take the life out of Burton and Sharp nearly got in soon after. Decent football saw Evans then hit a rasping drive that hit the top of the bar. Naylor then upended Duffy but the free kick was blocked. Stearman was booked for a pullback not long after. The game started to peter out as Burton had not really created anything since the 2nd goal whilst United were content to play keep ball when they had it.

Lundstram came on for Duffy with 5 minutes to play as United sought to run the clock down but United won a free kick for a foul on Sharp and Fleck took it but his superb drive was tipped around the post by Bywater. The home side then won two corners near the end and Stearman had one spectacular effort blocked out as the three minutes of stoppage time were played.

Donaldson came on for Sharp right at the end and soon after the final whistle went in the to confirm United had moved up to 7th and 2 points off the playoffs.

United – Not amazing at all. We started game sloppily and the first half they were as good as us and had the better chances. Blackman made a few good saves and they had a few other chances. We did little the other way but Stevens took his goal that was well made. It was not a lead we really deserved. Still second half we improved and for 20 mins we stepped up and Duffy, Baldock and many others started to go at them. We made a change and Brooks made a different and we got the second. After this we could have scored more and Burton went a bit. Still they had a spell near the end and pressed us back again.

Overall it was a win. Not a classic performance. Some players were really mixed and first half off it a lot (Sharp, Fleck) but we only needed a few moments of quality to win. Duffy made both goals and was key again despite being quite in spells. Burton did miss chances and another team could have made us pay but missed them. After we went 2-0 up we kind of eased to victory. We have played better and lost this season but we did enough. This was a trick fixture so just important to get the victory really. Nice to see Brooks make an impact and hopefully that will give him confidence and he will see more minutes.

We now have a huge game Saturday. Karanka has added some experience and some quality and Forest been on a decent run. We need to improve quite a bit as they will offer a sterner test. There will be a bigger crowd and a better atmosphere and hopefully players will respond. Win this game and we are right in the mix again but we do have some tough games to come against Brentford and Cardiff over the Easter period. Hopefully Clarke will be fit and can give us that extra dimension at the top of the pitch. We need to make sure we are sharper and quicker with the ball and we press the opponents more. Tonight, we probably got away with it a bit as Burton are a poor side but we did show the quality when we needed it in both boxes.


Burton – They had 2 or 3 chances first half after we scored and then another few second half but did not take them. They moved it around ok but you always sensed they were vulnerably at the back and for a spell after it went 2-0; you felt it could go on and be 3, 4 or 5. They kept going but never looked like they may get back in it and clearly lack confidence and belief. Not sure they sense they are going to get many wins from their body language. They gave away two sloppy goals and at times when United played some nice football; looked like we would go through them. At the other end they had chances in open play and a few corners that could have been converted. Sure, Clough will talk about the chances and how they were more than a match but ultimately as our former manager said if you can’t keep them out one end and put them in the other; you are in trouble.

They looked a bit of a soft touch and despite some of their decent play they did not rip us apart and you sensed we were off our best but still a touch too good for them. Clough will probably talk about them being more than a match and the chances but this seems to happen to them every week. They do not quite have the quality at both ends of the field. Still despite this, they still have some quality and experience and the likes of Buxton and Varney have played at this level most of their career. They are not quite the hard up side that are mismatched that Clough portrays and have many experienced Championship players. Still despite this they have some poor players who would be more at home in the league below and that is where they are surely heading. Cannot see them winning more than the odd game before the end of the season and that will not be enough.

Messrs Clough and Barker stood there in their white pumps appealing non-existent decisions all game but know that they will more than likely be managing at a lower level come August.