The Blades moved so close to promotion to the Premier League after a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town at Bramall Lane. Goals from Scott Hogan and Jack O’Connell meant the Blades moved to the brink of the big time with only mathematics preventing them from fully celebrating. United were excellent and under pressure they delivered a very good performance and in truth could have won by more than the two goals they did.

United made slight tweaks with Basham in for Cranie in an otherwise unchanged line up. Billy Sharp was back on the bench for the home side. Paul Lambert changed things around again for Ipswich who are starting to prepare for life in League One.

In front of a capacity home crowd, United began well and a cross from Basham just evaded McGoldrick. Duffy was involved in many of the opening attacks and his play nearly led to an opening as United dominate the early proceedings. Chambers dithered and Hogan nearly got in but he was crowded out. It was one-way traffic as Norwood and Fleck moved it on and Baldock had a cross blocked.

A rare break saw Bishop have a shot blocked from Bishop but United were back on the attack and Stevens nearly forged a chance but the ball was blocked. It was not long later, when United took the lead. Duffy played a ball inside to O’Connell whose driven cross was flicked deftly by HOGAN into the far corner of the goal. It had been coming but it still settled down the nerves of the fans inside Bramall Lane.

McGoldrick continued to come off the front and pick up the ball and he combined with Duffy to nearly lead to another chance for the rampant Blades.

Snail blocked a Norwood drive that seemed goal bound as United sought to turn the screw. Soon after McGoldrick played a sumptuous ball inside the full back and Baldock was in but took too long and the chance went awry. Judge was booked for a very late tackle on O’Connell just before half time as tempers started to rise.

The second half saw United continue to dominate as they moved it around and forced the visitors back. Neat interchange nearly saw Hogan in after good work from Fleck and Stevens down the left. Then they won a free kick as Stevens was tripped. Norwood’s fierce free kick was flicked by Gerken onto the post denying United a ***** second goal.

Norwood then came onto the ball and sent over a deep cross and McGoldrick met it but his flicked header went the wrong side of the post. Hogan then nearly got in twice after some good build up. Just after the hour, Wilder opted to make a change and Sharp came on for Hogan.

A corner came over but Egan headed over as United could not quite do enough to get the second goal. That was until the 71st minute when from another corner, the ***** goal came. Fleck whipped in the corner and O’CONNELL powered home from close range with his header going in off the underside of the bar. The noise inside the ground as the goal went in was symbolic of what a huge moment it was for United.

The next stage of the game saw United keep the ball and then Sharp nearly got in before a few changes came. Madine came on for McGoldrick and then Lundstram for Duffy. United just kept the ball and a few half chances came for Sharp and then Baldock as the home side continued to dominate.

Ipswich finally started to have a spell after sitting back so long and they had a half chance as Judge’s shot had to be palmed over from Henderson. After this United settled down and moved the ball about to see things out comfortably as the game entered the final two minutes of stoppage time. This passed without incident and the referee ran towards the tunnel beckoning the players down as he blew the final whistle. A few supporters came on the pitch but they left as soon as they had entered and after this the players could go around and take the acclaim from the Blades fans who to a person had stayed inside the Lane.


United – We did it. So many times, we have had big games and blown it. Yes, today we played an already relegated team but we had to still go and win the game and overcome the nerves of a potential promotion sealing contest at a sold-out Lane. Today, we were professional, displaced and showed no nerves at all. A game that may have seemed easy on paper but we had to go out and do the job. We did that and did it well. We played very well today and dominated the game and in truth it could have been a lot more than 2-0. We raced into the game and everyone was at it. We attacked from the off and had a few chances as we pinned them back and it seemed inevitable the goal might come and so it proved as Hogan flicked in after a patient move. After this we kept attacking and really could have had a few more as it was do dominant the United performance.

After the break we again had chances but they saw the post deny us and a few other moments just went off target. Ipswich did not create anything at the other end and the Blades continued to attack but as the game entered the final quarter, you still felt we needed just one more goal. It came from a bullet O’Connell header. After this we saw things out quite easily really. Ipswich only had one effort late on and they looked a side ready for the holidays. As for us, we looked a team so determined not to have a let-down. We were on it on and off the ball. I felt there was a real desire and we won first and second balls. The final ball and chance let us down a bit and in truth it could have been even more than 2-0 as we completely dominated. I loved the fact we kept attacking rather than sitting back. We were determined to finish them off and when the second went in, everyone knew we were on the cusp of something special.

Norwich won later in the day, so the title is a long shot but even me a pessimistic Blade cannot see us chucking this away in terms of promotion. Be nice if Leeds lost tomorrow to properly seal it but with such a big goal swing you feel it is over. Incredible season for United and Wilder. We have really done a superb job the last few weeks and after the Millwall game we have just put the pedal down and gone on and down what was needed. We have one game to see things out but you sense it is done now. What a job Wilder has done. What a job this group has done. To see the celebrations on full time as the team went around the pitch was superb. There was a real togetherness once again all-round the ground as they came and saluted the fans. I cannot say enough about Wilder, the players and everyone at the club. A phenomenal achievement considering where we were, the budget and what we were up against. Tonight, we were all so proud to be a Blade as everyone walked from the ground. The club has completely changed and turned itself around that is all down to Wilder. Cannot say enough about him. An inspiration to us all.