Chris Basham: On Target at Oakwell
In what was a bitter cold afternoon, Sheffield United earned a 1-1 draw at Walsall where a defeat looked likely. Jose Baxter's strike chalked on Tom Bradshaw's effort to earn a point. United's final home opponents of the month were Shrewsbury Town and despite taking the lead through an unlikely source Conor Sammon, the Blades fell behind by four goals to one against a struggling Shrews side, Dean Hammond pulled one back but it did not prevent United from registering their 500th home league defeat in their history.
On the transfer front Academy player CJ Hamilton continued his player development at National League side Gateshead whilst Callum McFadzean joined League Two Stevenage on loan and would like up alongside former Blade Michael Tonge in midfield.
Victory was snatched at the death in the South Yorkshire Derby at Barnsley. Chris Basham's first half goal looked set to be enough to win the game for the travelling Blades, even more so when Long kept out Hourihane's spot kick but he atoned for his error and in the final minute punished United when they failed to clear their lines. The Tykes were bottom of the league and as missed opportunities continued to pass us by, any chance of making the top six looked an impossible task.
Walsall 1-1 Sheffield United
Saturday, 21st November 2015 - League One
Second half goals from Walsall's Tom Bradshaw and Sheffield United's Jose Baxter meant the two promotion-chasing Sky Bet League One teams had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Banks's Stadium. Bradshaw knocked in his 10th of the season and first in six games from Romaine Sawyers' cross to give the Saddlers a 51st minute lead. But Baxter swivelled on the edge of the box to whip a low left foot shot inside the near post to level on 66 minutes, and both sides went close to winning in the dying minutes.
With Jamal Campbell-Ryce lively on the left wing, Sheffield made a bright start, but Walsall gradually got on top and in the 18th minute Blades keeper George Long made triple saves to keep out shots from Kieron Morris, Bradshaw and Sawyers. Long then flew to his right to deflect a fierce drive from George Evans before Paul Downing headed against the far post and then Milan Lalkovic rattled he bar with a tremendous drive, cutting in from the left.
United tried to make an impact but a Baxter shot was blocked then Campbell-Ryce shot weakly following a corner. The Blades thought they should have a penalty when Che Adams went down in the box in the 58th minute but the referee was not impressed. Baxter drew his side level eight minutes later to earn the visitors a draw.
Sheffield United 2-4 Shrewsbury Town
Tuesday, 24th November 2015 - League One
Sheffield United went five Sky Bet League One games without a win after Shrewsbury stunned them 4-2 at Bramall Lane. Conor Sammon broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when he added the finishing touch to a piercing pass from Jose Baxter, but that was as good as it got for the Blades with the visitors seizing control thereafter. Crystal Palace loanee Sullay Kaikai kicked off the fightback, cutting in from the left hand side and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of George Long's goal.
Moments later, United failed to clear and Ian Black was on hand to fire home his side's second. As the home crowd's discontent grew, Shrewsbury furthered United's woes as Scott Vernon was left with an easy tap in after 35 minutes following neat play by Kaikai and Junior Brown on the left hand side.
Shrewsbury continued their good work after the break, with Captain James Collins finishing off a swift counter attack after 48 minutes. A well-placed header from Dean Hammond in the 65th minute proved to be a mere consolation for the shell-shocked hosts.
Barnsley 1-1 Sheffield United
Saturday, 28th November 2015 - League One
Conor Hourihane atoned for a penalty miss by equalising deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for Barnsley from a 1-1 Sky Bet League One draw with Sheffield United at Oakwell. Matt Done went close for the visitors in only the second minute when his effort was tipped wide by keeper Adam Davies. Barnsley then enjoyed a decent spell with Adam Hammill curling an effort wide and Marley Watkins heading off-target.
Sam Winnall forced a good save from George Long with Lloyd Isgrove putting the rebound wide. United's Billy Sharp had a shot saved before Chris Basham struck, the former Blackpool player finding the net in the 16th minute with a header from a Bob Harris corner. Basham even had a chance to score a second after the break, but he put his effort wide.
Long protected United's lead when he made a fine save to keep out Hourihane's penalty - awarded following Neill Collins' foul on Hammill - on the hour mark. Winnall went close to equalising late on, heading against a post, before Hourihane levelled with a superb strike at the death.