A defeat at Gillingham (0-2) last week hit a raw nerve with the Blades faithful last weekend and the result was enough for United to slip out of the top six. But a convincing midweek victory over Colchester United (4-1) which saw a debut goal from Matty Done lifts their spirits slightly. United head to the league leaders tomorrow who are 19 points adrift of the Blades - it will be a hard task to catch the top two clubs but any promotion push must start with positive points.
Sheffield United climbed back in to the League One play-off positions after sweeping aside relegation-threatened Colchester 4-1 at Bramall Lane. Jose Baxter scored twice for Nigel Clough's side while Jay McEveley and debutant Matt Done were also on target. Sammie Szmodics effort midway through the second-half briefly provided the visitors with a glimmer of hope before Matthew Briggs' foul on Paul Coutts presented Baxter with the opportunity to apply the coup-de-grace.
Baxter gave United, under pressure from their own supporters following a disappointing sequence of results, the perfect start when he claimed his seventh of the season with only eight minutes gone. The former Everton youngster bundled home Jamal Campbell-Ryce's set piece from close range after John Brayford had been fouled. Colchester, who had earlier seen Sammie Szmodics force a superb near-post save from Iain Turner, created numerous promising situations of their own with former United striker Chris Porter seeing an angled drive palmed away to safety midway through the first half.
But Done doubled United's advantage when he applied the finishing touches to a memorable 38th minute move. Jamie Murphy cleared the ball to Bob Harris who, spotting his team-mate in space on the opposite side of the pitch, switched play with an inch-perfect 40-yard pass and Done's angled drive left visiting goalkeeper Sam Walker with no chance. Jay McEveley combined with the impressive Coutts to smash home from long range on the hour before Szmodics whipped home beyond Turner. United put the seal on a deserved victory when Briggs tugged back Coutts as he powered into the box which presented Baxter with the opportunity to score his second from the spot
Blades boss Nigel Clough will assess the condition of Mark Howard before selecting his team to face the Robins tomorrow. He was forced off injured with a back problem in the warm to last Tuesday night’s victory over Colchester United, leaving Iain Turner to deputise. Meanwhile Ryan Flynn (Achilles), Stefan Scougall (knee) and Michael Higdon (hamstring) are all injured whilst Matty Done (ankle) is doubtful.
Bristol City increased their lead at the top of League One with a 3-1 victory over Port Vale at Ashton Gate. With Milton Keynes losing at Bradford on Monday and Swindon suffering the same fate at Oldham, Steve Cotterill's men took full advantage with goals from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Joe Bryan and Matt Smith moving them four points clear at the top. Emmanuel-Thomas broke some stern Vale resistance with a solo effort in the 34th minute, driving at the visiting defence before unleashing a fierce left-footed shot from just outside the box. Bryan doubled the advantage just before the hour mark when his left-wing cross took a deflection to loop over goalkeeper Chris Neal and Matt Smith intercepted a poor back pass from Richard Duffy to make it 3-0 eight minutes later.
Mark Marshall fired a low drive past Frank Fielding 13 minutes from time for a Vale consolation before Emmanuel-Thomas hit a post for the hosts. Both sides created opportunities in an entertaining scrap
Vale's Chris Birchall headed badly over from the first good chance of the game after four minutes and Fielding had to make good first-half saves from Marshall and Michael O’Connor. At the other end Carl Dickinson and Frederic Veseli produced heroic goal-line clearances to deny Aden Flint and Luke Freeman
League One leaders City will be without Aaron Wilbraham (hip) but look set to be boosted by the return of Derek Williams (groin) despite him withdrawing from Tuesday night’s win over Port Vale after only 20 minutes of play.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Bristol City 0 Sheffield United 1