Sheffield United stormed to second in the league table with a 2-0 victory at Swindon Town last Saturday, giving Nigel Adkins and his Blades a fourth straight league victory.
Second-half goals from Neill Collins and Billy Sharp helped Sheffield United to a 2-0 victory against Swindon at the County Ground. Collins headed in a corner in the 70th minute and Sharp added a second for the visitors five minutes later, as the Blades ended a winless streak in Wiltshire stretching back more than 20 years. It was far from a comfortable afternoon for United, however, who had to work hard against a Swindon side who played with pace and flair without often testing Mark Howard.
Swindon controlled possession for much of the first half but the Blades went closest to scoring before the interval, with Conor Sammon firing against the crossbar from eight yards out in the 23rd minute. After the break, neither goalkeeper was asked to make a meaningful save until Collins popped up with 20 minutes left to head past Lawrence Vigouroux, thanks to a slight deflection off a Swindon player. With the home side pushing for an equaliser, Sharp was afforded plenty of space to pick his spot and seal victory for the Blades moments later.
As witnessed in the cup defeat at Fulham, Nigel Adkins may opt to field a less recognisable side despite the fact that don't have a fixture until 12 September when they entertain Bury (this owing to this Saturday's originally scheduled fixture against Colchester United being postponed). Under competition rules each club must include in its starting line-up at least six of the eleven players who started the Club fixture immediately preceding or following the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie (against Swindon (a) and Bury (h)). Alternatively, a Club must include in its starting line-up at least six of the eleven players who have made the most starting appearances in League and domestic cup competitions during the season so far. Meanwhile, there is guaranteed no extra-time, should the scores be level at 90 minutes, the game will go straight to a penalty shoot-out.
The Blades are expected to be without; Matt Done (collarbone), Ryan Flynn (Achilles), Stefan Scougall (calf) and Terry Kennedy (knee) remain side-lined through injury. They will also be without duo Jose Baxter and Kieran Wallace, the pair were both dismissed in the 3-0 defeat at Fulham in the League Cup, and will both miss the trip to Swindon, as well as fixtures against Hartlepool United (a) and Bury (h).
Hartlepool United vs. Sheffield United
Johnstone's paint Trophy (Norhern Section) Round 1
Tuesday, 1 September 2015, Victoria Patk, Kick-Off: 7.00PM
Since the scare of relegation last season, where at Christmas time, following an FA Cup defeat at home to Blyth Spartans, the Monkey Hangers looked destined for non-league football. However, under boss Ronnie Moore have made a decent start to the season, despite losing their last two matches (against Stevenage and Carlisle United), they currently lay sixth in a table where come May, the top seven clubs have a shot at promotion.
Jabo Ibehre's double earned Carlisle a 3-2 Sky Bet League Two victory over Hartlepool at a highly-charged Victoria Park. It appeared Billy Paynter - who moved to Hartlepool from Carlisle this summer following a much-publicised falling-out with boss Keith Curle - had written a perfect script when converting a 70th-minute penalty to put his side 2-1 ahead. That prompted wild celebrations in front of the visiting bench but Curle had the last laugh as Ibehre, having earlier cancelled out Scott Harrison's opener, slotted home after Tom Miller levelled.
Pools took an early lead when Carl Magnay pulled Jake Carroll's deep corner back to Harrison, who unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner. Rakish Bingham almost added a second, jinking his way past two defenders and thundering against the underside of the crossbar. But Ibehre's first intervention came just after the break, the striker glancing a header into the corner from Jason Kennedy's superb floated cross.
Kennedy would go from hero to villain, needlessly fouling Scott Fenwick in the area and paving the way for Paynter to send Mark Gillespie the wrong way. Yet Carlisle's response was outstanding. Tom Miller's cross-cum-shot found the top corner before Ibehre slid Danny Grainger's cross into an empty net six minutes from time.
Likewise, with promotion from League Two being the former Rotherham United man's higher priority, Ronnie Moore may also be tempted to field a less stronger side than usual, but there injury list consists of; Trevor Carson (toe), Jordan Richards (back) and Matthew Bates (ankle), whilst Carl Magnay is doubtful.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Hartlepool United 0 Sheffield United 3
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