Match Preview: Ipswich Town vs. Sheffield United

Last updated : 27 April 2010 By @blades_mad1889

ipswich town vs. sheffield united
It was a night never to forget as the Blades fought back to draw three-three with the Blues earlier in the season; Darius Henderson had given the home side a 1-0 lead when a mistake by keeper Richard Wright allowed Henderson to head home (9 minutes), but Ipswich found a breath of resurgence and with goals from Jonathan Walters (24), Grant Leadbitter (34) and Gareth McAuley (70) sprung themselves into a 3-1 lead.

United, never beaten clawed a goal back by a swift move from Henderson (77) and four minutes into stoppage time another mistake by Wright allowed Chris Morgan (90+4) to stab home at the far post, moments later the game could have been won when James Harper shot agonisingly wide with the keeper beaten.

They come into this game in Suffolk after a 2-0 win at home to Swansea City last Saturday; the win - which came from a Richard Cresswell (62 & 90) brace put a huge dent in the Swans promotion chase that as a result lost their sixth position to Blackpool.

Blades boss Kevin Blackwell will be without Jamie Ward (hamstring), Toni Kallio (hamstring), Lee Williamson (back), Jordan Stewart (knee) and Ryan France (leg) whom are all ruled out through injury.

Blades Last Line-Up (24/04/2010 vs. Swansea City): Paddy Kenny, Nyron Nosworthy, Chris Morgan, Kyle Bartley, Gary Naysmith, Glen Little, Nick Montgomery, James Harper, Stephen Quinn, Richard Cresswell, Henri Camara. Substitutes: Ched Evans, Mark Yeates, Marcel Seip, Derek Geary, Mikhel Aksalu, Jonathan Fortune, Matthew Lowton.

Ipswich Town come into this fixture after claiming a point at Newcastle United last Saturday, the draw for the Magpies left them go the entire 2009/10 season without losing a single completive fixture at St James Park.

The home side took the lead through a familiar face; Andy Carroll (26) who headed home before 17 year old Connor Wickham (42) levelled things up. The game looked won for the Magpies when substitute Shola Ameobi (84) converted a penalty to make the score 2-1, but four minutes into added time Jonathan Walters silenced the 52,181 record crowed.

The Blues have no injury worries ahead of the final game of the season with Sheffield United, but manager Roy Keane could field two former Blades players; Alan Quinn and Lee Martin.

Martin was on loan at Bramall Lane during the 2007-08 season under then manager Bryan Robson; he made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Hillsborough and went onto make 7 (+2) appearances before returning to Manchester United.

Quinn signing for the Blades after being released by Sheffield Wednesday in June 2004 and made his debut against Stoke City (0-0); he made a total of 85 (+24) appearances and scored 11 goals. He joined his current club Ipswich Town in January 2008.

Blues Last Line-Up (24/04/2010 at Newcastle United): Brian Murphy, David Wright, Gareth McAuley, Tommy Smith, Grant Leadbitter, David Norris, Jamie Peters, Jack Colbeck, Jonathan Walters, Daryl Murphy, Connor Wickham. Substitutes: Richard Wright, Owen Garvan, Lee Martin, Liam Rosenior, Alan Quinn, Tom Eastman, Billy Clark.

Blades-Mad Prediction: Ipswich Town 1-1 Sheffield United


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