United made amends for a defeat by the same score line inflicted upon them by Huddersfield Town the previous Tuesday with three goals to no reply but whilst Barcelona beat their Spanish counterparts Osasuna 8-0 at the Nou Camp the same night a similar score line could have been on the cards at the Lane had the Blades been more formidable in front of goal.
The U’s had come into this fixture on back of a four match unbeaten run but were clear second best against United who hit their opposition early and found themselves two goals ahead within the first 15 minutes through a poachers goal from Ched Evans and a neat lob from fellow striker Chris Porter. In the second half Stephen Quinn fired home the third.
Blades boss Danny Wilson introduced Ched Evans and Kevin McDonald into the starting line-up in place of Richard Cresswell and Ryan Flynn; Lescinel Jean-Francois started on the bench after missing the previous game through suspension.
United made a barnstorming start to the game, attacking the away end goal in the first half they soon gained advantage of the game and took the lead within three minutes having won two corners. It was the second corner kick which lead to Evans swooping the ball home; Williamson’s corner had been slightly cleared but headed back into the box before falling kindly to the Welsh striker who hit home beyond Cousins in the U’s goal; 1-0.
At the other end Colchester caused united problems from their first corner of the game but Okuonghae headed wide of Simonsen’s goal and the home side beat off pressure to eventually double their lead. Harry Maguire, who celebrated winning ‘Young Player of the Month’ for League One this week cleared to safety only for the ball to drop beyond the back four with Chris Porter one on one with Cousins. He chipped the ball cleanly and professionally over the shot stopper to make it two-nil.
Anthony Wordsworth fired a free-kick over the bar and into the kop when referee Darren Deadman awarded the U’s the advantage from the edge of the area after McDonald was judged to have fouled.
An Evans header crashed against the bar and fell inside the box before being cleared to safety before the break.
The second half didn’t start as sound as the first for United and their hearts were in their mouths as ex-Barnsley striker Kayode Odejayi got on end of an excellent cross but his header drifted wide of goal when a positive finish would have handed them a way back into the game.
Evans first effort of the second came from 65 yards out when ambitiously he attempted to catch Cousins out from long distance, he was well aware of the situation. But the effort sparkled United into life and soon produced the smooth flowing football which the fans enjoyed in the first half.
Chris Porter found the net once more as his looping header was beyond Mark Cousins but as the ball hit the net the linesman already had his flag lofted for offside.
On 66 minutes United penetrated the U’s defence once more, Maguire beat two players before lying off Porter but his cross come shot smashed the post from a difficult angle after rounding the keeper. Moments later Lowton, who started and finished the move found himself charging through the defence and one-on-one with the keeper – he did well to beat Cousins but his high shot cannoned off the bar when it was maybe easier to score.
United soon made emends for lacklustre finishing and it came from the man they nickname ‘The Ginger Messi.’ Evans had found himself behind the defence on the right hand side and squared to Stephen Quinn who wheeled away in celebration has his side footed shot nestled in the bottom corner; 3-0.
Several changes were made to the tiring Blades with Evans leaving the field to a standing ovation to be replaced by Richard Cresswell. Ryan Flynn also came on in place of Quinn and towards the end of the match Jean-Francois replaced Neill Collins. The Blades defended a late rally from the U’s but they win was already in United’s grasp once the third had hit the net.
It was a spirited effort by United who played great football and for the spectator was a pleasure to the eyes, the win kept them second – but only alphabetically with Charlton Athletic on top with 20 points.