Sheffield United - 2 (Windass 45. Allison 88.)
Crystal Palace - 1 (Riihilahti 68.)
Meanwhile, back at this match, in the first minute Andrew Johnson put in a cross that Phil Jagielka sent out for a corner. Hayden Mullins fired the corner kick into the centre where, following a cross back in by Shaun Derry AJ headed the ball goalwards, only to see Paddy Kelly tip the ball behind for another corner to Palace. Danny Butterfield sent this one in, which once again was met by AJ, his header being well claimed this time by the keeper.
Steve Kabba was then caught offside before AJ fired another cross in at the other end. This time Shaun Murphy (another ex-Palace player) was on hand to clear the danger, but as the ball came back out our own Shaun fired a shot on goal that went flying over the bar, and away to safety, at least as far as the Blades were concerned. Danny B was the next to get a shot on goal, this time the keeper saving easily from a fairly long-range shot.
The next action came at the wrong end for Palace supporters, as Peter Ndlovu fired a shot goalwards that fortunately went wide of the upright. Hayden managed to get himself booked for a poor tackle on Stuart McCall, and our other ex-Palace player, Kabba, showed his pace, managing to get a cross in to our area that was well cut out by Tony Popovic in the Palace defence.
United got a corner, that was cleared by Dele Adebola, and almost immediately after he was caught offside at the other end, and Ndlovu returned the compliment. Danny B centered the ball, but Murphy managed to get a clearance in, then Michael Tonge got a shot in that was cleared by Darren Powell. Ndlovu was the next to try a shot, but Alex Kolinko caught the ball and fired it back up the other end, where AJ tried a shot that was equally well taken by Kenny.
A corner for the home team was cleared by Darren, then a shot by Murphy went wide of the mark, resulting in a goal kick. Danny B got a shot on goal from the next corner, but the keeper once again saved it, followed by a shot at the other end by Michael Brown that was equally effectively caught by Alex.
Ndlovu sent another cross into our area, but Alex cleared the danger once more, and a free kick to Palace for a foul on AJ hit the wall as Danny Granville fired the shot goalwards. Danny G was booked for a foul on Ndlovu, and Shaun was booked for a foul on McCall. Three names in the book, and we hadn't even reached half time.
Kabba was caught offside just when it looked as if he might get through on goal, then Kit Symons found Dele with a good through ball, the pass going just behind AJ. As the half came to an end Kabba beat the defence, and Dean Windass fired the ball home high into the net.
1-0 down, right on the stroke of half time, and though Palace did not deserve to be ahead, they certainly did not deserve to be behind following their showing in the 45 minutes of play. Trevor Francis would have been disappointed with that momentary lapse, and would, presumably, have had harsh words with the side at the break.
Sheffield United kicked off the second half and immediately won a corner that Brown took, the danger being cleared once more by the Palace defence. Windass then got a shot through to the centre, but Alex claimed the ball, and as Kabba got clear on goal Alex did well to firstly parry the shot, then claim the rebound before Ndlovu could pounce.
Wayne Routledge won a corner that was cleared by the home defence, and Windass missed a sitter when he only had Alex to beat. Wayne then got in a good cross to Dele, but he mishit the shot, and the moment went begging, then Dele fired a great shot from a long way out that the keeper did well to hang on to. Tonge got a shot on goal, but no-one was there to take advantage as the ball rolled across the face of goal, and Palace made a double substitution, Wayne and Shaun making way for Aki Riihilahti and Tommy Black.
A corner won by Dele saw Darren fire a shot over the bar, but shortly after AJ put in a neat pass that found Aki lurking in the area, his first time shot flying into the back of the net to level the game at one a piece. It was now game on, and everything to play for. A corner to United was well cleared by Alex, then Dele hit the bar when it looked as though it might be easier to score than to miss. A shot by Hayden was cleared from the line, and United decided it was time to make their own substitutions, Windass and Kabba going off for Wayne Allison and Paul Peschisolido.
Alex pumped the ball forward, and a good flick on from Dele found AJ, his shot failing to find the mark, and Carl Asaba came on to replace Ndlovu. A chance for Palace was cruelly denied when the referee blew for a foul on Tony just as AJ got the ball and had only the keeper to beat, but with the let off United raced straight to the other end and Allison fired the ball straight past Alex to re-establish the home side's lead.
A shot steered wide by Dele was about the sum total of our response, other than Tommy losing possession when trying to do just a little too much, and the final whistle sounded. All over, roll on Tuesday on our Cup fixture against Oldham Athletic. Perhaps we can progress to the next round of the Cup, which will be the sixth round, and just a single game away from the semi-finals once more. At the same time we must not lose sight of the fact that it is in the League that we need to maintain some semblance of winning, in order that we are in a position to play-off at least for a chance at the Premiership next season. One feels sure that Trevor has this in mind, and will be urging the side on to better things next weekend when we come up against our old friends from Millwall at Selhurst Park.
Colin Pryce
Sheffield United: Patrick Kenny, Shaun Murphy, Robert Page, Michael Brown, Jon Harley, Phil Jagielka, Stuart McCall, Michael Tonge, Steve Kabba (Paul Peschisolido 77), Peter Ndlovu (Carl Asaba 82), Dean Windass (Wayne Allison 77).
Substitutes not used: Robert Kozluk, Nick Montgomery.
Crystal Palace: Alex Kolinko, Danny Granville, Hayden Mullins, Tony Popovic, Darren Powell, Kit Symons, Danny Butterfield, Shaun Derry (Tommy Black 62), Dele Adebola, Andrew Johnson, Wayne Routledge (Aki Riihilahti 62).
Substitutes not used: Gary Borrowdale, Nikolaos Michopoulos, Gareth Williams.
Attendance: 16,686
Referee: Mr G Laws (Tyne & Wear)