A truly bizarre own goal from Chris Morgan finally shattered Sheffield
United's unbeaten home record as they lost to Norwich.
With Norwich 2-1 up but the game still in the balance, the United defence
conspired to hand the visitors a gift of a goal to rubber-stamp the result.
For no apparent reason, Paddy Kenny came tearing off his line to challenge
Darren Huckerby on the wing. Huckerby rode the challenge and played the ball
across for Dean Ashton to shoot on the turn. His effort was curling wide until
David Unsworth and Morgan tried to make sure, but after they got into a tangle
the ball went in off the United captain.
It was a fitting way to settle an often scrappy game. Early on, Ashton failed
to capitalise on a mistake in the United defence, firing wide from an unmarked
position inside the area after good work from Paul McVeigh.
After an otherwise a slow start, United sparked into life in 19th minute.
First, Michael Tonge, handed only his seventh start of the season, tested
Robert Green with a low fizzing shot from outside the area.
Moments later, Alan Quinn cut in from the right-wing, running onto Phil
Jagielka's back-heeled pass, but his curling shot from inside the area bent just
the wrong side of the post. They got their reward in the 22nd minute when
Jagielka rose highest to head in Unsworth's corner.
They could have doubled the lead moments later when Neil Shipperley stabbed
Danny Webber's cross back to Neil Montgomery, but he fired wide from the edge of
the area.
Norwich then equalised against the run of play. Ashton's pass was headed on by
Carl Robinson and McVeigh got in behind Unsworth to place a lot shot into the
far corner. However, the Norwich forward was then booked for celebrating in
front of the United fans - one of seven bookings in the game.
If the first half was scrappy, the start of the second half was even worse as
both sides squandered possession and referee Trevor Kettle, who had blown for
every incident in the before the break, now let most things go.
The first bright spot came in the 59th minute when Tonge sent a curling shot
just wide after being released by Webber.
Norwich then stunned their hosts in the 62nd minute when Simon Charlton sent a
long ball forward and Ashton beat the offside trap to beat Kenny with ease.
United look rattled, and McVeigh had a chance to score a third goal in the
66th minute, but fired over under pressure. Things descended into a real
pantomime with Norwich's third goal in the 70th minute, and although United
frantically sought a way back into the game late on, they were frustrated by
Norwich's deep defending.
Teams:
Sheff Utd Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Bromby, Unsworth,
Montgomery (Gillespie 66), Jagielka, Quinn, Tonge (Ifill 73),
Shipperley (Kabba 73), Webber.
Subs Not Used: Armstrong, Geary.
Booked: Quinn, Bromby.
Goals: Jagielka 22.
Norwich Green, Colin, Fleming, Doherty, Drury,
McVeigh (McKenzie 75), Safri, Robinson, Charlton,
Huckerby (Henderson 87), Ashton (Thorne 90).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Rossi Jarvis.
Booked: Safri, McVeigh, Doherty, Charlton, Huckerby, McKenzie.
Goals: McVeigh 33, Ashton 62, Morgan 71 og.
Att: 26,505
Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).
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