A dramatic injury-time strike from Paul Devlin snatched all three points at
Gresty Road after bottom club Crewe threatened to pull off a shock win.
Devlin claimed the decisive touch on 91 minutes after Bobby Ford's cross
caused a chaotic goalmouth scramble.
Crowd favourite Rodney Jack gave Crewe a flying start as the Blades defence
was cut to ribbons in the first half, emphatically putting away a cutback from
Colin Little.
United were lucky not to fall behind in the first minute of the game when
Jermaine Wright's corner floated on to the head of big centre-back Chris
Lightfoot, whose header was cleared off the line by David Holdsworth.
Crewe nearly doubled the lead when Mark Rivers raced into the box but
Sheffield keeper Alan Kelly parried brilliantly and Wright's follow-up flew
across the face of goal.
The visitors finally came to life as Marcelo put Andy Campbell on a run but
David Wright tracked back well to push the ball out for a corner.
Marcelo could have scored himself when he latched on to a free-kick from Ford
but his header was palmed away by a diving Jason Kearton.
Crewe continued to create the best chances and again came close when Seth
Johnson's header rattled the crossbar and Little's follow-up was well saved by
Kelly.
Then in first half injury time substitute Kevin Street's through ball found
Phil Charnock, who forced a great clock from Kelly.
The home side again took the game to Sheffield from the start of the second
half and Little nearly capitalised as Lee Sandford's back-header failed to reach
the keeper, but Holdsworth saved the day with a last-ditch clearance off the
line.
From the following corner Johnson's header was palmed on to the post, then
Mark Foran's header was pushed over the bar in an outstanding display by Kelly.
The visitors sprung off the ropes to equalise on 52 minutes when Marcelo
headed a forward free-kick on to the bar and blasted the rebound into the net.
Jack should have restored the lead for Crewe when he raced into acres of space
behind the back four but his touch past the keeper was far too wide.
Teams:
Crewe: Kearton, D. Wright, Smith, Foran, Lightfoot, Charnock,
J. Wright, Johnson, Jack, Little (Anthrobus 73),
Rivers (Street 21).
Subs Not Used: Foster.
Booked: Foran, Johnson.
Goals: Jack 5.
Sheff Utd: Kelly, Derry, Quinn, Ford, Sandford, Holdsworth,
Woodhouse, Campbell, Marcelo, Devlin, Morris (Twiss 78).
Subs Not Used: Jacobsen, Henry.
Booked: Sandford, Woodhouse.
Goals: Marcelo 52, Devlin 90.
Att: 5,243
Ref: D Laws (Whitley Bay).
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