Sheffield United crashed to a disastrous defeat at home to
relegation-threatened Oxford as the club's off-field problems again overshadowed
their on-the-pitch play-off push.
Around 500 fans gathered in the Bramall Lane car park to stage an angry
demonstration against the board before kick-off, voicing their frustration and
bitterness following the departures of David Holdsworth and Graham Stuart this
week.
United boss Steve Bruce has gone on record as saying he wanted neither player
to leave, with influential skipper and defender Holdsworth eventually joining
Birmingham for £1.2million and midfielder Stuart signing for Charlton for
£1.1million.
But Bruce had the rug pulled from under his feet as he was forced to let both
players go to ease the club's financial crisis, with United announcing a
£6million debt just before Christmas.
Blades supporters, however, have had to get used to the sale of star players
in recent years, with the board's promises that new signings would arrive often
having fallen on stony ground.
Their wrath finally came to the surface again tonight, just over a year after
another car park demo led to the resignation of then chairman Mike McDonald.
Fans repeatedly chanted "sack the board" before club chairman Kevin McCabe
went outside to try and appease the supporters.
McCabe tried to answer several questions fired at him before frustratingly
retreating back inside Bramall Lane flanked by stewards as boos and jeers rang
in his ears.
Plc chairman Carlo Colombotti, a London-based Italian lawyer, attempted to set
the record straight in a special article in the club's programme.
He said: "It is the board's view that such sales were completed having regard
to several factors and a balanced consideration of the club's interests.
"Whilst these sales go a long way to reconfirming the financial stability of
the club, the incoming players and the monies being made available to Steve
Bruce must also be emphasised.
"The board have categorically agreed that two thirds of the net proceeds from
any player sales effected are available to him for appropriate acquisitions.
"Whilst the sale of David Holdsworth may have raised particular concern, and
given that Steve Bruce would on balance have preferred to retain this player,
the considerable valid replacements available weighed in favour of a disposal.
"The board, together with Steve Bruce, believe they can build on the current
squad with a view to achieving a play-off position this season and, if that is
not achieved, certainly promotion next year."
Bruce was at least able to parade two of his new signings this week in on-loan
Andy Campbell and French Under-21 international Olivier Tebily.
Middlesbrough forward Campbell combined with Paul Devlin to set up the opening
goal in the 28th minute for Marcelo, heading home his 15th of the season.
But relegation-threatened Oxford, picking up their first away win since
November and ending a run of nine league games without a victory, were level
just three minutes later with a stunning diving header from Andy Thomson.
Oxford's on-loan keeper Paul Gerrard, playing in his last game before heading
back to Everton at the weekend, then pulled off several stunning saves during
the second half to deny United.
Stops from Campbell and Paul Devlin in particular kept Oxford in the hunt for
the points, which came their way when Nicky Banger curled home a free-kick 90
seconds into injury-time, a goal which ensured the club moved out of the bottom
three.
Teams:
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Kozluk, Quinn, Woodhouse (Tebily 44),
Sandford (Dellas 73), Derry, Campbell (Katchouro 85), Ford,
Marcelo, Devlin, Hunt.
Goals: Marcelo 28.
Oxford Utd: Gerrard, Robinson, Powell, Gray, Watson, Gilchrist,
Banger, Tait, Francis, Thomson (Weatherstone 87),Murphy (Williams 89).
Subs Not Used: Cook.Booked: Powell.
Goals: Thomson 32, Banger 90.
Att: 14,115
Ref: B Burns (Scarborough).
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