Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock was left sweating over his
side's hopes of a return to the First Division play-off final.
The Blades are in danger of missing out after being held to a 1-1 draw by
fellow top-six hopefuls Ipswich, who now require just a win from their final
game at home to Cardiff next weekend to secure their place.
But a run of just two wins from their last eight matches has seen United slide
out of the play-off places.
Their fate is now in the hands of other teams and they require a favour over
the next few days, as well as a victory in their season-ending fixture at
Preston.
Unsurprisingly United fans, whose team were top of the table for a month
earlier this season and who had occupied a top-six place up until three weeks
ago, pointed an accusing finger at the players before kick-off.
A section of Blades supporters had managed to smuggle into the ground a banner
which read, 'The fans want the Premiership. Do the players?'
For the opening 45 minutes it appeared they did not because although they
dominated the half, they again lacked the cutting edge which has been sorely
missing in their recent decline.
Although Town were on the back foot for long spells, Ipswich goalkeeper Kelvin
Davis barely broke sweat as the home side again struggled in front of goal,
their record of six goals in the previous seven games bearing testimony to such
a fact.
Skipper Rob Page fired a third-minute header over, before Davis made his one
telling contribution of the half with a clutch save low to his left from Alan
Wright's 25-yard drive.
Ipswich should have had a penalty soon after as Chris Morgan knocked away a
fierce 22-yarder from Jermaine Wright with his elbow, although he conned referee
Eddie Ilderton by pretending the ball had hit his face.
The Blades found a renewed sense of urgency after the break, appearing that
Warnock had delivered one of his inspirational half-time team-talks as his
players finally sensed just what the occasion meant.
But twice in quick succession United were brilliantly denied by Davis, the
27-year-old producing two superb saves to keep Warnock animated on the
touchline.
The home side initially worked an incisive 54th-minute move with a Rob Kozluk
throw-in picking out Phil Jagielka, who in turn fed Andy Gray on the right-hand
touchline.
The striker's cross was nodded down by Wayne Allison into the path of Jagielka
who had advanced into the area, only for his first-time shot to be blocked at
point-blank range by the brave Davis.
The ball spun out for a corner and with the delivery, Michael Tonge found Page
at the far post for a downward header that Davis managed to tip away.
The double escape spurred Town into life and they responded with their own
two-pronged salvo on the hour, firstly with Paddy Kenny turning away a Richard
Naylor shot on the turn prior to Westlake's header from the rebound striking the
post.
It proved pivotal because within a minute United were in front, with Fabian
Wilnis clearly bringing down Tonge inside the area and Tyne & Wear official
Ilderton quickly pointing to the spot.
Gray made no mistake, sending Davis the wrong way for his seventh goal in 13
matches since his £60,000 move from Bradford in February.
But Warnock's joy, and that of the supporters and players lasted just eight
minutes as United were sliced open by a Matthew Richards through ball for a
composed Ian Westlake who coolly clipped a left-foot shot past the advancing
Kenny.
Davis then reserved his best until last, stretching to tip Jagielka's
long-range clip onto the bar, before Town were denied a more fervent penalty
appeal in the dying moments when Morgan again appeared to handle, this time with
Darren Bent denied.
Teams
Sheff Utd Kenny, Kozluk (Francis 90), Wright, Morgan, Page,
McCall (Ndlovu 73), Phil Jagielka, Tonge, Gray,
Lester (McLeod 45), Allison.
Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Shaw.
Booked: Lester, Wright, Morgan.
Goals: Gray 64 pen.
Ipswich Davis, Wilnis, McGreal, Elliott, Richards, Westlake,
Magilton, Miller (Reuser 67), Wright, Bowditch (Naylor 45),
Bent.
Subs Not Used: Bart-Williams, Kuqi, Price.
Booked: Elliott.
Goals: Westlake 71.
Att: 24,184
Ref: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).
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