Substitute Paul Peschisolido scored his first league goal of the season to
rescue a point for play-off hopefuls Sheffield United against Gillingham at
Bramall Lane.
Peschisolido pounced with 10 minutes remaining but on a night when the Blades
discovered they will play Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-finals next month, their
performance was distinctly average against a team who conceded six at Wolves on
Saturday.
In-form striker Steve Kabba prodded United into an undeserved lead with his
fifth goal in eight games just before the break before Andy Hessenthaler's team
turned the game on its head with goals from Simon Osborn and Paul Shaw.
However, they could not hold on as the hosts stretched their unbeaten run in
all competitions to eight games.
But on this form, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will not be too worried when his
team meet United at Old Trafford on April 13 as the Blades appeared slow and
lethargic for much of the game and only wasteful finishing from the visitors
kept them from defeat.
Gillingham, who have now only won one of their last six games, could have gone
ahead within the opening minute.
Mali-born striker Mamady Sidibe capitalised on an error by Michael Brown to
burst clear but after failing to make proper contact with a left-foot shot from
just inside the area, Shaw fired the ball tamely at Paddy Kenny from 12 yards.
Osborn's neat pass gave Sidibe another sight of goal but the gangly striker's
low left-foot shot flew just wide after 16 minutes.
United's first attacking threat came when Dean Windass failed to get a
decisive touch to Brown's dangerous free-kick from deep before Australian
defender Shaun Murphy headed Peter Ndlovu's cross over the top from eight yards
just before the half hour.
Kenny was forced into an excellent stop high to his left to prevent on-loan
defender John Curtis diverting the ball into his own net following Sidibe's
effort before Kabba had a low shot blocked by the legs of Vince Bartram at the
other end as the interval approached.
But there was still time for the former Crystal Palace striker to put his side
ahead with his 16th goal of the campaign after 44 minutes when he swept the ball
home from close range following Brown's downward header from a Michael Tonge
corner.
Brown's angled chip from the right edge of the area dropped onto the roof of
the net two minutes after the restart but Gillingham drew level after 52
minutes.
Nayron Nosworthy skipped down the right and his low cross was allowed to run
across the box before experienced midfielder Osborn thumped the ball home from
12 yards.
Sidibe had a shot blocked by the legs of Kenny seconds later before Windass
headed against the crossbar following a Tonge corner just before the hour as the
home side rallied.
The former Middlesbrough striker was left frustrated after his free-kick found
the net but was disallowed as the referee had indicated it was an indirect
set-piece before Sidibe burst clear for the visitors before blasting a shot high
and wide after 64 minutes.
But Gillingham finally nosed in front with 21 minutes remaining when Nicky
Southall's thumping drive from 25 yards was parried low to his right by Kenny
and 29-year-old Shaw was on hand to drill the rebound home.
Sidibe should have made the game safe but another glaring miss from the
penalty spot let United off the hook and it proved costly after 80 minutes when
Peschisolido turned smartly in the box to fire the ball home from 10 yards
following Tonge's low ball in from the left.
Teams
Sheff Utd: Kenny, Curtis (Cas 78), Kozluk, Murphy, Page, Brown,
Ndlovu (Peschisolido 70), Jagielka, Tonge,
Windass (Allison 70), Kabba.
Subs Not Used: Yates, Javary.
Booked: Page, Windass.
Goals: Kabba 44, Peschisolido 81.
Gillingham: Bartram, Edge, Nosworthy, Hope, Leon Johnson,
Southall, Smith, Shaw (Perpetuini 74), Osborn (Saunders 62),
Tommy Johnson, Sidibe.
Subs Not Used: Ipoua, Rose, Spiller.
Booked: Shaw, Tommy Johnson.
Goals: Osborn 53, Shaw 69.
Att: 15,799
Ref: M Cowburn (Lancashire).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook