Sheffield United stayed on course for a place in the First Division play-offs
by increasing Bury's relegation fears at Bramall Lane today.
Graham Stuart, who scored from the spot, and Dean Saunders - with his 10th and
11th goals of the season - were on the mark as the Blades cut down lowly Bury.
United now seem certain to be involved in the play-offs for the second
successive season, but boss Steve Thompson cannot have been too pleased with his
side's performance.
Their error-strewn showing hardly resembled that of a side gunning for
promotion, but, fortunately for the Blades, Stuart and Saunders were on hand to
seal the victory.
However, the defeat means Bury manager Stan Ternent will still harbour worries
about making a swift return to Division Two 12 months after winning promotion.
The Lancastrians could have taken a point from this encounter, but sloppy
finishing from Rob Matthews in particular, together with several smart saves by
Blades keeper Alan Kelly, ensured the Shakers ended up empty-handed.
The first half was particular dire, with little to entertain the crowd before
Stuart's strike.
Bury had twice gone close through Tony Ellis and Lenny Johnrose, while
United's Brazilian striker, Marcelo, had seen a shot well blocked when the
Blades took the lead.
Brian Small inadvertently deflected the ball into Borbokis' path and as the
Bury man tried to win back possession, he upended the Greek wing-back.
Small seemed to touch the ball with his outstretched foot, but he also took
Borbokis' legs from underneath him and referee Steve Baines pointed to the
spot.
Stuart stepped up and sent Dean Kiely the wrong way for his fourth goal since
moving from Everton earlier in the season.
The second period started brighter than the opening 45 minutes, with Matthews
posing a constant threat to the United defence.
Johnrose sent a header just wide, but United's Traianos Dellas hit the
sidenetting and Stuart had an effort tipped onto the bar, before Saunders put
the game beyond the visitors on 76 minutes.
Substitute Petr Katchouro ran clear down the right wing and his low cross was
swept into the Shakers' net by Saunders from close range.
Bury pushed more men forward in an attempt to get back into the match, but the
Blades rounded off the victory when the impressive Wayne Quinn went past Kiely
and squared the ball for Saunders to tap into an empty net with five minutes to
go.
Teams:
Sheff Utd: Kelly, Borbokis, Quinn, Ford (Wilder 39), Sandford,
Holdsworth, Saunders, Marker, Dellas, Marcello (Katchouro 69),
Stuart.
Subs Not Used: Devlin.
Booked: Holdsworth.
Goals: Stuart 29 pen, Saunders 76, 85.
Bury: Kiely, Woodward (Rigby 82), Small, Daws, Lucketti, Butler,
Ellis, Matthews (Battersby 76), Swan, Johnrose, Armstrong.
Subs Not Used: Jemson.
Booked: Swan.
Att: 16,056
Ref: S J Baines (Chesterfield).
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