Chris Basham’s goal four minutes after half-time saw Sheffield United to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Bramall Lane. Martyn Waghorn went closest to scoring for the Blues with a shot against the bar shortly after the Blades’ goal, but the home side deserved their victory.

Striker Joe Garner missed out having picked up a knee injury as Town made three changes from the team which lost 3-1 to Bristol City a fortnight ago.

Bersant Celina and Jordan Spence dropped to the bench, while Myles Kenlock, Grant Ward and Adam Webster - who was making his first league start since January - all came into the XI in a 3-5-2 system matching the Blades’ formation.

Webster was to the right of skipper Luke Chambers with Jonas Knudsen to his left. Myles Kenlock and Dominic Iorfa were the wing-backs.

Tommy Smith was on the bench, back in the matchday squad for the first time since recovering from his hamstring injury.

Neither side threatened in the opening 10 minutes at a warm and sunny Bramall Lane, although the home side had most of the ball.

Town’s first serious attack came on 12, Knudsen playing a well-weighted ball down the left for McGoldrick, who cut in and found strike partner Martyn Waghorn but the former Rangers man was crowded out as he looked to turn and get in a shot.

But the Blades were looking the more dangerous side and on 18, following a freekick harshly awarded against Kenlock, Chris Basham returned the ball into the area but beyond all his team-mates and it was turned behind for the first of several home corners.

On 24 Jack O’Connell rose above Webster from John Fleck’s corner but nodded the ball well into the stand housing the Town support.

There was a scare for the Blues four minutes later when possession was lost on the right after Chambers and Iorfa were put under pressure and the skipper slipped. Bialkowski closed down Billy Sharp who cut the ball back and, with the Town keeper out of his goal, Webster was able to clear .

Enda Stevens sent in a dangerous cross from the left which flew across the area without anyone getting a touch, moments before the Blues won their first corner of the game on a rare foray into the Blades’ half. However, it came to nothing.

On 32 - Town having switched their system with Webster ahead of the back four and Waghorn and Ward wide - Waghorn sent McGoldrick away with a clever ball down the right and the Irish international crossed low but too far in front of Ward, who was breaking into the area at the far post.

A minute later, Leon Clarke was booked for an untidy foul on Ward, much to the frustration of the home fans, who may have had a point, although up to then they had had much the better of referee Tony Harrington’s over-fussy approach to officiating.

The Blues were starting come more and more into the game and on 34 Waghorn smashed a shot from distance on the right which home keeper Jamal Blackman palmed behind. From the corner, Knudsen won it in the air and headed over. The Dane will feel he should have done better.

Town were inches from going in front in the 37th minute when the ball broke to McGoldrick on the left of the box following Nydam’s shot from Ward’s cross from the left, but the Blues’ number 10’s effort went just wide.

Blades defender Kieron Freeman suffered a knock in the build-up to the chance and following treatment was stretchered off and was replaced by Jake Wright.

McGoldrick scuffed wide from distance in the 43rd minute with the Blues continuing to threaten.

In the second of five minutes of injury time, Chambers’s clearance was charged down by Sharp on the Town right and Knudsen did superbly to prevent the one-time Town target’s low cross from reaching Clarke and Bialkowski equally well to react and avert an own goal.

Blackman was almost embarrassed by McGoldrick two minutes later, the Blues’ striker reaching a long ball before the keeper could claim on the edge of his box but the interception fell helpfully for the on-loan Chelsea man who was able to claim.

The Blades wasted a freekick 25 yards out moments before referee Harrington brought the half to an end.

The home side had had much the better of the first half an hour but without creating many clear-cut chances, although much of that was down to some staunch defending from the Blues.

Town came into it more in the final 15 minutes following their change of system and Knudsen and McGoldrick may both feel they should have taken their opportunities.

The Blues switched things around ahead of the start of the second half with McGoldrick moving out to the right and Waghorn down the middle.

Four minutes after the restart the Blades took the lead. Fleck got away from Webster down the Sheffield United left and sent in a cross to Basham, who got in front of Kenlock to head past Bialkowski from six yards.

The Blues almost levelled in the 55th minute when Nydam found Waghorn, who brought the ball inside on the left of the area and crashed a shot against the crossbar.

Town made their first change of the game in the 58th minute, Flynn Downes taking over from Kenlock, which saw Knudsen move to left-back, Webster to left centre-half and Downes into midfield.

Within seconds of the switch Sheffield United went close to doubling their lead, Clarke striking the bar with a powerful shot having cut into the box from the right.

Waghorn had another chance to level for the Blues in the 62nd minute of an increasingly open game. McGoldrick, now back in the middle between Waghorn on the right and Ward to the left with the Blues lined-up 4-3-3, played in the Town number nine on the right of the box, where he turned and hit a shot across the face of the box.

The Blades swapped captain Sharp for youngster David Brooks on 68 and soon after the Wales international and Knudsen clashed as they chased a ball down the middle. Referee Harrington penalised the Dane and showed him a yellow card.

Four minutes later, Town swapped Nydam and McGoldrick for Celina and Freddie Sears. The Kosovan international was straight into the action, heading a bouncing ball over after Chambers had nodded back a Waghorn corner from the left.

On 80 Brooks brought the ball in from the left before hitting a weak shot through to Bialkowski. A minute later, Mark Duffy crossed from the right and Clarke’s bouncing header was claimed by Bialkowski to his left.

With six minutes remaining Celina crossed deep from the left but the ball was too high for Iorfa at the far post. As Blackman prepared to take the goalkick, Duffy was replaced by Daniel Lafferty.

In injury time a Celina freekick from the left - Cameron Carter-Vickers having been booked for a foul on Sears - was just about dealt with by the Blades backline, then two long Knudsen throws from the right were similarly repelled.

But the Blades weren’t to be denied a win which takes them to second in the Championship behind leaders Cardiff on goal difference alone.

While the Blues might have claimed a draw had Waghorn’s shot not struck the bar or his later effort not flown across the face of goal, the home side could just as easily have added to the goal they scored just after half-time and were in charge for the most part after the break.

Other than the final couple of minutes Town never put the Blades under significant pressure during the second half and a home win was a fair reflection of the game overall.

The Blues, who are now down to 10th, are next in action a week tomorrow in the East Anglian derby against Norwich City, who drew 1-1 at home to Hull City climb up to eighth a point ahead of Town, at Portman Road.

Town: Bialkowski, Iorfa, Chambers (c), Webster, Knudsen, Kenlock, Ward, Skuse, Nydam (Celina 72), Waghorn, McGoldrick (Sears 72). Unused: Gerken, Smith, Spence, Connolly.

Sheffield United: Blackman, Basham, Carter-Vickers, O’Connell, Stevens, Freeman (Wright 40), Fleck, Duffy (Lafferty 86), Lundstram, Clarke, Sharp (c) (Brooks 68). Unused: Moore, Donaldson, Hanson, Lafferty, Carruthers. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). Att: 25,799 (Town: 1,452).

Photo: Action Images

wayway added 20:55 - Oct 14 How fortunate, we are playing the scum as our next home match. If it had been Burton I reckon the attendance would have been under 10,000
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Swn98 added 21:23 - Oct 14 No Warktheline acceptance for what we are when we lose and humility when we win something you should try.
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NoelTheDub added 21:34 - Oct 14 I dont get carried away when we win and didnt expect us to get anything today we are what we are a yo-yo team but more downs than ups.Pity Garner was injured think he might have sneaked one today.Thats all folks...
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carsey added 21:44 - Oct 14 Please McCarthy just go away. I hate your idea of football. I hate that you keep doing the same thing. I hate your arrogance. More than anything else I hate what my club has become under your mis management. If you were really any good surely a Premier League club would have employed you. They haven't which proves you aren't that great. Go away.
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:16 - Oct 14 @edmundo.. I think the point she's making is people are very quick to criticise but less quick to compliment the team! After the Sunderland game we come on here ‘we're great' ‘the futures bright' too many people get carried away with ONE victory but too MANY get carried away with a few defeats! Yes.. poor run of results but the last thing we need before a derby game is a negative atmosphere! We are all supporters of this great club.. or are we??

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oldegold added 00:01 - Oct 15 The major part of the problem is that we all knew that McCarthy would revert to type and I never ever kidded myself as I felt he should have walked after the Portsmouth FA Cup defeat let alone Lincoln. When he goes, it will be a positive step in the club's fortunes and not before time. We are treading water and not making any progress and he should be paid up and shown the door and a new, forward thinking manager take over.

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gamezone added 00:16 - Oct 15 Why leave Smith on the bench, our best defender, we need him to play ever game and get match for . Others get injured and straight back why not Smith ?
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shakytown added 02:04 - Oct 15 Anyone who thinks we will ever be anything but a lower mid table side with muck in charge is dreaming. No pace or vision in the whole squad and the midfield is nothing shy of abysmal. Tactically he has no idea other than to try and match what the opposition do when a proper manager develops tactics for HIS team to run the game. MUCK MUST GO NOW OR THIS SEASON WILL BE A TRAINWRECK.

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madmouse1959 added 02:19 - Oct 15 Nothing at all for the Ipswich supporters to cheer about and another waste of a day out !!!!!!! Could not string more than a few passes together and continually giving the ball back to them. Young players like Kenlock and Nydam were found out but most of the team took the day off. Yep, it is back to last seasons work-shy performance and sad ,defensive, negative, boring football. It was more of a 9-0-2 formation with town players chasing shadows as Sheff Utd spread the ball around and attacked down the flanks. McCarthy Out !!!

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Steelmonkey added 02:26 - Oct 15 I've been certain that something has been missing from this club for sometime, so it can't be blamed on the two break ins that happened this week. Many fans who watch the side week in and week out, season after season can see it, what a shame that those who make the important decisions at this club cannot. But what the flaming heck would the fans know about anything. Can't bare to see us end up being second best again in the Derby again. You have had 5 years to sort this club out MM, ME's faith in you has been utterly wasted. I guess your only still here because he thinks he can't be seen to have boobbed again in appointing a crap manager, hoping it will still come good.

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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 03:50 - Oct 15 Well the early season buzz didn't last too long did it? Well, it was fun while it lasted.
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BrettenhamBlue added 03:50 - Oct 15 I didn't get to see the match. Kinda glad I didn't.
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blue75 added 07:27 - Oct 15 The only difference between a McCarthy win and defeat is luck. He always sets up to stop the opposition playing and try to nick something. Having a midfield that are only there to protect the defence is pointless yet McCarthy does it every game. Yes we beat Sunderland 5-2 a freak result that showed what our players are capable of. It's a shame their not allowed to express themselves more often. Next Sunday worries me if he does the usual sit back and frustrate naaridge they are capable of scoring and not conceding. It won't take a lot to turn the atmosphere toxic which would be unthinkable a few years ago but not anymore, just another sad fact about the demise of this club!!!

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therein61 added 07:58 - Oct 15 Come in number 8 your time is up you have already had your average of 2 good games a season so it's time you went.
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Swn98 added 09:56 - Oct 15 BLUE75 Its obviously your enthusiasm and optimism that gets you through the day.
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brendanh added 09:56 - Oct 15 Third start for Nydam in a game vs a top Championship team, third time he's been a boy against men, third loss. McCarthy doesn't learn. Downes is infinitely more ready. Results don't lie, they're better with Downes.
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Swn98 added 09:57 - Oct 15 oldgold forward thinking manager who?
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Swn98 added 10:02 - Oct 15 Dissboy,Sheppton mallet blue. HTB,Geoff ????
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portmanteau added 10:07 - Oct 15 don't knock Burton. Just compare their result and our's against Bristol.
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Granthamblue62 added 10:47 - Oct 15 I have pretty much said it consistently now for the past 3 years that McCarthy is not the man to take our club forward. Much is made (including from himself) of this reputation as a 'wily old fox'. The implication is that there is nothing you can teach him about football. Why is it then that time and again he is out-thought tactically by the opposition? He states that this is the best Town squad he has had, yet he is unable to get any semblance of consistent performances out of them. The worrying aspect is that when he is out-thought tactically he appears completely bereft of ideas of how to resolve the situation. The next game is massive. Ideally, he needs a performance and a result. At the very least there needs to be a performance. Lose next Sunday with a limp effort then the mood will turn ugly, and rightly so! If the man had any decency he would step down if we lose the next game. However, we all know he won't do that because he is too stubborn and arrogant. MM only cares about his own reputation, and not the good of our club. I fear our beloved club is going to be heading nowhere and 'treading water' for some years to come. A very sad state of affairs.

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OldClactonBlue added 11:19 - Oct 15 You can't teach him anything GranthamBlue because he knows it all already. Didn't he tell you?
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blue75 added 12:43 - Oct 15 Swn98 even you last season started to see the light shame you put those rose tinted glasses back on. Nothing has changed McCarthy's never going to be fully accepted at our club and he'll never play the football we all want!!!
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StellaSaturdays added 13:12 - Oct 15 Hello all and welcome back to another cracking review from your one and only stella saturdays. First of all i'd like to apologise for my recent absence from my reviews as my bloody wifi has been down bloody talk talk messing me about but i'm all sorted, i'm back and raring to go. So anyway on to the review i must say in our house me and mother could see this one coming, both said a 2-0 loss however as always we made the trip up to the very deprived sheffield to cheer on the boys in blue. Think old mick got it totally wrong again and we're heading down the table at a fair rate of knots. Bloody Damian Iorfa had a shocker doing his impression of a daddy long legs down the right wing certainly not a right back. Martin Kenlock i know he's young but he gets done all the time he's like one minute he's looking to the left, next he's looking to the right it's a bit ruddy spooky. Think we will bounce back next week, going to be a tight affair with both teams being cautious so i'm going for a 5-4 win to the blues. Few cans of stella in me gut and it will be flowing all day. Must say the tescos do 4 pint cans of the beautiful stella for £5.29 absolute bargain that so all you stella lovers get down there !! Thanks everyone for reading and i'll be back for a preview for the game against those rotten old budgies. As you were SS X

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cat added 13:37 - Oct 15 I just dont get why McCarthy does not set his team up to get on the pitch with a positive vibe and just go for it, instead of all this negative, boring & defensive 'pony' he serves up most weeks. Our strength this season is going forward, certainly not defending with the likes of Captain Calamity & the current crop of sh!te we have at the back, so why not play to them strengths. MM's character is all about playing 'The Big Man' (I don't give a flying one and all that) so why don't his limp, weak & pathetic tactics reflect his personality. We lost at Leeds, but I walked away happy as we put in a decent performance and that's surely what it's got to be all about now. We ain't going to get promoted or relegated this season IMO, as we have capable players in most positions, so why not just go out on the offensive like we did earlier in the season (when injuries rather fortunately forced him to mix it up) and ENTERTAIN FFS, at least playing it that way he would get more respect from the fans, maybe get a few back on side & essentially back in the ground. Unfortunately the stubborn old goat ain't ever gonna change so let the ANTI DINO season commence, so here goes -FECK OFF DINO before you completely trash & destroy our club and fine playing TRADITIONS!!!

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BillBlue added 13:50 - Oct 15 Swn98 - I notice that you have replied to about a dozen other posters but not to mine which did ask a direct question. I accept that you have been forced into a corner but this is the time for us all to find out what sort of man you truly are. To make it easier for you I will attempt to copy the two posts for you to reread: Swn98 added 19:05 - Oct 14 Thanks for the comment Bilboy unfortunately im affraid we carry to much baggage Ward not good enough but when Celina was given his chance was very average Iorfa all arms and legs not enough skiill Select sears ? Kenlock got a lot to learn. Having said that they should be able to do the basics well defend set pieces to start with. However i dont and never will contribute to the conversation that MM doesnt know what hes doing he sees them every day in training so must have reasons for his is judged by his decisions where i only get down arrows for my thoughts BillBlue added 19:33 - Oct 14 Swn98 - By me that is fine, that is your opinion. Now I cannot comment as I cannot see the matches , so my opinions are based on what you and other people write but I would just point out that these players you are questioning were all brought in by McCarthy are trained, selected, and told how to play and are substituted by him so surely that is where the blame must be placed. - 5 Years??

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