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Blades braves draw a blank: MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
SHEFFIELD UTD 0 v SOUTHAMPTON 0: SHEFFIELD United failed to secure the win they craved but this was a catharsis of sorts for Kevin Blackwell's side.
Two days after suffering a controversial defeat in the Steel City derby, United responded with a whole-hearted display which, on another occasion, would have produced an avalanche of goals.
Lady Luck, however, shined brightly on Southampton after the interval as Kelvin Davis' net led a charmed life.
The only disappointment here was the scoreline.
"I feel for the lads," Blackwell said. "Sometimes you just need a break and we didn't get one.
"I don't know if we've run over a black cat or something but at least the crowd have gone home knowing that we've done everything.
"Any other time we'd have won by a few.
"Congratulations to Southampton because how they've not conceded I don't know."
Oliver Lancashire's dismissal for the visitors - the teenager earning the second red card of his embryonic career for a foul on Danny Webber - came too late to effect the outcome with even his manager admitting the defender's clumsy challenge had probably earned Southampton a draw.
"I'm happy with what he did because it would have been a goal," Jan Poortvliet said.
"He deserved a card and the referee was close enough to see it."
"Teams come here and put in double shifts against us," Blackwell added.
"That's what happens when you're a big club but the boys have shown they can cope with that.
"I've told them that if they carry on in the same fashion they'll win more than they draw."
With emotions still raw following the weekend's frustrations, Blackwell promised his players would use their grievances to inspire a positive response against opponents who travelled north teetering dangerously on the brink of the relegation zone.
The sense of injustice United felt about events at Hillsborough became even more acute just hours before kick-off when Matthew Kilgallon, whose sending-off helped deny them a fourth successive Championship victory, learned his appeal had been turned down.
That forced Blackwell to make the first of two changes to his starting 11 with Chris Morgan taking the place of his unfortunate team mate at the heart of United's defence while Webber, preferred to Billy Sharp, was handed the central role he has craved since returning from a series of niggling injuries.
After a difficult start, his influence grew as the evening progressed with David Cotterill and Stephen Quinn emerging as United's most creative outlets during the opening exchanges of a contest which promised much but produced little until an eventful second-half.
Cotterill had more reason than most to rue Kilgallon's red card having barely broken sweat before being withdrawn from a match Blackwell later admitted offered the perfect opportunity to showcase his talents.
The Wales international quickly set about making-up for lost time, threading a delicate pass between two markers as early as the sixth minute, only for Davis to divert Quinn's shot around the post.
Southampton, however, offered more stoic resistance than their league position would suggest and in Stern John, possess one of the division's most experienced strikers.
Working in tandem with the fleet-footed Bradley Wright-Phillips, he ensured United's rearguard had to remain on their toes as Poortvliet's men launched some incisive counter attacks but, a few brief scares apart, they coped well with the threat.
United's thoughtful approach will have earned the Dutchman's respect but, across the touchline, Blackwell had clearly resolved a more cutting edge was required.
Matthew Spring and Anthony Stokes were introduced during a half-time reshuffle which came within a whisker of paying dividends two minutes after the re-start.
Stokes, making his second appearance since signing on loan from Sunderland, is a player clearly determined to win hearts and minds at Bramall Lane.
Only some quick-thinking from Joseph Mills prevented his header from crossing the line and when, on the hour, Stokes did sweep the ball into the back of Davis' net, his celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee's flag.
Mills and John went close at the other end as Southampton tried to wrestle back the momentum but with Kyle Naughton, embellishing his reputation at right-back, Beattie and Stokes, again, testing their resolve, United were firmly in the ascendancy.
Ugo Ehiogu saw a goalbound effort scrambled away to safety, Webber struck the woodwork with a deflected shot and Naughton forced a superb reflex save from Davis.
But Southampton, despite seeing Lancashire receive his second caution late on, held on.
"Nil, nil in Sheffield looks very good," Poortvliet said. "I'm pleased and proud of that.
"In the first (half) we gave nothing away but in the second we had a difficult game.
"A big compliment to United for that and a big compliment for my players also."
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
