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Blades dare to believe for 20 minutes as play-off dream ends: MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
SOUTHAMPTON 3 v SHEFFIELD UNITED 2: FOR 20 magical minutes, Sheffield United could dare to dream. But while results elsewhere ultimately rendered the outcome of a match their manager correctly described as "pure footballing theatre" totally academic - from the visitors' perspective at least - they could still depart the stage proud of the performance they had just produced.
That it failed to deliver the play-off place Kevin Blackwell's charges craved should not diminish the hope and expectancy set to engulf Bramall Lane during the close season.
United's promotion ambitions must be put on hold for at least another 12 months but, if the momentum they have gathered since Blackwell's arrival in February is a sign of things to come, then only the bravest or most foolhardy of punters will bet against them regaining their Premier League status next term.
"That game had everything," Blackwell said. "It was important that we gave it a real go and that we came here with real belief.
"We'll give it a real good go when the competition gets underway again.
"This is a strong point and good platform to build from.
"The lads gave it absolutely everything out there and I'm proud of what they've achieved.
"They're a strong squad and a really good unit to work with so there's plenty of reason to be optimistic."
Southampton, like United, delved deep into their vast reserves of character to record a victory which dragged them out of the relegation zone and condemned Leicester City to the obscurity of League One football instead.
Two goals from Stern John, either side of an equaliser from United substitute Jon Stead, provoked wild scenes of celebration from the home crowd following the final whistle but the decisive moment of a dramatic afternoon arguably came three minutes before the interval when Southampton goalkeeper Richard Wright somehow scrambled Matthew Kilgallon's header off the line.
At that stage United, leading through Stephen Quinn's 24th minute effort, were on course for a top six finish.
Sixty seconds later their defences were breached by the lively Marek Saganowski and the rest, as the stadium announcer excitedly proclaimed afterwards, was history.
Ninth place in the division, four points short of Watford in sixth, is a reflection of United's entire campaign rather than their form during the past two-and-a-half months.
"If Killa's header had gone in, well, you never know what might have happened," Blackwell said.
"Good players make good decisions," his opposite number Nigel Pearson countered.
"It was a wonderful save and a decisive moment for us."
Blackwell deserves the utmost praise for the way he has transformed
United's fortunes since replacing Bryan Robson at the helm.
Indeed, having inherited a squad seemingly destined to join yesterday's opponents at the wrong end of the table, the fact that something was still at stake when they boarded the plane to Hampshire on Saturday evening speaks volumes for the impact he has enjoyed.
United simply ran out of games - three or four more and they would almost certainly have been plotting a course to Wembley - but his charges should share the limelight too.
Blackwell has moulded a supremely talented collection of individuals into a team but the way they have responded to his methods has been nothing short of remarkable.
There will be changes during the summer but plans for a wholesale clearout have, quite rightly, been shelved.
"On current form we'd have easily been top of the table," Blackwell said.
"I think it definitely helped that I'd been here before (as assistant manager) because it helped me settle in pretty seamlessly.
"They've got confidence now and that comes from winning.
"Remember, that team couldn't win when we first came here, but they've earned the right to do that themselves.
"We've got a good squad but if you stand still then people go past you.
"So there will probably be a couple of changes within the next three or four weeks."
Southampton, perhaps suffering under the weight of the occasion, started slowly and United ruthlessly seized the initiative.
Rob Hulse and Billy Sharp enjoyed opportunities during the early skirmishes but when the hosts finally discovered their rhythm Gary Naysmith and Matthew Kilgallon, both in commanding form, were required to make crucial interventions.
But just as Southampton threatened to gather a head of steam Quinn, unmarked at the far post, sent Sharp's 24th minute cross looping past a despairing Wright.
Paddy Kenny parried Inigo Idiakez's free-kick to safety before Saganowski struck and, nine minutes after the interval, John, looking suspiciously offside, dispatched an emphatic finish beyond United's Republic of Ireland international.
With Gary Speed orchestrating operations in midfield, Michael Tonge planted a header on the roof of net and when Stead clipped the ball home from close range in the 66th minute the tension became almost unbearable.
But John wrong-footed Kenny on the turn to complete his brace three minutes later before receiving his second yellow card for a needless challenge on Derek Geary.
That condemned Southampton to an anxious final nine minutes but, despite coming under intense United pressure, they held on.
"Relief is the overriding feeling," Pearson admitted.
"A number of times it looked as if we wouldn't come out on top but we did.
"United are in form and so it was never going to be easy.
"But we've shown a great deal of courage."
They weren't the only ones.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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