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Gritty United grind out a welcome win: MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
FOREST 0 v BLADES 1: CARL Froch, Nottingham's stylish super-middleweight champion, will have appreciated the ruthless piece of finishing which saw Brian Howard put his favourite team to the sword.
But durability and a well-marshalled defence under-pinned a performance that enabled Sheffield United to score important psychological victories both on and off the pitch at the City Ground last night.
Saturday's defeat by Burnley, combined with Crystal Palace's win over Southampton 48 hours later, had seen the visitors briefly relinquish their hold on the play-off positions until Howard's goal, his first since arriving on loan from Barnsley earlier this season, lifted them back into the promotion positions.
Forest, locked in an equally ferocious battle at the opposite end of the table, mounted a courageous fight-back after the interval but even Colin Calderwood, Kevin Blackwell's opposite number in the east Midlands, was forced to admit that United's experience and poise rendered their rare efforts on target futile exercises in resistance.
"It was important we bounced back," Blackwell, who has spent the past two weeks lamenting bad luck and poor decision making, said afterwards.
"Mentally it was important too because we'd been in the top six for quite a few months and we were determined to get back there and regroup before Christmas.
"(Against Burnley) we had a goal ruled-out right at the start that should have stood and ended-up having to go and chase the game.
"But here we got our noses in front and we didn't have to panic."
"United showed great knowledge, particularly towards the end," Calderwood, whose players trudged back down the tunnel following the final whistle with boos ringing in their ears, added.
"It was very strong and polished stuff from them.
"In the first half they were dominant, prominent and right on the front foot from the start."
No one more so than Nick Montgomery.
One of two changes to the 11 which suffered a third successive home defeat at the weekend the midfielder, much-maligned in some quarters, repaid his manager's faith with a combative and industrious display which served as a timely reminder of his worth as United's manager contemplates the club's options during next month's transfer window.
Howard, who has struggled to showcase the creative gifts which persuaded Blackwell to prise him away from Oakwell, was arguably the greatest beneficiary of Montgomery's surprise selection and seized the opportunity to roam forward in spectacular fashion when, in the 31st minute, Matthew Kilgallon's cross and James Beattie's header wreaked havoc among Forest's rearguard.
"Monty doesn't always get the praise he deserves but he will do now," Blackwell said.
"Since we lost Gary Speed to injury we've probably lacked a bit of physical presence in that area but he gave us that.
"Monty does the dirty things well, he rolls up his sleeves and he gives everything.
"Gary might be more pleasing on the eye but you have to win ugly at times."
The sight of Froch parading his WBC belt before kick-off was supposed to inspire belief among Forest's ranks but instead it was United who began the evening with purpose.
An early Beattie effort, superbly saved by Lee Camp, picked away at their opponents' fragile confidence and although Joe Garner, by far Forest's most effective player, flashed wide from a corner and Paddy Kenny made a fine one-handed stop to deny Robert Earnshaw, United were well worth their lead when Howard, expertly adjusting his balance, fired home.
"It's about time," Blackwell insisted. "That's what we brought him here to do but, to be fair to Brian, he has given his all."
Nathan Tyson should have levelled in the 44th minute after being released by Paul Anderson but inexplicably shot wide and Kenny was again called into action midway through the second-half, tipping the ball over the crossbar to prevent Kilgallon scoring what would have been an unfortunate own goal.
"It was a good piece of defending from the centre-half," said Calderwood.
"We were below par, poor with the ball and suffered the consequences."
Joel Lynch tested Kenny again during stoppage time but Forest, for all their good intentions, lacked the craft and vision to break down a defence Blackwell described as "exceptional."
Montgomery too.
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Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
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Fog
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to -1 C
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