Sponsored by
Hits dry up for blunt Blades: MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
IPSWICH TOWN 1 v SHEFFIELD UTD 1: Harold Wilson was Prime Minister and the Bay City Rollers were in full flow the last time Sheffield United tasted success league at Portman Road.
Little wonder then that Kevin Blackwell viewed this as a victory of sorts.
Unlike Huddersfield's most famous son, Blackwell's second term does not contain a Doomsday scenario.
But United's manager has found himself wrestling with a problem capable of taxing the most perceptive of brains: How to coax more goals out of an attack which, despite appearing remarkably strong on paper, has developed a strange aversion to creating chances.
Typically, it was James Beattie, scorer of a third of United's 27 goals this season, who hammered home the last-gasp spot-kick that ensured they returned home with something to show for their efforts.
Trailing to Tommy Miller's 40th-minute effort, also despatched from the penalty spot, the visitors were teetering on the brink of defeat until the in-form marksman took full advantage of Alan Quinn's charity.
Quinn, a former United player and brother of their midfielder, Stephen, inexplicably handled the ball after Beattie had launched a powerful but speculative strike.
Despite slipping to fifth in the table, one point behind their next opponents, Burnley, Blackwell praised his player's industry.
But, not for the first time since Championship competition resumed in August, he expressed concerns about their incisiveness.
"We got what we deserved," he said. "I was very critical of the lads at half-time because I thought, given everything they had created, they should have finished the game off.
"But we came out for the second and kept on going so you've got to give them credit for that
Mick Mills, Ipswich and England legend, watched the action unfold from the stands.
His trademark moustache might be more salt and pepper than sandy, but time has certainly been kinder to him than it has a club which, 27 years ago, lifted the UEFA Cup.
Jim Magilton, Blackwell's counterpart in Suffolk, is a man who appreciates the aesthetics of the game but, a brief flurry before the interval apart, will have seen little here to set his pulse racing during a bitterly cold afternoon.
Like United, Ipswich bristled with good intentions but failed to apply the finishing touch.
Magilton said: "We pride ourselves on the quality of of performance, we pride ourselves on our quality on the ball.
"But we didn't have enough of that.
"United slowed us down and made sure we never really found our rhythm.
"They grind our results and, if you look at their record, are very strong away from home. I thought we gave away two points."
Given that the equaliser came with almost the last kick of the game, it is difficult to argue with Magilton's assessment.
But United did deserve to take a share of the spoils.
Ipswich may no longer be capable of challenging English football's status quo but, unbeaten on home soil in the league since August, they still present formidable opposition.
United, as Blackwell insisted, saw enough of the ball to have made the game safe before the interval.
Trouble was, Ipswich did too, and after a Billy Sharp attempt signalled the end of the shadow boxing Jon Stead, sold by Blackwell in September, wasted two good opportunities.
A fine reflex save from Paddy Kenny prevented David Norris from opening the scoring midway through the half and Pablo Counago hit the post with an excellent shot from range.
Stephen Quinn and Brian Howard, the players most likely to unlock the Ip(swich defence, combined soon after but the latter headed over before Miller edged Ipswich in front when Stead's centre was handled by Matthew Kilgallon.
Beattie scooped over Sharp's cross almost immediately after the interval and but for Richard Wright's heroics Kilgallon would have made amends for his earlier mistake when he connected with Howard's corner.
"I don't know how he kept it out," Blackwell admitted. "It was a world-class save."
The one produced by Alan Quinn, at close range from Beattie, was almost as impressive and, from United's perspective, far more profitable.
"I don't know why he did it," Magilton said. "I think both of us managers will be a bit disappointed because they were two soft goals."
CLICK ON GREEN PLAY BUTTON ABOVE FOR MATCH PICTURES
What do you think? Post your comments below.
READ MORE
Click here for full FA Cup Third Round Draw
Blades Watch 08-09 - The Season So Far
Owls Watch 08-09 - The Season So Far
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more
Football headlines
More Blades
More Owls
More Spireites
More Rovers
More Reds
More Millers
More Ice Hockey
More rugby league
More rugby union
More boxing
Sports columnists
All sport categories
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
