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Pain in the Brum as Blades miss out - MATCH REPORT AND SLIDESHOW
Crystal Palace 0 Sheff Utd 0
DESPITE counting at least three nuns and a vicar among their number at Selhurst Park, Sheffield United's attempt to snatch automatic promotion on the final day of the season suffered from a distinct lack of divine inspiration.
In the event even a helping hand from the match officials would probably have sufficed - several strong penalty appeals falling on deaf ears as Crystal Palace used brawn as well as brain to keep the visitors at bay - but referee Chris Foy and his assistants can count their lucky stars that events at the Madejski Stadium, where Birmingham City secured second-place by beating Reading, rendered this result obsolete and meant Kevin Blackwell departed the capital feeling defiant rather than aggrieved.
The United manager, whose side must now overcome Preston North End in a two-legged semi-final in order to keep their dream of joining Wolves and their rivals from St Andrews in the top-flight next term, asked the footballing gods to smile more kindly on his squad when they embark on the road to Wembley at Deepdale on Friday.
"If I could take anything away with me from here it would be Lady Luck. I want to put her in the boot of the car and hope she raises her head during the play-offs."
But he should also take some consolation from the fact that they are unlikely to encounter a goalkeeper in such inspired form as Julian Speroni along the way.
Foy's dubious decision making aided Palace's cause but it was the Argentine who produced the most significant contribution during yesterday's arm-wrestle in the capital.
"He was superb," Blackwell admitted after watching Speroni's reflexes foil Jamie Ward, Chris Morgan and Darius Henderson.
"He made some unbelievable stops and credit to him.
"I was proud of our performance out there but sometimes you just need to breaks and we didn't get them we we needed.
"That happens and, to be fair, it's made it easier that Birmingham's win meant things were out of our hands.
"We've got arguably the toughest draw in there (the play-offs) because Preston have just popped in there and they'll be on a massive high.
"But we are going into them in really good form so we should be confident too."
"I'm proud of the efforts the boys have put in so far," Blackwell added.
"People forget that we've got a lot of youngsters out there but they handle the pressure well and they produce the goods.
"It bodes well that they don't buckle."
Neil Warnock, Blackwell's counterpart at Palace, agreed.
The two men have endured a difficult relationship since parting company midway through Warnock's tenure at Bramall Lane.
But, when it came to discussing United's Premier League credentials and Speroni's heroics, they discovered some common ground.
"Some of the things that Julian did were incredible," the former United chief said. "But I think United will do it.
"I certainly hope they do.
"I reckon they'll be too strong for Preston.
"They might not be the most pleasing on the eye at times but they've got the one thing every good outfit needs and that's commitment."
Many of United's seven-and-a-half thousand strong following made the journey south in fancy dress but it quickly became apparent this was going to be an occasion laced with industry rather than artistry.
Just four minutes had passed when Ward was felled by Palace's Jose Fonte inside the box while Henderson, again attracting plenty of unwanted attention from over-zealous defenders, headed wide soon after.
But the hosts - Victor Moses in particular - were also posing a threat and the youngster shot side from a corner before testing Paddy Kenny after the interval.
Speroni laid down a marker by somehow scrambling Morgan's effort to safety as United's tempo increased while Ward - from close range - and Henderson were both denied just after the hour.
He was finally beaten in stoppage time but another Morgan header, from Kenny's set-piece, rebounded off the woodwork.
"We've finished third and some people tell me that's a curse," Blackwell said.
But it must also be a source of confidence.
Blackwell's view
I was pleased with the performance.
Sometimes you need to get some breaks and we didn't get them.
Speroni, their goalkeeper, made some fantastic saves.
Like I said, at times you just need the breaks.
What do you think? Post your comments below.
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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
