Sheffield United had to show ‘balls of steel’ to grind out a 1 - 0 victory in their big South Yorkshire clash with Barnsley on a bitterly cold afternoon at Bramall Lane.
United’s biggest crowd of the season had to wait until the 64th minute before Matthew Kilgallon managed to break the deadlock, latching on to Keith Gillespie’s free kick to head his first goal for the Blades past a bemused Heinz Muller in the Barnsley goal.
Bryan Robson went with a strong team for the visit of the Tykes, reverting to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation with Billy Sharp coming in at the expense of Chris Armstrong. Former Blade, Robert Kozluk was not in the Barnsley side, having failed to shake off a thigh injury in time.
The Blades started the first half brightly with Cahill winning an early header inside the Barnsley box and Carney swinging in a free-kick. There were also a number of aggressive early challenges from both sides, confirming this game’s derby billing.
Neither team however was able to gain control and dictate the pace in the opening stages, with United reverting to what they know best, the long ball.
On a cold December afternoon the action began to hot up around the ninth minute, when Bardsley slotted the ball through to Montgomery who was brought down by Nyatanga just as he was about to shoot. Referee Dowd waved play on, but moments later awarded Barnsley a free-kick for Naysmith’s tackle on Campbell-Ryce, much to the annoyance of Robson and the home fans.
The first half continued in much similar fashion with neither team decisive enough in front of goal. The Blades went in at half time arguably on top having narrowly created the best chances.
With the players off the pitch, what followed was possibly the strangest half time entertainment ever seen. The fans who hadn’t left early to be first in the queue for a half time pie were treated to the most public of ‘marriage proposals,’ when a very over-the-top young lady was given the announcers microphone and skipped over to the Global Windows Stand.
She then proceeded to ask a man sitting near the front called Tom to marry her, before dancing and singing tunelessly to the pussycat dolls for him. As she pranced around, her embarrassed and bemused would-be husband sat looking distinctly unimpressed.
The song finished, as so, his answer… NO!
The crowd began to chant ‘cheerio’ to the lady, but she wasn’t done yet. She started to beg him, telling him (and 26 thousand other people) that she loved him and his ‘package’. It wasn’t until he decided enough was enough and left the stadium that the announcer revealed the woman was in fact from Chanel 4’s ‘Balls of Steel.’
Nevertheless, with Tom back in his seat, the second half started in a similar fashion to the first, fast, frenetic and end-to-end action, but with neither side obviously in control there was very little to excite the fans in front of goal.
Barnsley produced the first real glimpse of a goal in the second half when in the 54th minute an acrobatic volley from Hungarian striker Istvan Ferenczi forced Paddy Kenny to make a superb diving save.
United had another shout for a penalty in the 63rd minute when Billy Sharp went down under a challenge from Dennis Souza, but once again Dowd waved play on much to the displeasure of Robson.
Moments later, as United were preparing to bring Lee Hendrie and Luton Shelton into the action; Souza gave away a free-kick 25-yards out on the left hand side.
Keith Gillespie’s resulting inswinging free-kick was met by an unmarked Kilgallon in the heart of the Barnsley box and his header deflected past Heinz Muller into the back of the net.
With the clock ticking down Tykes boss Simon Davey decided to take a final throw of the dice bringing the two strikers Odejayi and then Mostto into the action.
Barnsley poured forward as the game entered its final stages and were rewarded with a free kick on the edge of the box moments before the final whistle. Kilgallon deflected over Brian Howard’s resulting free kick for a corner.
This really was the last chance and so Barnsley keeper Heinz Muller came forward hoping to become an instant Barnsley hero for life. However, he obstructed Kenny and United were able to hang on to their narrow lead.
The final whistle confirmed the Blades first success at Bramall Lane since early November and gives them a much needed confidence boost ahead of a difficult Christmas run-in.
Keep a look out for the forthcoming episode of ‘Balls of Steel’ on Chanel 4 featuring Blades fan Tom, his face and reaction are absolutely priceless.
Shefbase Star Man: Gary Cahill.
Playing in his final game for the Blades, the on loan Villa youngster put in a composed performance in the heart of the defence. His impressive overhead clearance in the dying moments when Barnsley were pushing for an equalizer demonstrated his obvious quality. With his future still undecided at Aston Villa, Bryan Robson will be hoping he can lure him back to Bramall Lane as soon as possible. The Blades fans showed their particular appreciation for Cahill as he left the pitch, by giving him a rapturous standing ovation and chanting: “There’s only one Gary Cahill.”
By Will Jones
