Championship - Blades cut down nine-man Cardiff

Eurosport - Mon, 23 Mar 10:35:00 2009

Sheffield United moved back to fourth in the Championship after a 3-0 win at nine-man Cardiff.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Championship Cardiff City Cardiff-Sheff Utd - 0

David Cotterill fired the Blades ahead from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after Bluebirds defender Gabor Gyepes committed a professional foul on Darius Henderson, for which he was sent off.

The hosts were dealt another massive blow in the 33rd minute when striker Ross McCormack was dismissed or a professional foul on Kyle Naughton.

Substitute Jamie Ward headed in a second for the visitors shortly after the restart and Stephen Quinn fired in a third with three minutes remaining.

Cardiff went into the game with an outstanding record of 12 wins and only two defeats at Ninian Park this season, but they met their match in Kevin Blackwell's side.

Victory lifted the Blades to fourth spot but Cardiff should have opened the scoring inside the 10th minute.

Joe Ledley delivered an outswinging corner from the left flank and Gyepes sent his header wide of the mark.

However, the Blades went even closer in the 19th minute when Greg Halford collected possession and hit a right-footed shot which Bluebirds goalkeeper Stuart Taylor was forced to tip around a post.

United began to build momentum and took the lead when Gyepes hauled down Henderson and Cotterill did the rest from 12 yards to claim only his third goal of the season.

In the 27th minute, Cardiff threatened an equaliser when a free-kick from Gavin Rae was met with a firm header by Miguel Comminges which forced Paddy Kenny into a smart stop.

However, the Bluebirds suffered a major setback in the 33rd minute when McCormack was sent off.

United quickly went in search of a second goal and Halford shot straight at Taylor before Quinn fired narrowly wide from the edge of the 18-yard box.

In the 39th minute, Cardiff had a half-chance when Rae saw his header blocked by Naughton before Comminges fired wide for Cardiff on the stroke of half-time.

Within seconds of the restart, United sealed the points when Cotterill crossed from the right flank and Ward headed home from six yards out.

Blackwell's men sought to press home their advantage but Quinn's effort in the 58th minute sailed just wide.

Cardiff, to their credit, refused to surrender and Roger Johnson headed a corner from Comminges just wide and then Rae sliced a shot off-target.

United substitute Craig Beattie hit a shot just wide in the 74th minute and was at it again four minutes later with another fine strike that narrowly failed to test Taylor.

The Blades were comfortable and never looked like letting Cardiff back into the game as they played out a victory which lifted them three points above their hosts.

Quinn added the coup de grace in the 87th minute when he took a pass from Beattie and rifled home left-footed from six yards.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Ross McCormack had is red card overturned today.I have­ seen this incident on TV over and over again and­ can't understand why A) he was sent off in the­ first place and b) why that cretin of a Sheffield­ United player went down like a sack of s*** and­ "needed" medical treatment!! (Old Sheffield­ miners and steel workers would shudder to think idiots­ like that play for a once mighty club). Still they did­ not score with 11 Cardiff MEN on the pitch .The­ Sheffield player obviously realised the only way they­ would win was to play against 9 men....what sort of­ victory is that?

    From andrew, on Wed 25 Mar 3:49PM

  2. rubbish. you should not want a child to go to an away­ match on his own. Wolves/birmingham seem to fill there­ allocation why cant you.

    From andrew, on Wed 25 Mar 10:20AM

  3. Message to Andrew, you should get your facts right­ before you post silly messages on these message boards.­ Had it not been for your supporters thinking they were­ clever a couple of years ago and causing lots of­ trouble in and around Sheffield Town Centre and around­ the football ground, then you might see more travelling­ Blades down at your dump, but such is the hatred for­ your supporters, Its your own football club who puts­ the restrictions on our away allocation. Also only­ supporters travelling with the Official Supporters Club­ were supposed to be allowed to this match. Under­ 16's were not allowed to travel unless they were­ accompanied by an adult. Like I say, you should get­ your facts right before you make daft statements. I­ along with thousands of other Blades will be cheering­ the Swans on in your next game. From John - Sheffield

    From mark, on Mon 23 Mar 8:43PM

  4. Cardiff sold most of there alocation of tickets. It was­ Ssheffield not taking up there allocation meant the­ game was not sold out. Cant your lot afford to follow­ your team? the ones that did bother to turn up did not­ make any noise...disgrace....

    From andrew, on Mon 23 Mar 10:09AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    cardiff ha ha you have a new ground but u cant even­ fill the old one ? stick to rugby oh no u lost at that­ as well

    From idawson23, on Sun 22 Mar 10:11PM

  6. come on cardiff automatic prom this season

    From swannack2508, on Sun 22 Mar 2:40PM

  7. come on united stuff cardiff today this is one we must­ win

    From ben t, on Sun 22 Mar 8:17AM

  8. come on blades we need this one.

    From leigh, on Sun 22 Mar 6:05AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    it will be qne nil either way its the only scoreline­ they both do

    From john.malley49, on Sat 21 Mar 10:40PM

  10. What A Silly Boy

    From branoox, on Sat 21 Mar 9:34PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    blues wolves prediction.....82 minutes 1-1 on comes­ phillips, scores the winner in the 89th minute, blues­ go wild, wolves go apes!!t, brum old bill have a busy­ night on their hands!!

    From zyklonb_block11, on Sat 21 Mar 5:34AM
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