Monday May 14, 2012 Semifinal Finished Bramall Lane

  1. Porter heads Blades into play-off final

    Porter heads Blades into play-off final

    Chris Porter headed Sheffield United into the League One play-off final after an edgy 1-0 win over Stevenage in the semi-final second leg. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Sheffield United
    • Stevenage Football Club
    • 90+3' There goes the final whistle! A 1-0 win for the home side. They are through to the League One play-off final. They will face MK Dons or Huddersfield.
    • 90+2' Mousinho dinks the ball into the home area, but easy enough take for Simonsen.
    • 89' We are into three minutes of time added on. The visitors with three men up front now. Including a couple of defenders.
    • 88' Stevenage boss Gary Smith urging his side to get themselves up the park for one final push here.
    • 87' The posse of visiting fans are not exactly revelling in this outcome. That is life, that is football. Stevenage have a few minutes to save themselves.
    • 86' Danny Wilson is out and about. He is demanding concentration as Beardsley's header is held by Simonsen from Mousinho's cross.
    • 85' Stevenage have to throw caution to the wind now. The clock is against them.
    • 84' Byrom departs to be replaced by Craig Reid for the visiting side.
    • 83' Lawrie Wilson slams an effort wide from miles out. Suddenly this match is well and truly alive. Suddenly the home side have the goal they crave.
    • 82' GOAL! Porter nods home from close range. Lovely ball by Lowton and that is the one United were seeking. Finally the goal comes.
    • 81' Quinn fires a shot at goal after eluding Ashton. It has taken a while, but at least we are starting to see some action.
    • 80' Hill wallops an effort inches wide from Lowton's pass. 35 yards. Day had no chance. United so, so close....
    • 79' Lowton has been booked for a late challenge. First booking of the night as we come down to the final 10 minutes.
    • 78' Bostwick hammers the free-kick at goal from distance. Ends up stinging the paws of Simonsen, but nothing else. Better from the visitors.
    • 77' Laird fires a shot at goal from the edge of the box, but tipped over by Simonsen. Brilliant stop. Almost the opener.
    • 76' Corner is headed clear before Collins sees an attempted ball drift out. Poor quality.
    • 75' One goal here is the dream otherwise we are destined for extra-time. Will either team commit bodies forward looking for the goal? Williamson sees a cross deflect behind for a corner.
    • 74' Porter trying and failing to cut a dash through the middle of the visiting defence as Day comes out to collect.
    • 73' Quinn looking for a throw-in after a piece of decent play dancing up the park. Nothing doing. More frustration.
    • 72' Williamson fancies his chances, but lifts the dead ball well over the bar from 30 yards out. We remain at 0-0.
    • 71' Bostwick penalised for a push on Porter and the home side have a free-kick from distance.
    • 70' One goal either way might be enough to settle this contest as Laird tosses the throw-in into the United half.
    • 69' Lascelles runs the ball out of play. Homes fans are becoming increasingly twitchy as the rain begins to fall.
    • 68' Maguire lifts a long ball into the area, but solid enough goalkeeping by Day as he comes to collect with some ease.
    • 67' Roberts with a shoulder check on Porter, but no yellow card. Just a talking to from the referee and on we go.
    • 66' Collins carries the ball out. Tries to pick out Porter before Williamson loses it seconds later. All very frustrating for the home fans.
    • 65' All too slow and predictable as Stevenage retreat quickly when United pick up. Both teams cancelling each other out.
    • 64' Danny Wilson with his arms folded. Flynn knocks a pass straight out of play. Wasteful. The nerves getting to the home side perhaps.
    • 63' Porter forced to head clear from Freeman's delivery. Superb corner but excellent defending.
    • 62' Agyemang departs to be replaced by Chris Beardsley for the visiting side.
    • 61' Agyemang seems to be in a spot of bother out there. The on-loan QPR man not moving too well.
    • 60' Collins hammers the ball away from Bostwick. Quinn then drills a shot over the bar from distance at the other end.
    • 59' So 59 minutes of play gone and Stevenage finally get a shot at goal. Wonders will never cease.
    • 58' Nice piece of play by Freeman to dart into the box from Laird's pass. Drives the ball at goal, but Simonsen dives to make a fine save. We remain at 0-0.
    • 57' Sheffield United with 75 percent of possession, but no goal as yet to show for it.
    • 56' Mousinho replaces Shroot for the visiting side.
    • 55' Flynn wallops a shot wide from 25 yards. Brilliant effort, but just evades the post with Day struggling. Better from the home team.
    • 54' Lowton's cross almost finished by Williamson at the front post. Real chance, but the ball flies wide of goal. Much to the dismay of Danny Wilson.
    • 53' Bizarrely enough, the visitors have yet to have one shot on goal. Says it all really about what they have done.
    • 52' At some stage one of these sides are going to have to go for it. Not sure when they will be. Stevenage content to sit deep and thwart United.
    • 51' Ashton with the clearance for the visitors. This match just getting more and more tense with every passing minute.
    • 50' Hill refuses to put a cross into the box. All a bit slow from United as Stevenage again break up the play.
    • 49' At least it was some goalmouth action. Not been much seen of it tonight, sadly. Referee Howard Webb watching the action as a spectator this evening.
    • 48' Wilson blocks the shot by Flynn from 12 yards out. Decent move. Chance for United, but not taken.
    • 47' Nick Montgomery has replaced Kevin McDonald for the home team.
    • 46' Stevenage get this second period off and running. Surely has to be better in the second half.
    • 45+1' There goes the whistle for the break. 0-0. Work to be done by both teams in this second half.
    • 44' One minute to be added to a pretty forgettable first period.
    • 43' Chance opens up for Williamson 25 yards from goal. Drives it over. Well over. Looks like 0-0 at the break.
    • 42' Agyemang wins the ball up front, but nothing doing. Neither team really throwing enough bodies forward to break the status quo.
    • 41' Agyemang with a hopeful cross from out wide. Cleared by Ashton.
    • 40' Flynn takes out Shroot with a late challenge in the home half.
    • 39' Ashton rises to head the ball away from Porter. Solid defending.
    • 38' Once again the visiting side keep the ball with some ease. Not really going anywhere with it, but at least they are on the ball.
    • 37' McDonald slides the ball across the face of his goal as Simonsen launches it longs. A few nervy seconds for the home faithful there.
    • 36' Heading for the final 10 minutes of this half. Both managers out on the touchline. They are looking more animated than their respective teams.
    • 35' Wilson pickes out Lascelles, but the cross is disappointing once again. A real lack of quality in key areas is hindering both teams here.
    • 34' Lowton holds up Freeman with another timely tackle. Story of the half really.
    • 33' Nerves, tension, pressure...whatever you want to call it, but this game is not the most memorable spectacle you will ever see.
    • 32' Roberts trying to lead by example for the visiting side. Lowton clears from the Laird ball.
    • 31' Stevenage are chasing a spot in the Championship for the first time in their 36-year history.
    • 30' 30 minutes gone, and only one chance so far. Not exactly a thrill-a-minute encounter here.
    • 29' Porter tries to nod the ball on for Quinn. Just too much pace on the pass. Stevenage again break up the play.
    • 28' James Beattie suspended for the play-off matches. He is forced to look on from the main stand.
    • 27' Doyle showing a real captain's attitude. Lascelles holds up Quinn and the visiting side have another goalkick here.
    • 26' Corner here for the home side. Williamson tries to pick out Lowton, but he has his pocket picked by Freeman who dashes clear only to be challenged by Doyle.
    • 25' Doyle sticks another ball from the back down the park, but it again flies out of play. That ball for Porter just not working.
    • 24' Four goals were shared when the clubs met at Bramall Lane a few weeks ago. Joel Byrom and Scott Laird put Borough ahead, before Richard Cresswell and Matthew Lowton pecked it back in the last 27 minutes.
    • 23' Maguire collects at the back for the Blades. Lascelles and Porter challenge for the same ball before the loose ball is collected by Day.
    • 22' Not exactly too many goalmouth moments to shout about in this match as the ball makes its way from Day in one goal to Simonsen in the other.
    • 21' Decent spell of possession from the visitors before they give they ball away needlessly. Poor, poor stuff it must be said.
    • 20' Lowton guilty of fouling Byrom out wide. The visitors have a free-kick, but are toiling to do anything of great note with possession.
    • 19' Gary Smith's side are unbeaten in their past seven matches. They have lost just once in 15 games in all competitions.
    • 18' Hill throws in a cross from some way out, but overhits the ball by some way. Miles out of play for a goalkick to Stevenage.
    • 17' Porter tries to cut inside, but Roberts is on hand to make the clearance. Game continues in the Stevenage half.
    • 16' Roberts stands tall to clear the danger. United back on the ball seconds later. Keeping the ball well as McDonald finds Collins.
    • 15' Again the delivery from Williamson is disappointing before United collect seconds later. Stevenage happy to sit deep and break.
    • 14' Porter brought down by Roberts and the home side have a free-kick 30 yards from goal.
    • 13' Porter has not netted since early January. Has been looking busy. Would be a good night to get a few this evening.
    • 12' Quinn challenges for a loose ball before Stevenage collect. The visitors have not been doing much since the early moments.
    • 11' Hill with the delivery from out wide. Ball almost ends up in the back of the net from distance, but Day watches like a hawk to clasp the cross under his bar.
    • 10' Stevenage are participating in their second successive play-off campaign, and could become the first club to achieve three successive promotions in English senior football.
    • 9' United happy to go back with the ball. Ashton makes sure Porter can't get access to a long ball before Day knocks the goalkick down the park.
    • 8' Danny Wilson demanding more from his players. This first goal vital to how this game is going to work out.
    • 7' Ashton knocks the ball away from Quinn's delivery. The home side pressing up the park here looking for the opening goal.
    • 6' Brilliant stop by Day to nudge the ball wide from Porter's header before a volley flies over from distance. We remain at 0-0.
    • 5' Sheffield United are looking for the win that will see them reachi a play-off final for the fourth time in their history, and the second time in four years. All five previous play-off campaigns have failed to result in promotion.
    • 4' Certainly more happening this evening than what was going on the other night in Stevenage. Both team aware of the importance of trying to get forward.
    • 3' Porter challenges in the visiting box before Lascelles comes across to hook the loose ball clear.
    • 2' Early chance for Agyemang from Shroot's pass, but his shot deflects wide from the edge of the box. Corner comes to nothing.
    • 1' Sheffield United get the match off and running. Should be a corker.
    • 19.40 A healthy crowd inside Bramall Lane for this one. Sheffield United in their red and white shirts, Stevenage in blue. Almost ready to go.
    • 19.35 Odds for this one tonight: Sheffield United 5/6, Stevenage 9/5, Draw 27/10
    • 19.30 Stevenage boss Gary Smith: "It's a short turnaround so some fresh legs might be needed, but we've got a fully-fit squad so that's possible. There may have been one or two knocks, but our gameplan at Bramall Lane last time was an effective one. I'll have to evaluate who is ready and raring to go, but I think that the guys will still be disappointed about the result on Friday. But they'll certainly be ready and whatever side we put out they'll give Sheffield United a fantastic game up there."
    • 19.25 Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson: "It would be foolish to sit here now and think the game is over because it is not. The tie is finely balanced and we are taking nothing for granted. We have to be very careful in what we do because, if we get carried away, the second leg will go against us."
    • 19.20 Danny Wilson has named an unchanged side from the one that drew 0-0 with Stevenage on Friday night. There are changes on the bench with Nick Montgomery and David McAllister replacing Richard Cresswell and Johnny Ertl. Stevenage make one change with Robin Shroot coming in for Craig Reid, who is on the bench.
    • 19.15 Teams: Sheffield United: Simonsen, Lowton, Doyle, Flynn, Williamson, Collins, Maguire, Porter, McDonald, Quinn, Hill...subs: Montgomery, Howard, Taylor, McAllister, O'Halloran////Stevenage: Day, Wilson, Laird, Ashton, Byrom, Roberts, Freeman, Bostwick, Agyemang, Lascelles, Shroot..subs: Julian, Charles, Reid, Beardsley, Mousinho
    • 19.10 Stevenage boss Gary Smith is contemplating changes for the trip to Bramall Lane. Boro were held to a 0-0 draw in Friday's first leg and as Smith has a fully-fit squad he could be tempted to make changes at Bramall Lane. Midfielders Jennison Myrie-Williams, John Mousinho and Robin Shroot and striker Chris Beardsley will be the ones hoping to benefit should Smith make changes.
    • 19.05 Sheffield United striker Richard Cresswell could return to the starting line-up for the second leg of his side's play-off semi-final against Stevenage. Cresswell has been struggling with a shoulder injury in recent weeks and played only a cameo role in the goalless first leg at Broadhall Way.
    • 19.00 Good evening and welcome to LIVE coverage of Sheffield United against Stevenage in the second leg of their League One play-off semi-final. A 0-0 draw in the first leg on Friday.

  • Summary

    • 82' GOAL! Porter nods home from close range. Lovely ball by Lowton and that is the one United were seeking. Finally the goal comes.
    • 80' Hill wallops an effort inches wide from Lowton's pass. 35 yards. Day had no chance. United so, so close....
    • 78' Bostwick hammers the free-kick at goal from distance. Ends up stinging the paws of Simonsen, but nothing else. Better from the visitors.
    • 77' Laird fires a shot at goal from the edge of the box, but tipped over by Simonsen. Brilliant stop. Almost the opener.
    • 60' Collins hammers the ball away from Bostwick. Quinn then drills a shot over the bar from distance at the other end.
    • 58' Nice piece of play by Freeman to dart into the box from Laird's pass. Drives the ball at goal, but Simonsen dives to make a fine save. We remain at 0-0.
    • 55' Flynn wallops a shot wide from 25 yards. Brilliant effort, but just evades the post with Day struggling. Better from the home team.
    • 54' Lowton's cross almost finished by Williamson at the front post. Real chance, but the ball flies wide of goal. Much to the dismay of Danny Wilson.
    • 48' Wilson blocks the shot by Flynn from 12 yards out. Decent move. Chance for United, but not taken.
    • 6' Brilliant stop by Day to nudge the ball wide from Porter's header before a volley flies over from distance. We remain at 0-0.
    • 19.15 Teams: Sheffield United: Simonsen, Lowton, Doyle, Flynn, Williamson, Collins, Maguire, Porter, McDonald, Quinn, Hill...subs: Montgomery, Howard, Taylor, McAllister, O'Halloran////Stevenage: Day, Wilson, Laird, Ashton, Byrom, Roberts, Freeman, Bostwick, Agyemang, Lascelles, Shroot..subs: Julian, Charles, Reid, Beardsley, Mousinho

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Comment 21 - 41 of 41

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  1. Sheffield United should follow Sheffield Wednesday into­ the Championship, 12 easy points for the Millwall.

    From THOMAS NEAL, on Tue 15 May 17:29

  2. "Yorkshire clubs in the play-off final, would like­ to have Sheff U come up as my dad and uncle are big­ Blades fans but ive got some good memories of going to­ Oakwell back in the day playing Huddersfield Town. My­ first ever game I went to watch was Barnsley vs Hudds­ in a cup game, we won 4-0 and a few years later we won­ 7-1 (6-0 at half time) when Hignett made his debut,­ great days compared to what we have now. Good luck to­ the both of you, be good to have some more derbys next­ season.

    From Agent of Chaos, on Mon 14 May 23:50

  3. Stevenage lose, proves bullies never win.

    From PETER, on Mon 14 May 23:18

  4. Been clearing the pigs out of the toilets,it's­ always the same when United win,so it's not that­ often.

    From (OvO), on Mon 14 May 22:55

  5. Mark..... you must be confusing me with someone else­ pal 1 comment I have made on a SUFC page all season­ and the chip on your shoulder still cannot take a back­ handed compliment. I have an interest in seeing both­ teams in the Championship next season is all and to­ continue the banter going....that's what it is­ banter....so smile...enjoy your win....and enjoy the 4­ coachloads you'll be taking to Wembley :)

    From DAVID, on Mon 14 May 22:01

  6. David, glad you share the interest in the Blades with­ the rest of us fans. You seem to be watching the game­ too. Funny I would never watch Wednesday unless they­ were playing us. It seems you love to watch us and go­ on our sites. You seem quite obsessed with us. It must­ be love.

    From mark, on Mon 14 May 21:50

  7. Congrats Sheff Utd from the Blue/White side of the­ City, we need the banter for next season. On a serious­ note though which joker chucked truffles on to the­ pitch at the end?

    From DAVID, on Mon 14 May 21:50

  8. COME ON HUDDERSFIELD TOWN !!!!!!

    From Steve, on Mon 14 May 21:47

  9. If I were a Wednesday fan, I'd be hoping United win­ the play-off final - hasn't Jordan Rhodes said­ he'll go to Wednesday if Huddersfield don't go­ up?

    From Paul G, on Mon 14 May 21:47

  10. richard / now you can wipe the egg off your face &­ extract your foot from your mouth .

    From , on Mon 14 May 21:42

  11. lets have a good yorkshire day at wembley. may the best­ TOWN win

    From Richard, on Mon 14 May 21:41

  12. The blunts may have done it but can they win the­ final no matter THE CITY IS OWLS

    From mikael, on Mon 14 May 21:37
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    these two jokes have now played 4 games this season,­ and , no winner

    From Richard, on Mon 14 May 21:07

  14. no one cares who wins this. hudds town will get­ promoted anyway

    From Richard, on Mon 14 May 20:56

  15. Come on Blades lets have Sheffield Derby's next­ season

    From happy feet, on Mon 14 May 20:44

  16. I would've thought United fans love Wilson­ regardless of tonight given how he almost single­ handedly destroyed the Owls. When he made his­ 'fancy dans' speech we were finished.

    From Anthony, on Mon 14 May 20:41

  17. Ched Evans is being spit roasted as we speak.

    From RICHARD, on Mon 14 May 20:36

  18. Agyemang and Freeman ...Gillingham old boys.They will­ do the business tonight.

    From RICHARD, on Mon 14 May 20:35
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Whats up blunts no fire left ground half empty you are­ a disgrace get out of sheffield

    From David, on Mon 14 May 20:32

  20. what goes up will come down

    From Geoff, on Mon 14 May 20:28
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