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Blackpool 1-3 Sheffield United - Speed shows the way as Blades prove credentials
Gary Speed scored one and created another as Sheffield United enhanced their promotion credentials at Blackpool.
The veteran midfielder – who turns 39 next month – engineered the space for Stephen Quinn to score a 21st-minute opener and then converted a penalty in the 57th minute.
Steve Kabba – a former Blades frontman and currently on loan at Blackpool from Watford – pulled a goal back for the hosts in the 74th minute.
But Greg Halford quickly replied with a third goal as Kevin Blackwell's men further justified their status as serious promotion contenders.
At times Blackwell's side were in cruise control as they dominated long phases of the game.
"I thought this was a good result for us because Blackpool are a workman-like side and this is a difficult place to come to," said the Blades manager. "I thought we controlled the game well and got players forward in numbers. We have some good players like Jon Stead and James Beattie coming back after injury so there is pressure on places and that is what I want."
Blackpool started dangerously with on-loan Liverpool winger Adam Hammill striking a fierce dipping volley which flew narrowly over and Kabba had a shot parried by Paddy Kenny
The Blades were dangerous throughout though and having weathered the early storm, hit Blackpool with a classic sucker-punch to open the scoring.
Veteran Speed showed intelligence to slip a neat pass through to Quinn 12 yards from goal and the Irishman clinically dispatched the ball past goalkeeper Paul Rachubka and into the bottom right-hand corner.
Three minutes before the hour mark United effectively secured the points as Rob Edwards fouled Ugo Ehiogu inside Blackpool's penalty area and Speed made no mistake from 12 yards.
Blackpool refused to surrender and found a lifeline with 16 minutes remaining when Kabba volleyed in from 12 yards.
United rode their luck a minute later when clearing a Ben Burgess header off the line but hopes of a comeback were dashed when Halford collected a pass from Michael Tonge and finished neatly from six yards.
Blackpool: Rachubka; Barker, Edwards, Evatt, Camara (Coid 86); Taylor-Fletcher (Fox 90), Wright (Vaughan 64), Jorgensen, Hammill; Kabba, Burgess. Unused substitutes: Gilks, Rehman.
Sheffield United: Kenny, Jihai (Geary 90), Ehiogu, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Halford (Spring 80), Tonge, Speed, Quinn, Sharp (Webber 80), Henderson. Unused substitutes: Cotterill, Hendrie.
Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).
Man of the match: Gary Speed.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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