Action replay: Dave Bassett's Blades continue their revival

Dave Bassett’s Blades’ post-Christmas recovery was the story of the second half of the 1990-91 First Division campaign and a second-half goal from ex-Owl Brian Marwood secured them three points in a fine 2-1 win at Everton, their third straight league win and sixth since December 22.

Also on the mark for the Blades was Glyn Hodges, with Tony Cottee netting for the Toffees.

Sheffield Wednesday - fresh from a 4-0 FA Cup mauling at Dion Dublin-inspired Cambridge - had a midweek league appointment in deepest Devon and remained third in the Second Division, with Steve MacKenzie scoring in their 1-1 draw at Plymouth Argyle, whose scorer was Steve Morgan.

Leeds United played out the second of three consecutive cup games at Elland Road - all in different competitions.

After losing their epic FA Cup tie with Arsenal in a third replay, United returned to action in the Zenith Data Systems northern semi-final and they beat Manchester City 2-1 after extra-time.

Goals for United - who were due to face Manchester United in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final days later - were Gordon Strachan and Andy Williams.

Middlesbrough were in league action in the second tier and followed up a 3-2 midweek win over West Brom with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Charlton, with a strike from goal machine Bernie Slaven moving Colin Todd’s Teessiders up to fourth spot just behind Wednesday.

The pain continued unabated for rock-bottom Hull City, who went down to Paul Goddard’s double in a 2-0 reverse at Ipswich Town.

In Division Three, pride of place went to Bradford City, who made it three league wins on the spin with their purple patch of scoring continuing in a 3-0 Roses success at Preston, courtesy of strikes from Steve Torpey, Phil Babb and Sean McCarthy.

Huddersfield Town secured their second successive stalemate on the road in a 0-0 draw at Cambridge, while Rotherham United shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth at Millmoor.

Nigel Johnson put the Millers ahead at the interval but Andy Jones levelled for the Cherries.

Billy Bremner’s Doncaster Rovers’ worrying slump towards the top end of Division Four continued in a 2-0 home setback to Peterborough United, whose scorers were Steve Osborne and Mick Halsall.

Scarborough lost out to Cohen Griffith’s double in a 2-1 home defeat to Cardiff - with Tommy Mooney netting for Boro.

Struggling Halifax Town lost 1-0 at Gillingham, with the predatory David Crown scoring the only goal for the Gills.

There were better news for York City, with second-half goals from Glen Naylor and Iain Dunn enabling them to beat visiting Carlisle 2-0.