Sheffield United 0 Scunthorpe United 2: Blades tumble to loss but Iron still miss out on play-offs

not this time: Sheffield Uniteds Che Adams is unable to get the better of the visiting Scunthorpe United defence.

Tom Hopper’s first-half tap-in and Paddy Madden’s 20th goal of the season were the difference on a sunny afternoon at Bramall Lane.

Despite victory, Scunthorpe were forced to settle for seventh place after Barnsley’s resounding win at Wigan clinched the final play-off spot as Nigel Adkins’s Blades finished in a disappointing 11th.

The Blades came fast out of the blocks with Alex Baptise’s brilliant header forcing Luke Daniels into a superb save, sprawling low to his right.

Scunthorpe’s first effort of the game came as Luke Williams and Hakeeb Adelakun combined on the edge of the Blades’ box with the former hitting straight at George Long.

But it was the visiting Iron who took the lead six minutes before the break.

Blades’ goalkeeper Long foiled Madden’s attempt to round him, but could only parry into the path of Hopper who swept home the opener.

Four minutes later Adelakun went close to doubling the lead after some trickery got him into the box, with Long on hand to keep him out.

The Blades’ best chance to draw level fell to forward Billy Sharp who produced a fine shot low to Daniels left from range.

Irishman Madden put the game to bed just after the hour mark as his deflected effort from 20 yards nestled in the back of the net.

With two minutes remaining Ben Whiteman curled just wide of the post as he tried to pull back a late consolation.

Sheffield United: Long, Baptiste, Edgar, McEveley, Coutts (Reed 78), Basham, Hammond (Whiteman 46), Woolford (Cuvelier 62), Done, Adams, Sharp. Unused substitutes: Sammon, McGahey, Kelly, Ramsdale.

Scunthorpe United: Daniels, Clarke, Mirfin (Goode 85), Wallace, Townsend, Williams, Dawson, Ness, Adelakun, Hopper, Madden. Unused substitutes: Laird, Vose, Anyon, King, Goode, Burdett, Wootton.

Referee: M Bull.

Blackpool were relegated to League Two just five years after being in the Premier League. Having spent the 2010-11 season in the top flight they will now kick off next campaign in the fourth tier of English football following a 5-1 defeat at Peterborough.

Jacob Blyth had given Blackpool hope with an early opener but Jon Taylor’s hat-trick in 12 second half minutes proved decisive, Peterborough’s other goals coming from a Marcus Maddison penalty and Shaquile Coulthirst.

Romain Vincelot and Adam Armstrong scored as Coventry won 2-0 at Oldham and Rochdale beat Colchester 2-1.