Sheffield United 3 Blackpool 0: Blackwell earns respite as Cresswell sinks Blackpool

Cresswell's double, both goals were close-range efforts to take his tally for the season to 10, saw off a disappointing Blackpool at Bramall Lane and placate Blades fans who have been calling for a managerial change as their play-off hopes faltered.

But last night's comprehensive win, which included a rare goal for midfielder Nick Montgomery, kept United in the promotion mix, three points behind sixth-placed Cardiff City.

"Some supporters have a go, which is their right, but they did last season when we were winning so that is nothing new," said Blackwell before the game. "Believe me, I understand and share the fans' frustrations because, although this season has without a shadow of a doubt been the most difficult of my career, I still have a real feeling for the club.

"This is not the club I took over, but the world has changed dramatically since then."

As if to enforce his point, Blackwell was forced to include right-back Paul Connolly, just hours after arriving on loan from Derby County to bolster his deplete defence.

Connolly became the 21st player to be given his United debut this season, highlighting the high turnover of players, most short-term deals. The 26-year-old former Plymouth defender was one of two changes for the Blades.

Striker Darius Henderson was back with suspended Chris Morgan out and James Harper dropping to the bench.

The Blades made a fantastic start, going ahead after just 45 seconds. Mark Yeates's corner was flicked on and Cresswell stabbed it home at the far post.

If Blackwell had been feeling the pressure before kick-off as the Blades' play-off hopes wavered, it was the perfect start to silence the restless natives.

Blackpool were struggling to deal with United's corners and Cresswell's right-wing set-piece almost fell kindly for Henri Camara but a defender got in the way of his attempt at a spectacular overhead shot.

Camara's persistence almost created a second Blades goal. He chased what seemed a lost cause at an attempted back-pass, poked the ball away from on-rushing goalkeeper Matthew Gilks, but Stephen Quinn's follow-up was charged down.

Montgomery then looked to have picked out Henderson with a peach of a back-post cross but the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Blackpool offered little in attack, but Charlie Adam was left in a bundle on the floor appealing for a penalty after a nudge from Marcel Seip, but the referee waved play on as Keith Southern struck a low shot wide from 18 yards.

So it was no surprise when United doubled their advantage three minutes before the interval.

Again, Camara – the Blades' most dangerous player – was at the centre of the action.

He received a low cross with his back to goal, but stayed calm and laid the ball into the path of the on-rushing Montgomery whose shot looked to have taken a deflection as it found its way inside Gilks's right-hand post.

It was a rare strike from the unsung Blades midfielder – linked with a move to Neil Warnock's QPR last week – his last league goal coming on New Year's Eve in 2005 and his bellyflop dive in front of the Kop illustrated his lack of goal celebration practice.

Connolly came to the Blades' rescue early in the second half to deny Jason Euell a certain goal.

Charlie Adam floated a lovely ball over the home defence for the former Wimbledon striker to race on to. Euell lofted the ball over goalkeeper Mark Bunn but before he could knock the ball into an empty net the backtracking loan defender hacked the ball clear.

And United made Blackpool pay for their miss as Cresswell pounced for United's third just moments later.

Henderson got clear on the left, and his whipped, low cross seemed to hit Cresswell, standing just a yard out, and bounce apologetically over the line.

Camara came close to a fourth as he ripped through the visitors' defence only for Gilks to hold his 20-yard effort at the second attempt.

Sheffield United: Bunn, Connolly (Bartley 88), Seip, Nosworthy, Stewart, Yeates, Montgomery, Quinn, Cresswell (Harper 76), Henderson, Camara. Unused substitutes: Williamson, Bennett, Taylor, Little, Fortune.

Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Sourthern (Burgess 55), Eardley (Butler 41), Ormerod, Vaughan, Baptiste, Euell (Bannan 69), Campbell, Edwards, Adam. Unused substitutes: Rachubka, Clarke, Martin, Dobbie.

Referee: O Langford.