Reading 2 Sheffield United 3: Survival remains in sight as Blades fight back

THEY will call this the ‘Great Escape’ if they actually pull it off.

Two-nil down, kicked in the teeth by other results, Sheffield United looked as good as down at one stage yesterday.

They had been led onto the pitch by Chris Armstrong, a former Blades defender latterly at Reading, who is quitting football at the age of just 28 due to multiple sclerosis.

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If Armstrong’s introduction tells any story – it is just how quickly things can change both in football as well as life.

Only four years ago, the former England under-20 international was playing for the Blades in the Premier League after helping the club win promotion.

His personal plight puts football ‘problems’ stirred by relegation into perspective; the ovation he received from all four sides of the Madejski Stadium tellingly heartfelt.

But the Blades may just have drawn a spot of inspiration from that emotional walk-on as they fought back against all the odds to secure a second consecutive 3-2 victory and keep alive their hopes of Championship survival.

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Pressure on the Blades mounted quickly with rivals Crystal Palace taking the lead against Leeds United after just two minutes of their game at Selhurst Park.

If Palace had won and the Blades had lost, their relegation would have been confirmed. When Noel Hunt smashed in Reading’s opener after only 10 minutes, the writing was on the wall.

His angled drive flew past Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen from a tight angle with defender Neill Collins failing to get in a block.

Simonsen denied Jem Karacan a short time later after Reading launched a quick counter-attack in the wake of a poor Blades free- kick.

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But it was only a temporary reprieve as Hal Robson-Kanu made it 2-0 with 20 minutes gone.

Winger Jobi McAnuff created the goal, bursting in from the right and delivering a low cross that goalkeeper Simonsen could only touch on.

McAnuff tested Simonsen from 25 yards as the hosts continued to dominate the first half.

The Blades goalkeeper also had to dash off his line to foil Hunt after a ball sailed over the head of defender Shane Lowry.

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Almost out of nowhere, Darius Henderson provided the Blades with a lifeline. The striker, who has been jeered by his own supporters recently at Bramall Lane, picked up a pass from Stephen Quinn and turned the ball past Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy. It was his first goal in 14 months for the club but his celebrations were decidely muted.

For the brief spell immediately after the goal, the Royals looked vulnerable. McCarthy saved from Henderson at his near post and Bjorn Helge Riise flashed a shot-cum-cross wide.

As half-time approached, Simonsen was involved again, showing precision timing to save bravely at Hunt’s feet in the area. Anything less than clean hands on the ball at that juncture would probably have wrecked any chance the Blades had of taking anything from the game.

When Lee Williamson levelled the scores in first-half stoppage time, it truly signalled lift-off for the Blades.

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Picking up a neat pass from Quinn, the Blades midfielder’s shot bounced in off the post and sparked wild celebrations among the players at the corner flag.

It was the first time since drawing against Doncaster Rovers on January 3 that the Blades had got back into a contest after going two goals behind.

But this comeback was far from finished and Henderson’s second goal of the afternoon sent the Blades fans into dreamland.

The goal stemmed from a Williamson free-kick – awarded for a foul by Robson-Kanu on Joe Mattock. McCarthy kept out Williamson’s shot with a brilliant low save but, when Lowton turned the loose ball back to the near post, Henderson nodded home.

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Reading’s afternoon had self-imploded and they were lucky not to fall further behind when a goal from Jordan Slew was ruled out for offside.

McCarthy had inadvertently thrown the ball to Henderson but Slew was offside when the striker immediately tapped it forward.

Williamson and Henderson both went close as the Blades pushed hard for a fourth goal. After the trials and tribulations of this difficult season, the change in fortune was long overdue.

However, Reading manager Brian McDermott sent on three substitutes and stemmed the tide.

The final 20 minutes was nail-biting stuff.

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The Blades defended heroically, especially Collins, a shot from former Blades midfielder Brian Howard bounced back off the crossbar, and Hunt appealed in vain for a penalty.

But they held on and they are still a Championship club. Maybe things can get even better for the Blades yet?

Reading: McCarthy; Griffin, Mills, Khizanishvili, Harte; McAnuff, Leigertwood, Karacan (Howard 73), Robson-Kanu (Antonio 65); Long, Hunt (Manset 65). Unused substitutes: Federici, Tabb, Church, Pearce.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Lowton, Collins, Lowry, Mattock; Williamson, Montgomery, Quinn; Riise, Slew (Tonne 76), Henderson. Unused substitutes: Roe, Kozluk, Doyle, Aksalu, Philliskirk.

Referee: K Wright (Cambridgeshire).