Sheffield United 0 Cardiff City 2: Bellamy nudges Blades towards drop

For Sheffield United, the trapdoor to League One football is firmly open.

For Cardiff City, there is every chance of playing in the Premier League next season.

Goals from Craig Bellamy and Jay Emmanuel Thomas lifted Cardiff into second spot in the Championship last night but left the battered Blades eight points adrift of safety at the bottom.

Only five more games to play – and, of course, where there is life there is always hope – but a mood of resignation was hanging in the Bramall Lane air at the final whistle. A fair portion of the 18,000 home supporters had already gone home.

Only four years ago, this was a club enjoying life in the top flight. Now, barring a footballing miracle, the Blades are rubbing shoulders next season with the likes of Hartlepool and Brentford – and their old friends across the city, Sheffield Wednesday – after dropping into the third tier of the English games for the first time in 22 years.

Adams had stuck with the same side narrowly beaten by Middlesbrough although midfielder Nick Montgomery was back on the bench after spending a few days attending to family issues.

The Blades’ performance on Saturday deserved far better than a defeat but the wasteful nature of the finishing had sparked annoyance in the stands.

There was unity again for last night’s kick-off, helped by cheers for the club’s youngsters – saluted for reaching the final of the FA Youth Cup – and words from a selection of supporters on the stadium’s big screen.

But once the pre-match schedule was out of way, it soon started to feel like the wind had gone out of United’s sails.

There was an absence of noise from the Kop and nothing happening to change that on the pitch. It was almost as if the home fans knew that Saturday’s events had done damage beyond repair.

When Craig Bellamy scored for Cardiff with one of his trademark charges, cutting in from the left wing, there was little point in anyone screaming abuse. It was more appropriate now to shrug shoulders and draw a heavy sigh.

The Welsh international could have scored again soon after but Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen came to the rescue.

As hard as the Blades tried to get any sort of rhythm going, Cardiff looked comfortable for the majority of the game. They never needed to get into top gear.

There were jeers when Cardiff’s Jay Bothroyd went down seeking a penalty under pressure from Matt Lowton but referee Michael Oliver was not being fooled.

The Blades created a rare opportunity as half-time loomed but Bjorn Helge-Riise was a fraction of a second too late to meet Stephen Quinn’s dangerous low cross. Bellamy then volleyed over at the other end after a good run and cross by Bothroyd.

When these two clubs last met on the opening day of the season, Kevin Blackwell was the man in charge of the Blades.

His line-up had contained two defenders Chris Morgan and Andy Taylor, who have spent the majority of the season injured, along with Jamie Ward and Leon Britton, who now play for rival Championship clubs.

Few could have predicted how far the Blades would fall over the subsequent eight months. Or that Micky Adams would be the club’s fourth manager of the season.

Adams may have been unable to turn the tide – but it will still be a major surprise if he is not around next season. His passion for his hometown club goes a long way with United supporters.

The half-time introduction of Montgomery breathed new life into the Blades and, although it might not an ideal time to blood youngsters, defender Harry Maguire stepped off the bench to make an encouraging first-team debut for the injured Joe Mattock.

Showing greater urgency, the Blades briefly edged closer to an equaliser. Lowton had a header saved and flashed a shot over, then delivered a cross that was so nearly converted by Darius Henderson.

But it was game over as soon as Cardiff found the net for the second time on 72 minutes. Winger Chris Burke burst down the right and his cross was nodded home by Emmanuel Thomas.

“You’ll lose to Wednesday next year,” sang the away supporters. Everyday is Like Sunday sang Morrisey over the tannoy. Even more depressing for the Blades to stomach.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Nosworthy (Montgomery 45), Collins, Lowry, Mattock (Maguire 49); Lowton, Doyle, Quinn; Riise, Henderson (Bent 77), Bogdanovic. Unused substitutes: Aksalu, Tonne, Kozluk, McAllister.

Cardiff City: Bywater; Quinn, McNaughton, Keinan, Naylor (Blake 45); Burke, Olofinjana, McPhail (Emmanuel-Thomas 49), Whittingham; Bothroyd, Bellamy. Unused substitutes: Rae, Gyepes, Koumas, Heaton, Matthews.

Referee: M Oliver (Northumberland).