WBA 3 Sheffield United 1: Blackwell fumes at Baggies penalty

Blackwell described the award – for handball against Nick Montgomery – as an 'absolute joke' but it was far from funny for the Blades.

The spot-kick was hammered home by Graham Dorrans and the Blades never recovered.

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"I have seen the DVD and I cannot see where the penalty is at all," stormed Blackwell. "We were weathering a storm – so to give it all away with a penalty like that was an absolute joke."

The true cost of this defeat will only be apparent at the end of the season – especially if the Blades miss out on automatic promotion. For now, it gives the Baggies an undoubted edge in the race for the top two.

If the Blades had won, they would have been only three points adrift of the Baggies, who are third.

At least second-placed Nottingham Forest suffered a shock defeat at Derby County.

If truth be told, this was still a performance that the Blades will want to forget in a hurry.

Putting the debatable penalty aside, they allowed Albion to score two soft goals and were lucky not to concede more.

Blackwell made two changes to his side with striker Darius Henderson preferred to Ched Evans and defender Jordan Stewart replacing the injured Andy Taylor.

Henderson had not started a league game since November due to injuries but played a full 90 minutes against Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup.

Both managers employed a five-man midfield with Henderson and Roman Bednar the respective lone strikers.

The Blades began the game brightly but were stunned when referee Mike Russell pointed to the spot after 17 minutes. Montgomery's hand may have touched the ball when it bounced up off Dorran but it was hardly intentional.

Goalkeeper Mark Bunn had saved a penalty against Reading four days earlier but, on this occasion, was beaten easily by Dorrans.

Bednar should have converted a cross from Gonzalo Jara and doubled Albion's advantage just moments later.

The Czech international soon made amends, however, slipping the attention of Chris Morgan to pick up a pass from Jerome Thomas and tuck the ball home.

Bednar could have scored again just before the break after a sloppy back pass by Stephen Quinn. Fortunately for the Blades, the striker hit the side netting after taking the ball around Bunn.

Significant improvement was needed in the second half if the Blades were to get back in the game and they got off to the ideal start.

Applying pressure from the kick-off, the Blades pushed Richard Cresswell into attack and were awarded a penalty when Youssouf Mulumbu hacked at Quinn.

Henderson made no mistake from the spot but it counted for little as, within two minutes, Albion had scored again through Thomas.

Henderson's brand of physical football upset a number of Albion players. Full-back Jara was sent sprawling in one tussle and reacted angrily when accused of play-acting by Quinn, leading to cautions for both players.

The arrival of Mark Yeates from Middlesbrough is now putting pressure on Quinn to keep up high standards but he will be lucky to stay in the side tomorrow against Watford. His sulky reaction to being substituted will not have been lost on Blackwell.

Albion supporters gave Blades striker Henri Camara a tough time due to his previous association with Black Country neighbours Wolves.

Camara was also guilty of petulance and, on another day, might have been red-carded for pushing defender Jonas Olsson in the face during a dispute over a penalty area challenge.

With no sign yet of a replacement for Matthew Kilgallon, the Blades again had to rely on Jonathan Fortune at the heart of defence.

Playing his third game of the week, Fortune fared no better or worse than captain Morgan and together the pair were unable to get the better of Bednar.

The Blades' failure to test Albion goalkeeper Scott Carson in the second half was another sad indictement of their display.

Carson, who was sold by Blackwell during the financial chaos at one of his previous clubs, Leeds United, will have few easier afternoons.

Former Sheffield Wednesday winger Chris Brunt, who plays for Albion as a left-footed right winger, was also inches away from connecting with a low cross that flashed across the Blades goalmouth.

Publically, Blackwell focused his disillusion on the referee, saying: "Some of the decisions today caused a few problems. You have got to ask whether the officiating is maybe the problem?"

Privately, he might also have questioned some of his players over their performances.

Sheffield United: Bunn; Walker, Morgan, Fortune, Stewart; Ward, Montgomery, Quinn (Yeates 77), Harper, Cresswell; Henderson (Camara 73). Unused substitutes: Bennett, France, Evans, Williamson, Geary.

West Bromwich Albion: Carson; Jara (Zuiverloon 70), Tamas, Olsson, Cech; Brunt, Thomas (Mattock 88), Mulumbu, Koren (Cox 67), Dorrans; Bednar. Unused substitutes: Kiely, Miller, Moore, Meite.

Referee: M Russell (Hertfordshire).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Jerome Thomas

The winger scored Albion's crucial third goal and also set up the second for striker Roman Bednar. Thomas's performance gave Blades full-back Kyle Walker a real headache.

Villain: Henri Camara

Former Wolves striker took plenty of criticism from the Albion supporters after coming on as a substitute for the Blades. Lucky to stay on the field after clash with Olsson.

Key moment

49th minute: Just two minutes after the Blades hit back, Thomas restores Albion's two-goal lead.

Ref watch

Mike Russell: Awarded a highly debatable penalty against the Blades which shaped the course of the game.

Verdict

A bad day at the office for the Blades, who will need to get this performance out of the system quickly to keep the promotion push on track.

Next game

Watford v Sheffield United, tomorrow, Championship, 7.45pm.

Quote of the day

You have got to ask whether the officiating is maybe the problem.

– Blades manager Kevin Blackwell.

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