Golden rays of light break out on Bramall lane splashing the stadium in majestic glory. After a cold, bitter few months a red and white army breathes in the fresh winter air and take their seats as they get ready to play their part in another step towards the promised land.
However, in spite of the dazzling sunshine and confidence swelling round the ground the first forty-five minutes left a lot to be desired. Brighton came with a game plan to frustrate the blades and force a long-ball system; in the first half they executed this excellently. Almost straight away the ominous figure of Neil Shipperly was jumping for every ball, and struggling alone against a cluster of dogged defenders.
In fact United didn?t even get a sight of goal until 17 minutes had passed. David Unsworth?s free kick met Steven Kabba?s darting run, however the striker could only poke the ball wide of the mark. Kabba?s return to the United starting eleven was due to in-form striker suffering a hamstring injury, and marked an industrious afternoon in which he fully deserved a goal.
Fifteen minutes later the second and last chance of a monotonous first half fell to captain, Phil Jagielka. Unfortunately his flying header, a result of an Unsworth?s corner, was plucked from the air by Brighton goalie Kuipers. After some baffling decisions the fussy referee drew the first half to a close. The Blades knew that three points were needed and Neil Warnock?s half time tactical adjustments made the second half a very different game.
After just 7 minutes United had that elusive first goal. After a brilliant interchange between Unsworth and Armstrong, the latter?s whipping cross met Jagielka?s left footed volley crashing the ball in to the back of the net, doubling his tally against Brighton this season.
Suddenly the Blades were full of confidence again and ten minutes later, after some quality possession the game was effectively won. Paul Ifill, who had an average first half pounced on an unsuspecting Brighton defender, stealing the ball and darting towards goal before scoring a simply sublime lob worthy of his efforts.
Brighton, desperate to salvage something from the match resorted to a quick, attacking style of play and, despite having one of their best spells of the match, were punished at the back by the rampant red and white wizards. Breaking from defence, Ifill?s weighted pass found Kabba who?s inch-perfect through ball presented rejuvenated Bramall Lane favourite Michael Tonge with a one-on-one. Tongey, as he is affectionately known by the United fans, was never going to miss and, after dropping a shoulder to confuse Kuipers placed the ball in the bottom corner.
Brighton?s conciliation goal was somewhat overshadowed by United legend Brian
Deane?s introduction to the game. The deafening chants of ?Deano? were louder than the seasider?s celebrations after Colin Kazim-Richards flashed the ball in to the bottom left corner of the goal. With the game won Brian Deane could have added the icing on the cake when his powerful header was spectacularly saved by the goalkeeper, but United will be more than happy with three hard earned points.
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