Ensuring that Sheffield United are involved in next season’s Premier League campaign is all but officially booked. Only a major miracle would see the Blades relegated back to the Championship at the first attempt. During the 1993/94 season, survival was much tougher but a 2-0 victory against today’s opponents Newcastle United on Saturday, 30 April 1994 seemed to be heading the Blades in the right direction.
Including this fixture against the Magpies, United had just three fixtures remaining. Since 22 February the Blades had recorded just one league defeat in ten matches. They had three matches during this period, including a shock 2-1 victory at Liverpool. Despite recording six draws, getting points on the board in a relegation scrap proves vital.
Dave Bassett’s Blades had been playing the best football all season and had untaken a similar 3-5-2 formation which we are used to today under Chris Wilder’s reign.
United battered their opponents who would finish third in the table in their first season as a Premier League club. In contrast, the result itself could have been much greater in score-line had United put away their chances. Striker Nathan Blake missed three opportunities to score, whilst Jostein Flo and Paul Rogers also tested out keeper Pavel Srnicek, all in the first half.
Newcastle came out in the second half as Robert Lee sliced through United’s defence but shot wide. Andy Cole also saw two efforts blocked as United scrambled to defend their goal. Shortly after the hour mark, the hosts took the lead with Blake grabbing the first of his double on the day.
The first came from a John Gannon corner as he expertly peeled away from his marker to loop a header over the keeper. The ball crashed against the underside of the crossbar but both the linesman and referee agreed it had crossed the line. In the last minute, the win was sealed by the Welsh International when a long clearance saw Blake get the better of the bounce and ran through one-on-one with the keeper. Srnicek saved the initial shot but the striker got a second chance to scramble home; 2-0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgm2G-onvVQ
In the end, United failed in their attempt to secure survival and was, as many supporters recall cruelly relegated on the final day at Chelsea when odds looked stacked in their favour. Following that victory against Newcastle, United followed this up with a 1-1 draw at fellow relegation strugglers Oldham Athletic. United would have to wait 12 years before they made their return to the top flight.