Sheffield United were embarrassed as a classy Watford side demolished the Blades at Bramall Lane on a bitter Tuesday night. United?s doomed cause was not helped as David Unsworth was recklessly sent off for violent conduct in just the 25th minute. The experienced former Everton defender pushed ex-Wednesday player Chris Eagles in the face and deservedly received a straight red card which will result in a three match ban.
United were second best right from the off, the Blades looked nervous and struggled to thread passes together, whereas Watford began brightly and after just 6 minutes the Hornets struck gold down the left hand side to draw first blood. Henderson crafted a sweet cross after some neat interplay and Chris Eagles flew ahead of David Unsworth to drive the header just wide of Kenny?s right palm and into the back of the Shorham Street net. Eagles then ran, with finger pressed on pursed lips, across the front of an angered Kop.
United struggled to get a footing in the match, but Michael Tonge fought gallantly to single-handedly drive the blades forward. Foster had to make a low save to stop a well drive Tonge shot from finding the back of the Watford net. But just as Tonge was fighting back, Unsworth made United?s task almost impossible in the 25th minute.
Unsworth clumsily fell onto the ball and Eagles immediately pounced landing his studs into Unsworth?s thigh. The former Wednesday man then fell onto the Liverpudlian who promptly shoved Eagles in the face which earned the full-back a straight red card. Ade Akinbiyi then talked himself a yellow card for protesting.
Neil Warnock continued to attack, leaving Chris Armstrong with it all to do; Kabba drifted between left midfield and a striking role behind Akinbiyi and Armstrong slotted into left-back. However, Kabba struggled to occupy two positions and Armstrong was left alone to boss the left flank.
United now found a new lease of life, with two corners taken in quick succession, however neither produced any real threat to Foster?s goal. Later, Derek Geary fire bolted a shot on the angle of the Watford area just wide of the top left hand corner of Foster?s net.
The first half drew to a close with the 4th placed Championship outfit well on top. However, the Blades faithful had found their voices and created a heated atmosphere inside the Lane and late goal specialists United looked to begin the second half in better fashion.
However it just wasn?t to be. An inform Marlon King stabbed the second nail into the United coffin after just one minute of the second half. The Blades fans were shell shocked as the Hornet?s rocked Bramall Lane to its core.
United?s traditional never say die attitude saw light on 57 minutes when Ifill, one of United?s only performers, stabbed the ball into the back of the Kop net. It came from a ball into the area from Armstrong and flicked forward by Short. Ifill did well to connect as Watford players littered his path to the ball.
Marlon King was having a fantastic night and he capped it off with a second goal to well and truly kill off the sorry Blades. The former Nottingham Forest man pounced in the box after a corner to poke the ball home from six-yards out in front of the bouncing Watford support. The United players limped to take the re-take for yet another time.
The Blades polished off an abysmal performance in the 88th minute as Bromby, who had a nightmare all game, let the ball roll under his boot and fall for substitute Bouazza to force the ball low passed Kenny.
United were outclassed on the night but Blades fans can find solace in the fact that the Hornets are a healthy 11 points behind the Blades. Hopefully, the red and white wizards can bounce back and put this bitter defeat behind them when they travel to Home Park on Saturday.
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