Goals from Stephen Quinn, Jamie Ward and David Cotterill were enough to preserve the Blades unbeaten start to the season, as they beat Reading 3-1 at the Madejski Stadium.
Kevin Blackwell made just one change, with Stephen Quinn replacing Brian Howard, but the Blades still only opted for six substitutes from a possible seven.
The Blades started with a 4-4-2 away from home, and looked uncomfortable as they adjusted to Brendan Rodgers’ side.
The Blades should have taken the lead early on, Taylor’s run down the left was followed by a low cross that Keith Treacy met before blasting over Federici’s bar.
However, it was Reading who took the lead on thirteen minutes. A foul by Montgomery on the left resulted in a free kick which was swung in by Sigurdsson and Vital’s player to watch Matt Mills got beyond Chris Morgan to head home past Mark Bunn in the Blades goal.
Reading looked the most likely to score the second goal of the game; Jay Tabb firing over, and Noel Hunt putting the United defence under pressure.
Treacy was replaced after 25 minutes by Cotterill, due to a knock, and the game soon swung in the Blades favour.
Ward’s cross from the left fell to Evans when Henderson ducked, and the Welshman fired across goal where Stephen Quinn met it at the far post to side foot into the top of the goal and level the scores.
The Blades thought they’d taken the lead shortly after the break. More good work on the left resulted in a Taylor cross which was headed home by Henderson, but the referee ruled it out for a foul on Bertrand.
Sigurdsson came close to putting the Royals ahead. Turning Kyle Walker before bending a shot against the outside of the post, which had Bunn well beaten.
However, it was United who took the lead. Taylor with the throw on the left, found Ward who unleashed an effort from distance that was spilled by Federici and ended up in the net, giving Jamie Ward his second goal in three games.
Substitute Ryan France had a couple of chances shortly after coming on, but it was David Cotterill‘s twenty five yard strike that sealed the game for the Blades in stoppage time.
United:
Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Kilgallon, Henderson, Evans (France 85), Taylor, Ward, Treacy (Cotterill 27), Quinn, Walker.
nused: Reid, Bennett, Bromby, Sharp.
Kevin Blackwell:
“We started quite well against an odd system and then after about 10 minutes we switched off a bit and didn’t concentrate when they scored. Their system caused us problems until we worked it out.
“Sometimes you have to go a goal down to see how you can handle it – we had to weather the storm after the goal but following the equaliser we were the only team that was going to win it.
“It was a thoroughly professional performance, we moved the ball about well and created loads of chances. It was great to see the lads hit the net, we also had a terrific goal disallowed. It was a great passing move and just what you want to see at the end of it, the big centre forward heading in at the back post to finish it off – I don’t know what Darius’ header was disallowed for.”
David Cotterill:
“It was a sweet strike and obviously I was very pleased with it, especially as it was right in front of the Blades fans.
“Darius was holding everything up and when the ball dropped off him I just saw the space and managed to get the shot off.
“The important thing is that it was for the team – we worked hard and the goal just finished it off. I’m pleased I could play at part after being on the bench.”
Brendan Rodgers:
Well I didn’t think 3-1 was a fair reflection of the game, to be honest, and I said that to the players afterwards. We got our goal, first half we were very good, right up until 43 minutes. We had deserved to score and we wanted to go in 1-0 at half time, in control. We let them back into it with a poor goal and at 1-1 it’s still in the balance. We started the second half a wee bit slowly but came into it and the next goal changes it slightly. It was unfortunate for Adam, he’s a top class ‘keeper and he’s been outstanding since I came here. When ‘keepers make mistakes there’s nobody behind them, but nobody is blaming him, sometimes it happens. I still always felt we were in the game, then the terrific goal at the end as we’re chasing the game…the 3-1 flatters them but there are lots of positives to take.
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