Sheffield United’s poor run against Reading continued on Saturday, as the Blades went down 3-1 at the Madejski. As well as four goals, the game also witnessed a red card for Gillespie, Warnock and Wally Downes as both benches squared up to each other in the second half.
United started brightly and should have been in front in the first ten minutes. A corner from Quinn was headed back across goal by Lucketti but Jagielka headed wide from close range.
Next, Stead broke free down the left wing but as a break looked on for the Blades, the striker got the ball stuck under his feet and the chance was gone.
Reading’s goal was again troubled as Hulse’s shot deflected off De La Cruz and dipped on to the roof of the net.
Reading came back into the game just before half time as a Murty shot was pushed out for a corner by Kenny. Lita, who’s theatrics throughout the game were disgraceful, then went close, but put his shot in the side netting after beating Kenny.
Just as it looked like the sides would go in level Reading snatched a fortuitous lead. Both Quinn and Lucketti’s clearances bounced off Sidwell in the box, with the second falling to Long, who beat Kenny via a deflection off the post.
Reading could have been 2-0 up at half time but Kenny clawed away Hunt’s header in injury time.
United couldn’t have got off to a worse start in the second half as Reading almost immediately doubled their lead.
Some shocking defending by the away side allowed De La Cruz to run half the length of the pitch before calmly beating Kenny from close range.
Things went from bad to worse for the Blades as minutes later they were managerless off the pitch and down to 10 men on it.
As Gillespie replaced Geary the winger clashed with Hunt off the ball and threw his right arm at the players face. As has sadly come to be expected, Hunt went down like he was shot, but Gillespie’s actions were stupid and he rightly received a red card.
The game then went in to pantomime mode as Gillespie went back for round two with Hunt before Willy Downes decided to push Warnock in the chest and start World War three on the sidelines.
The result of the melee was the dismissal of both Warnock and Downes. Warnock’s actions on the sidelines were as over-the-top as ever, but it is Downes who deserves punishing for, as Warnock said himself, putting two and two together and getting five. Does Downes really think that Warnock would simulate an action, asking his players to break someone’s leg, in front of numerous cameras? I think not.
As play re-started, United were soon 3-0 down. Some more poor defending saw Kozluck’s chest off the line fall to Sidwell who’s shot was blocked again by Kozluck, before Hunt acrobatically flicked the ball into the net.
The travelling Blades fans finally had something to cheer about on 77 minutes as Nade beat the offside trap from a free kick and nutmegged Hahnemann to grab a consolation.
The final 15 minutes of the game saw a goal bound shot from Jagielka blocked, while Reading missed chances through Little, Convey and Seol.
The incidents on the touchline are sure to grab the headlines but United have more to worry about than suspensions. Much like at Middlesbrough, the Blades fell apart once they had gone behind against Reading.
The defence was at sea throughout the whole second half and was carved open a number of times by, with all due respect, a strike force that we should have been capable of dealing with.
Player Ratings
Kenny
6.5/10
Couldn’t really be blamed for any of the goals and made a couple of good saves. Plus he got rid of Gerrard!
Kozluck
5/10
Got caught out of position a number of times and gifted them their third goal.
Armstrong
4.5/10
Has looked poor since his return from injury and did not improve against Reading.
Davis
7/10
Played well at back until coming off injured.
Lucketti
5/10
Got caught for pace a number of times and cannot continue to start at this level.
Jagielka
6/10
Saw a lot of the ball but never got on top of Sidwell and dictated play.
Montgomery
6.5/10
Usual work ethic but not enough quality with him and Jags in midfield.
Geary
5/10
Strange decision to play him on wing and really didn’t work.
Stephen Quinn
5.5/10
Worked hard but lacked quality in final third and kept falling over!
Hulse
6/10
Improvement from last week but still not regained early season form.
Stead
5/10
After a great performance last week Stead looked clumsy and nervous.
Gillespie
-1/10
Let the side down badly and looks likely to receive a long ban.
Bromby
5/10
Made little difference to a poor defence and got caught in possession.
6.5/10
Took his goal well and worked hard.