Sheffield United fell to yet another home defeat on Saturday, after a 2-1 reversal against Roy Keane`s Ipswich Town.
The Blades fell behind to Tamas Priskin`s opener, and despite equalising, proved their own downfall when lacklustre defending allowed Gareth McAuley to volley home the winner five minutes prior to half-time.
United were without Chris Morgan who will miss the remainder of the season, so Matt Lowton started the game, with Nick Montgomery replacing Andy Taylor, resulting in a shuffle in the defence.
It didn`t take long for any pre-match optimism to be crushed, Carlos Edwards` throw was somehow missed by Nick Montgomery, and after the ball bounced in the area, Priskin reacted quickest to prod past the hapless Steve Simonsen.
Priskin almost added a second soon after, bursting down the left before firing wide of Simonsen`s goal, with the aid of the post.
A goalmouth scramble almost saw United level, Cresswell`s header was cleared off the line before Stephen Quinn could capitalise, and then Montgomery and Yeates both had efforts blocked by the steady Ipswich defence.
United did get an equaliser on 28 minutes, Quinn picked the ball up on the corner of the area, and fired low past Marton Fulop into the bottom corner before running away to celebrate in front of his onlooking family; which included ex-Blade, and current Tractor Boys midfielder, Alan.
In little over ten minutes, the visitors regained their lead, a routine cross from the right wasn`t dealt with, and after winning the ball in the air, McAuley was allowed to let the ball drop before smashing a volley past Simonsen in the Blades goal.
In the second-half more of the same for United who had no problem in retaining possession and putting the ball in the box, but the lack of movement, rendered the crosses useless. Even substitute Ched Evans couldn`t add a spark to the Blades attack.
Kyle Bartley took matters into his own hands going forward and after striding over halfway, hit a thunderbolt which was tipped onto his own post by Fulop, but United couldn` capitalise on the rebound and it was cleared.
United huffed and puffed throughout the second-half but just couldn`t penetrate Keane`s defence, the lively Bogdanovic`s addition added spark, but it still wasn`t enough. The best chance fell to Ched Evans who brought down the ball in the box, and when it looked like he would shoot with the left, attempted to replicate Priskin`s opener, and his flick was comfortable for Fulop.
Another game, another defeat in front of a 19,000 attendance at Bramall Lane, and United will be looking to improve in two tough away trips at Leicester City and Millwall.
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