2011–12 Sheffield United F.C. season: Difference between revisions
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| league result = [[2011–12 Football League One|3rd]] |
| league result = [[2011–12 Football League One|3rd]] |
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| cup1 = [[FA Cup]] |
| cup1 = [[FA Cup]] |
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| cup1 result = [[2011–12 FA Cup#Fourth round proper| |
| cup1 result = [[2011–12 FA Cup#Fourth round proper|fourth round]] |
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| cup2 = [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] |
| cup2 = [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] |
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| cup2 result = [[2011–12 Football League Cup#Second round| |
| cup2 result = [[2011–12 Football League Cup#Second round|second round]] |
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| cup3 = [[Football League Trophy]] |
| cup3 = [[Football League Trophy]] |
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| cup3 result = [[2011–12 Football League Trophy#Northern |
| cup3 result = [[2011–12 Football League Trophy#Northern section 3|Quarter-final (North)]] |
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| league topscorer = [[Ched Evans|Evans]] (29) |
| league topscorer = [[Ched Evans|Evans]] (29) |
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| season topscorer = [[Ched Evans|Evans]] (35) |
| season topscorer = [[Ched Evans|Evans]] (35) |
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| lowest attendance = League: 15,783 (vs. [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]])<br />Cup: 5,692 (vs. [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]])<ref name="attendances" /> |
| lowest attendance = League: 15,783 (vs. [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]])<br />Cup: 5,692 (vs. [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]])<ref name="attendances" /> |
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| average attendance = 18,702<ref name="av attendance">{{cite book|title=Sheffield United: The Complete Record|author=Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham|year=2012|page=588|publisher=Derby Books Publishing Company Limited|isbn=978-1-78091-019-2}}</ref> |
| average attendance = 18,702<ref name="av attendance">{{cite book|title=Sheffield United: The Complete Record|author=Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham|year=2012|page=588|publisher=Derby Books Publishing Company Limited|isbn=978-1-78091-019-2}}</ref> |
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| prevseason = [[2010–11 Sheffield United F.C. season|2010–11]] |
| prevseason = [[2010–11 Sheffield United F.C. season|2010–11]] |
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| nextseason = [[2012–13 Sheffield United F.C. season|2012–13]] |
| nextseason = [[2012–13 Sheffield United F.C. season|2012–13]] |
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'''Sheffield United Football Club''' (known as the Blades) participated in [[Football League One|League One]], the third level of English football for the first time in 23 years having been relegated from the Championship at the end of the previous season. It was also their first appearance in both the [[Football League Trophy]] and the first round proper of the [[FA Cup]] for a similar length of time, as well as being the first season under new manager [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]]. United began the season well, recording consistently sound results in [[Football League One]] and nearing the position required for an immediate return to the [[Football League Championship|Championship]]. By the turn of the year, the squad was well positioned for promotion. |
'''Sheffield United Football Club''' (known as the Blades) participated in [[Football League One|League One]], the third level of English football for the first time in 23 years having been relegated from the Championship at the end of the previous season. It was also their first appearance in both the [[Football League Trophy]] and the first round proper of the [[FA Cup]] for a similar length of time, as well as being the first season under new manager [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]]. United began the season well, recording consistently sound results in [[Football League One]] and nearing the position required for an immediate return to the [[Football League Championship|Championship]]. By the turn of the year, the squad was well positioned for promotion. |
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Reasonable progress was made in the cup competitions, reaching the second round of the [[2011–12 Football League Cup|League Cup]], the fourth round of the [[FA Cup]] and the regional quarter finals of the [[2011–12 Football League Trophy|Football League Trophy]]. With only a handful of games left to play in the league United looked set to finish in second place in the table, but in the aftermath of leading scorer [[Ched Evans]] being jailed, results declined, and United slipped to third place in the final week of the season. Although they reached the [[2012 Football League One play-off |
Reasonable progress was made in the cup competitions, reaching the second round of the [[2011–12 Football League Cup|League Cup]], the fourth round of the [[FA Cup]] and the regional quarter finals of the [[2011–12 Football League Trophy|Football League Trophy]]. With only a handful of games left to play in the league United looked set to finish in second place in the table, but in the aftermath of leading scorer [[Ched Evans]] being jailed, results declined, and United slipped to third place in the final week of the season. Although they reached the [[2012 Football League One play-off final|play-off final]], the team were beaten on penalties by [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] at [[Wembley Stadium]], thus failing to achieve promotion and being destined to spend the following season in League One. |
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==Team kit== |
==Team kit== |
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Wilson stressed that he intended to bring a better style of play to the team in the coming season<ref name="wilson style">{{cite news|title=Danny's inside info|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2370132,00.html|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=2 June 2011|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194020/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2370132,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> but admitted that players would have to be sold to balance the books. Deals were already in place to sell [[Jamie Ward]] to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] for an undisclosed fee,<ref name="ward transfer"/> and sign [[Danny Philliskirk]] from [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on a free transfer,<ref name="Blades nick Chelsea striker" /> but Wilson also added to the squad in June by signing [[Lecsinel Jean-François]] from his former club [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], also on a free transfer.<ref name="lescinel signing">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2378790,00.html|title=New boss makes first signing|date=20 June 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102631/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2378790,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> After much speculation, and with the players about to return for pre-season training, [[Darius Henderson]] was sold to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] for an undisclosed fee in order to free up money on the wage bill.<ref name="henderson goes">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2383524,00.html|title=Henderson departs|date=29 June 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052305/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2383524,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
Wilson stressed that he intended to bring a better style of play to the team in the coming season<ref name="wilson style">{{cite news|title=Danny's inside info|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2370132,00.html|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=2 June 2011|access-date=11 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194020/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2370132,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> but admitted that players would have to be sold to balance the books. Deals were already in place to sell [[Jamie Ward]] to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] for an undisclosed fee,<ref name="ward transfer"/> and sign [[Danny Philliskirk]] from [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] on a free transfer,<ref name="Blades nick Chelsea striker" /> but Wilson also added to the squad in June by signing [[Lecsinel Jean-François]] from his former club [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], also on a free transfer.<ref name="lescinel signing">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2378790,00.html|title=New boss makes first signing|date=20 June 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=20 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102631/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2378790,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> After much speculation, and with the players about to return for pre-season training, [[Darius Henderson]] was sold to [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] for an undisclosed fee in order to free up money on the wage bill.<ref name="henderson goes">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2383524,00.html|title=Henderson departs|date=29 June 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052305/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2383524,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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The club announced a low-key series of friendlies for July,<ref name="pre season schedule">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/Fixtures|title=Pre-season finalised|date=18 June 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=2 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234826/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/Fixtures|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> while Wilson continued to reshape his squad, allowing young defenders [[Kingsley James]] and [[Phil Roe (footballer)|Phil Roe]], both products of the Blades Academy, to leave and rejoin former boss [[Micky Adams]] at [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] on free transfers.<ref name="Port Vale Duo" /> A youthful team were held to a draw by [[Sheffield F.C.|Sheffield]]<ref name="sheffield fc">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11072011/63/friendly-provides-lessons-blades.html|title=Friendly provides lessons for Blades|date=11 July 2011|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.co.uk|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-date=18 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818154534/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11072011/63/friendly-provides-lessons-blades.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but overcame [[Worksop Town F.C.|Worksop Town]] a few days later.<ref name="worksop">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13072011/63/wilson-running.html|title=Wilson up and running|date=13 July 2011|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.co.uk|access-date=13 July 2011|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718090740/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13072011/63/wilson-running.html|url-status=live}}</ref> With the team about to leave for a training camp in [[Malta]], [[Mark Yeates]] was sold to Watford for an undisclosed fee,<ref name="watford sign yeates" /> [[Ryan Flynn (footballer)|Ryan Flynn]] was signed from [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] for a similarly undisclosed fee<ref name="flynn signing" /> and [[Chris Porter (footballer, born 1983)|Chris Porter]] arrived on a free transfer having been released by [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]].<ref name="porter deal" /> Once in Malta, United took on local sides [[Sliema Wanderers F.C.|Sliema Wanderers]] and [[Hibernians F.C.|Hibernians]] in friendly games, beating both sides.<ref name="sliema">{{cite news|url=http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed14/blades_win_in_malta_687659/index.shtml|title=Blades Win in Malta|date=19 July 2011|publisher=BladesMad|access-date=19 July 2011|archive-date=3 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003093411/http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed14/blades_win_in_malta_687659/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hibernians">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/hibernians_1_sheffield_united_2_match_report_1_3599398|title=Hibernians 1 Sheffield United 2|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=21 July 2011|access-date=21 July 2011 |
The club announced a low-key series of friendlies for July,<ref name="pre season schedule">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/Fixtures|title=Pre-season finalised|date=18 June 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=2 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234826/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/Fixtures|archive-date=3 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> while Wilson continued to reshape his squad, allowing young defenders [[Kingsley James]] and [[Phil Roe (footballer)|Phil Roe]], both products of the Blades Academy, to leave and rejoin former boss [[Micky Adams]] at [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] on free transfers.<ref name="Port Vale Duo" /> A youthful team were held to a draw by [[Sheffield F.C.|Sheffield]]<ref name="sheffield fc">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11072011/63/friendly-provides-lessons-blades.html|title=Friendly provides lessons for Blades|date=11 July 2011|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.co.uk|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-date=18 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818154534/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11072011/63/friendly-provides-lessons-blades.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but overcame [[Worksop Town F.C.|Worksop Town]] a few days later.<ref name="worksop">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13072011/63/wilson-running.html|title=Wilson up and running|date=13 July 2011|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.co.uk|access-date=13 July 2011|archive-date=18 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718090740/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13072011/63/wilson-running.html|url-status=live}}</ref> With the team about to leave for a training camp in [[Malta]], [[Mark Yeates]] was sold to Watford for an undisclosed fee,<ref name="watford sign yeates" /> [[Ryan Flynn (footballer)|Ryan Flynn]] was signed from [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] for a similarly undisclosed fee<ref name="flynn signing" /> and [[Chris Porter (footballer, born 1983)|Chris Porter]] arrived on a free transfer having been released by [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]].<ref name="porter deal" /> Once in Malta, United took on local sides [[Sliema Wanderers F.C.|Sliema Wanderers]] and [[Hibernians F.C.|Hibernians]] in friendly games, beating both sides.<ref name="sliema">{{cite news|url=http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed14/blades_win_in_malta_687659/index.shtml|title=Blades Win in Malta|date=19 July 2011|publisher=BladesMad|access-date=19 July 2011|archive-date=3 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003093411/http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed14/blades_win_in_malta_687659/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hibernians">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/hibernians_1_sheffield_united_2_match_report_1_3599398|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707061317/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/hibernians_1_sheffield_united_2_match_report_1_3599398|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|title=Hibernians 1 Sheffield United 2|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=21 July 2011|access-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> Upon returning to England, the Blades completed their pre-season schedule with two home fixtures, losing to [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]<ref name="doncaster friendly">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster/gillett_goal_lifts_rovers_1_3618205|title=Gillett goal lifts Rovers|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=27 July 2011|access-date=27 July 2011|archive-date=26 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826033625/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster/gillett_goal_lifts_rovers_1_3618205|url-status=live}}</ref> and drawing with [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]].<ref name="blackpool friendly">{{cite news|url=http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/all_square_against_the_pool_690083/index.shtml|title=All square against the Pool|publisher=sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk|date=31 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=3 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003093500/http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/rprt/mtch/all_square_against_the_pool_690083/index.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> With their pre-season schedule completed the Blades signed young winger [[Nathaniel Mendez-Laing]] from [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] on a six-month loan deal.<ref name="mendez loan" /> |
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Unfortunately, the latter half of July also saw the club hit the national headlines for the wrong reasons. Firstly, the club was identified by a [[Channel 4]] undercover investigation as being offered for sale as part of an illegal ownership deal, although the Blades themselves were not implicated in any wrongdoing.<ref name="ch4 doc">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/appalled_robson_claims_editing_was_used_to_cast_him_in_bad_light_1_3604669|title='Appalled' Robson claims editing was used to cast him in bad light|work=Yorkshire Post|date=22 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012141010/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/appalled_robson_claims_editing_was_used_to_cast_him_in_bad_light_1_3604669|url-status=live}}</ref> A fortnight later, striker [[Ched Evans]] was arrested and charged with rape following an incident in May.<ref name="evans arrest">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14359481|title=Wales striker Ched Evans charged with rape|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=31 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731171508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14359481|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Unfortunately, the latter half of July also saw the club hit the national headlines for the wrong reasons. Firstly, the club was identified by a [[Channel 4]] undercover investigation as being offered for sale as part of an illegal ownership deal, although the Blades themselves were not implicated in any wrongdoing.<ref name="ch4 doc">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/appalled_robson_claims_editing_was_used_to_cast_him_in_bad_light_1_3604669|title='Appalled' Robson claims editing was used to cast him in bad light|work=Yorkshire Post|date=22 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012141010/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/bradford-city/appalled_robson_claims_editing_was_used_to_cast_him_in_bad_light_1_3604669|url-status=live}}</ref> A fortnight later, striker [[Ched Evans]] was arrested and charged with rape following an incident in May.<ref name="evans arrest">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14359481|title=Wales striker Ched Evans charged with rape|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 July 2011|access-date=1 August 2011|archive-date=31 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731171508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-14359481|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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[[File:Stephen Quinn SUFC Jon Candy Owned Image.png|thumb|left|upright=0.75|[[Stephen Quinn]] whose early season form won a number of 'League One Team of the Week' nominations|alt=Stephen Quinn on the pitch]] |
[[File:Stephen Quinn SUFC Jon Candy Owned Image.png|thumb|left|upright=0.75|[[Stephen Quinn]] whose early season form won a number of 'League One Team of the Week' nominations|alt=Stephen Quinn on the pitch]] |
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The Blades won the opening game of the season away from home, outclassing [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]],<ref name="oldham away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407137,00.html|title=Blades too sharp for Latics|publisher=skysports.com|date=6 August 2011|access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref> but a strong side needed penalties to overcome [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] at [[Victoria Park, Hartlepool|Victoria Park]] in the first round of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] a few days later.<ref name="hartlepool cup">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3413227,00.html|title=Philliskirk spot on for Blades|publisher=skysports.com|date=9 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023192337/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3413227,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Midfielder [[Kevin McDonald (footballer, born 1988)|Kevin McDonald]] was added to the squad on a free transfer after a lengthy trial period,<ref name="mcdonald signs" /> before the Blades resumed their league campaign, beating [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] at home,<ref name="brentford home">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407209,00.html|title=Blades rally to swarm Bees|publisher=skysports.com|date=13 August 2011|access-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> and overturning a two-nil deficit to overcome [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] at Bramall Lane.<ref name="walsall home">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/united_s_sensational_come_back_1_3685243|title=United's sensational come back|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011 |
The Blades won the opening game of the season away from home, outclassing [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]],<ref name="oldham away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407137,00.html|title=Blades too sharp for Latics|publisher=skysports.com|date=6 August 2011|access-date=6 August 2011}}</ref> but a strong side needed penalties to overcome [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] at [[Victoria Park, Hartlepool|Victoria Park]] in the first round of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] a few days later.<ref name="hartlepool cup">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3413227,00.html|title=Philliskirk spot on for Blades|publisher=skysports.com|date=9 August 2011|access-date=10 August 2011|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023192337/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3413227,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Midfielder [[Kevin McDonald (footballer, born 1988)|Kevin McDonald]] was added to the squad on a free transfer after a lengthy trial period,<ref name="mcdonald signs" /> before the Blades resumed their league campaign, beating [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] at home,<ref name="brentford home">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407209,00.html|title=Blades rally to swarm Bees|publisher=skysports.com|date=13 August 2011|access-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> and overturning a two-nil deficit to overcome [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] at Bramall Lane.<ref name="walsall home">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/united_s_sensational_come_back_1_3685243|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707063641/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/united_s_sensational_come_back_1_3685243|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|title=United's sensational come back|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011}}</ref> Having spent the previous season on loan at United, Argentinian [[Elian Parrino]] returned to South Yorkshire on a one-year deal from [[Estudiantes de La Plata]],<ref name="parrino deal" /> after which the Blades embarked on a four match run of away games in the space of eleven days. They dropped their first league points of the season as they were held to a draw by [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]],<ref name="tranmere away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407311,00.html|title=Rovers hold Blades in draw|publisher=skysports.com|date=20 August 2011|access-date=21 August 2011}}</ref> before suffering their first defeat of the season on a quick return to Merseyside, allowing the lead to slip once more as they crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of Premiership [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref name="everton away">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24082011/63/toffees-seal-third-round-spot.html|title=Toffees seal third-round spot|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.com|date=24 August 2011|access-date=25 August 2011|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819130038/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_4c6907a5-8b87-4e5a-ba76-bae474b5614d|url-status=live}}</ref> The team returned to league action and winning ways with an away trip to [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil]],<ref name="yeovil away">{{cite news|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7130949/Glovers-cut-down-by-Blades|title=Glovers cut down by Blades|publisher=teamtalk.com|date=27 August 2011|access-date=28 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328123013/http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7130949/Glovers-cut-down-by-Blades|archive-date=28 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, after which they despatched [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]] to progress into the second round of the [[Football League Trophy]].<ref name="burton away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3444789,00.html|title=Blades leave it late|publisher=skysports.com|date=30 August 2011|access-date=31 August 2011}}</ref> |
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With Danny Wilson still needing to raise money and trim the wage bill, the Blades had a relatively busy transfer deadline day, allowing [[Jordan Slew]] to join [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] for £1.1m,<ref name="slew departs" /> and [[Daniel Bogdanović]] to join [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] for an undisclosed fee,<ref name="bogdanovic out" /> but turning down another offer from the Seasiders for [[Stephen Quinn]].<ref name="reject quinn offer">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/blades_snub_quinn_offer_1_3731144|title=Blades snub Quinn offer|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=1 September 2011|access-date=1 September 2011 |
With Danny Wilson still needing to raise money and trim the wage bill, the Blades had a relatively busy transfer deadline day, allowing [[Jordan Slew]] to join [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] for £1.1m,<ref name="slew departs" /> and [[Daniel Bogdanović]] to join [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] for an undisclosed fee,<ref name="bogdanovic out" /> but turning down another offer from the Seasiders for [[Stephen Quinn]].<ref name="reject quinn offer">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/blades_snub_quinn_offer_1_3731144|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707063245/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/blades_snub_quinn_offer_1_3731144|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|title=Blades snub Quinn offer|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=1 September 2011|access-date=1 September 2011}}</ref> The Blades also agreed a deal to take two young midfielders, [[John Fleck (footballer)|John Fleck]] and [[Kyle Hutton]], on loan from [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] for the remainder of the season,<ref name="rangers duo">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11788_7141949,00.html|title=Blades capture Rangers duo|publisher=skysports.com|date=1 September 2011|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024010936/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11788_7141949,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but the deal subsequently fell through due to issues with the paperwork involved.<ref name="rangers deal off">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2442904,00.html|title=Blades unable to secure Rangers duo|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=6 September 2011|access-date=7 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052310/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2442904,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team kicked off September by crushing [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] 4–0 at Bramall Lane,<ref name="bury home">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407421,00.html|title=Blades put Shakers to the sword|publisher=skysports.com|date=3 September 2011|access-date=5 September 2011}}</ref> and then travelled to [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] where they maintained their unbeaten start after coming from behind to grab a 1–1 draw.<ref name="scunthorpe away">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10092011/63/ten-man-iron-hold-blades.html|title=Ten-man Iron hold Blades|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.com|date=10 September 2011|access-date=11 September 2011|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819130040/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_1eb6205c-47a6-462b-bdc4-ea3d9e6f3c38|url-status=live}}</ref> Off the field the restructuring of the club continued with the appointment of former Blades player [[Julian Winter]] as Chief Executive to replace the departing [[Trevor Birch]].<ref name="winter appointment">{{cite news|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2448199,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223135124/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2448199,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2012|title=Julian returns to take up chief executive post|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=13 September 2011|access-date=13 September 2011}}</ref> Danny Wilson added to his defensive options by signing [[Marcus Williams (footballer)|Marcus Williams]] on a months loan from [[Reading F.C.|Reading]],<ref name="williams loan" /> with the defender making his début only hours later, although he was unable to prevent the Blades from crashing to their first league defeat of the season as they were trounced 3–0 at home by [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]].<ref name="huddersfield home">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407512,00.html|title=Terriers continue to march on|publisher=skysports.com|date=13 September 2011|access-date=14 September 2011}}</ref> Despite this setback the Blades quickly returned to winning ways, reversing the previous scoreline to crush [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]] 3–0 at Bramall Lane.<ref name="colchester home">{{cite news|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7185239/Blades-batter-sorry-Colchester|title=Blades batter sorry Colchester|publisher=teamtalk.com|date=17 September 2011|access-date=18 September 2011|archive-date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021153940/http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7185239/Blades-batter-sorry-Colchester|url-status=live}}</ref> The month ended on a low note however as the team suffered a shock defeat at struggling [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]],<ref name="wycombe away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407629,00.html|title=Wanderers stun lofty Blades|publisher=skysports.com|date=24 September 2011|access-date=25 September 2011}}</ref> although they still managed to hold onto second place in the table. |
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===October–November: Important points dropped=== |
===October–November: Important points dropped=== |
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October started no better for the Blades as they were easily beaten 2–0 at home by league leaders [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]<ref name="charlton home">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01102011/63/blades-undone-runaway-addicks.html|title=Blades undone by runaway Addicks|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.com|date=1 October 2011|access-date=2 October 2011|archive-date=21 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221073401/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01102011/63/blades-undone-runaway-addicks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and needed a last second goal to progress in the Football League Trophy as they struggled against [[Football League Two|League Two]] side [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]].<ref name="rotherham away">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04102011/63/millers-suffer-agonising-derby-defeat.html|title=Millers suffer agonising derby defeat|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.com|date=4 October 2011|access-date=5 October 2011|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006190436/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04102011/63/millers-suffer-agonising-derby-defeat.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, Danny Wilson boosted his squad ahead of the [[Steel City derby]], with Marcus Williams agreeing to stay on loan for a further two months<ref name="williams extension">{{cite news | title=Loan extension for Marcus | url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2477375,00.html | publisher=Sheffield United F.C. | date=10 October 2011 | access-date=10 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051852/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2477375,00.html | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Matt Phillips]] and [[Billy Clarke (footballer, born 1987)|Billy Clarke]] arriving for a month each from [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]].<ref name="blackpool loans" /> The new arrivals failed to halt the disappointing run of results however as the Blades let a 2–0 lead slip to end up drawing with their cross–city rivals.<ref name="wednesday home">{{cite news | title=Wednesday hit back to draw derby | url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/16102011/58/league-wednesday-hit-draw-derby.html | publisher=eurosport.yahoo.co.uk | date=16 October 2011 | access-date=17 October 2011 | archive-date=19 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019123641/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/16102011/58/league-wednesday-hit-draw-derby.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this disappointment the team bounced back to score an emphatic away win at [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston]] a few days later with both new signing Matt Phillips and old hand Lee Williamson netting two goals apiece.<ref name="preston away">{{cite news | title=Williamson brace sinks Preston | url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3458000,00.html | publisher=skysports.com | date=20 October 2011 | access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> With increased competition for first team places, youngsters [[Danny Philliskirk]] and Corey Gregory were allowed to go out on loan to [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] and [[Hucknall Town F.C.|Hucknall Town]] respectively;<ref name="philliskirk loan">{{cite news|title=Duo move out on temporary deals|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489045,00.html|access-date=21 October 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413004122/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489045,00.html|archive-date=13 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> swiftly followed by [[Connor Brown (footballer)|Connor Brown]] who joined [[Eastwood Town F.C.|Eastwood Town]] on a months deal.<ref name="brown loan">{{cite news|title=Loan deal for youngster|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489857,00.html|access-date=21 October 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=25 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812224140/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489857,00.html|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Back in the league, the disappointing results continued as United threw away a lead once again, allowing ten-men [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] to snatch a draw with the last kick of the game.<ref name="orient away">{{cite news|title=Lisbie rescues point for Orient|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407872,00.html|access-date=24 October 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=22 October 2011|archive-date=24 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024125416/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407872,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Once again the Blades quickly responded to the setback by beating fellow promotion rivals [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|MK Dons]] 2–1 at Bramall Lane,<ref name="mkdons home">{{cite news|title=Teenager Long has quiet night out in goal for Blades|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield_united_2_mk_dons_1_teenager_long_has_quiet_night_out_in_goal_for_blades_1_3906075|access-date=27 October 2011|work=Yorkshire Post|date=26 October 2011|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072406/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield_united_2_mk_dons_1_teenager_long_has_quiet_night_out_in_goal_for_blades_1_3906075|url-status=live}}</ref> but then conspired to throw away yet more points, allowing [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] to come from behind twice in the closing minutes of the next game to snatch a 4–4 draw.<ref name="exeter home">{{cite news|title=Spoils shared after thriller|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407961,00.html|access-date=1 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=29 October 2011|archive-date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101014505/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407961,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
October started no better for the Blades as they were easily beaten 2–0 at home by league leaders [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]<ref name="charlton home">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01102011/63/blades-undone-runaway-addicks.html|title=Blades undone by runaway Addicks|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.com|date=1 October 2011|access-date=2 October 2011|archive-date=21 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221073401/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01102011/63/blades-undone-runaway-addicks.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and needed a last second goal to progress in the Football League Trophy as they struggled against [[Football League Two|League Two]] side [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]].<ref name="rotherham away">{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04102011/63/millers-suffer-agonising-derby-defeat.html|title=Millers suffer agonising derby defeat|publisher=eurosport.yahoo.com|date=4 October 2011|access-date=5 October 2011|archive-date=6 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006190436/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04102011/63/millers-suffer-agonising-derby-defeat.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Meanwhile, Danny Wilson boosted his squad ahead of the [[Steel City derby]], with Marcus Williams agreeing to stay on loan for a further two months<ref name="williams extension">{{cite news | title=Loan extension for Marcus | url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2477375,00.html | publisher=Sheffield United F.C. | date=10 October 2011 | access-date=10 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051852/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2477375,00.html | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Matt Phillips]] and [[Billy Clarke (footballer, born 1987)|Billy Clarke]] arriving for a month each from [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]].<ref name="blackpool loans" /> The new arrivals failed to halt the disappointing run of results however as the Blades let a 2–0 lead slip to end up drawing with their cross–city rivals.<ref name="wednesday home">{{cite news | title=Wednesday hit back to draw derby | url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/16102011/58/league-wednesday-hit-draw-derby.html | publisher=eurosport.yahoo.co.uk | date=16 October 2011 | access-date=17 October 2011 | archive-date=19 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019123641/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/16102011/58/league-wednesday-hit-draw-derby.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this disappointment the team bounced back to score an emphatic away win at [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston]] a few days later with both new signing Matt Phillips and old hand Lee Williamson netting two goals apiece.<ref name="preston away">{{cite news | title=Williamson brace sinks Preston | url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3458000,00.html | publisher=skysports.com | date=20 October 2011 | access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> With increased competition for first team places, youngsters [[Danny Philliskirk]] and Corey Gregory were allowed to go out on loan to [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]] and [[Hucknall Town F.C.|Hucknall Town]] respectively;<ref name="philliskirk loan">{{cite news|title=Duo move out on temporary deals|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489045,00.html|access-date=21 October 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=21 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413004122/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489045,00.html|archive-date=13 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> swiftly followed by [[Connor Brown (footballer)|Connor Brown]] who joined [[Eastwood Town F.C.|Eastwood Town]] on a months deal.<ref name="brown loan">{{cite news|title=Loan deal for youngster|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489857,00.html|access-date=21 October 2011|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=25 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812224140/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2489857,00.html|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Back in the league, the disappointing results continued as United threw away a lead once again, allowing ten-men [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] to snatch a draw with the last kick of the game.<ref name="orient away">{{cite news|title=Lisbie rescues point for Orient|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407872,00.html|access-date=24 October 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=22 October 2011|archive-date=24 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024125416/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407872,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Once again the Blades quickly responded to the setback by beating fellow promotion rivals [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|MK Dons]] 2–1 at Bramall Lane,<ref name="mkdons home">{{cite news|title=Teenager Long has quiet night out in goal for Blades|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield_united_2_mk_dons_1_teenager_long_has_quiet_night_out_in_goal_for_blades_1_3906075|access-date=27 October 2011|work=Yorkshire Post|date=26 October 2011|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072406/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield_united_2_mk_dons_1_teenager_long_has_quiet_night_out_in_goal_for_blades_1_3906075|url-status=live}}</ref> but then conspired to throw away yet more points, allowing [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] to come from behind twice in the closing minutes of the next game to snatch a 4–4 draw.<ref name="exeter home">{{cite news|title=Spoils shared after thriller|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407961,00.html|access-date=1 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=29 October 2011|archive-date=1 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101014505/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3407961,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Into November and back on the road, yet another late goal was handed [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] all three points,<ref name="stevenage away">{{cite news|title=Boro too sharp for Blades|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408042,00.html|access-date=6 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=5 November 2011|archive-date=8 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108055139/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408042,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving United fifth in the table going into [[FA Cup]] week. With Phillips and Clarke playing the final game of their loan spell,<ref name="Duo set for Blackpool return" /> United tamely exited the Football League Trophy, losing on penalties to [[Football League Two|League Two]] strugglers [[Bradford City F.C.|Bradford City]].<ref name="bradford home">{{cite news|title=Wilson fuming over lack of application in Trophy|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/wilson_fuming_over_lack_of_application_in_trophy_1_3954403|access-date=11 November 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=10 November 2011 |
Into November and back on the road, yet another late goal was handed [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] all three points,<ref name="stevenage away">{{cite news|title=Boro too sharp for Blades|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408042,00.html|access-date=6 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=5 November 2011|archive-date=8 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108055139/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408042,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving United fifth in the table going into [[FA Cup]] week. With Phillips and Clarke playing the final game of their loan spell,<ref name="Duo set for Blackpool return" /> United tamely exited the Football League Trophy, losing on penalties to [[Football League Two|League Two]] strugglers [[Bradford City F.C.|Bradford City]].<ref name="bradford home">{{cite news|title=Wilson fuming over lack of application in Trophy|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/wilson_fuming_over_lack_of_application_in_trophy_1_3954403|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707062328/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/wilson_fuming_over_lack_of_application_in_trophy_1_3954403|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|access-date=11 November 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=10 November 2011}}</ref> There was a more positive result in the FA Cup however as a brace from [[Ched Evans]] helped the Blades ease past [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]].<ref name="oxford home">{{cite news|title=Evans brace sinks Oxford|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3464549,00.html|access-date=15 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=15 November 2011|archive-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115195638/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3464549,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By mid–November, and with Danny Wilson still seeking to add to his attacking options, it was reported that former striker and fans favourite [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] had returned to training with the club and could be handed a contract depending on match fitness,<ref name="United target Beattie">{{cite news|title=United target Beattie|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/united_target_beattie_1_3975947|access-date=17 November 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=17 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053906/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/united_target_beattie_1_3975947|archive-date=21 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> and a short term deal was duly signed a few days later.<ref name="beattie deal" /> Back in League action United saw out a victory over [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] despite seeing a Richard Cresswell spot–kick saved in the second half,<ref name="carlisle home">{{cite news|title=Evans strike sinks Carlisle|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408121,00.html|access-date=21 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=19 November 2011}}</ref> and a week later Ched Evans scored his fifth goal in four games to beat [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] by the same scoreline.<ref name="chesterfield away">{{cite news|title=Evans class gives Blades edge|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408170,00.html|access-date=27 November 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=26 November 2011|archive-date=9 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209095053/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408170,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The month ended on a sombre note however as former player and manager [[Gary Speed]] was found dead at his home after having taken his own life less than a year after leaving his post at Bramall Lane.<ref name="speed death">{{cite news|title=Footballing world pays tribute to Gary Speed|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15911321|access-date=28 November 2011|publisher=BBC Sport|date=28 November 2011|archive-date=27 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111127212547/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15911321|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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===December–January: Maximum points for Christmas=== |
===December–January: Maximum points for Christmas=== |
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[[File:Ched Evans.jpg|thumb|[[Ched Evans]] (pictured playing for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]) who scored 35 goals during the season.|alt=Ched Evans before a Wales international]] |
[[File:Ched Evans.jpg|thumb|[[Ched Evans]] (pictured playing for [[Wales national football team|Wales]]) who scored 35 goals during the season.|alt=Ched Evans before a Wales international]] |
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December started with the second round of the [[FA Cup]] and despite conceding another late goal, the Blades progressed into the third round at the expense of [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]], thanks to another brace from in [[Ched Evans]],<ref name="torquay home">{{cite news|title=Gulls downed by Evans double|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3467495,00.html|access-date=5 December 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=3 December 2011|archive-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223213955/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3467495,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> who then scored for the fifth game in succession in the next game, netting twice more in a league victory over [[Rochdale F.C.|Rochdale]].<ref name="rochdale home">{{cite news|title=Evans at the double for Blades|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408295,00.html|access-date=14 December 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=10 December 2011}}</ref> The team's impressive form continued with an away win at [[A.F.C. Bournemouth| |
December started with the second round of the [[FA Cup]] and despite conceding another late goal, the Blades progressed into the third round at the expense of [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]], thanks to another brace from in [[Ched Evans]],<ref name="torquay home">{{cite news|title=Gulls downed by Evans double|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3467495,00.html|access-date=5 December 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=3 December 2011|archive-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223213955/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3467495,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> who then scored for the fifth game in succession in the next game, netting twice more in a league victory over [[Rochdale F.C.|Rochdale]].<ref name="rochdale home">{{cite news|title=Evans at the double for Blades|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408295,00.html|access-date=14 December 2011|publisher=skysports.com|date=10 December 2011}}</ref> The team's impressive form continued with an away win at [[A.F.C. Bournemouth|Bournemouth]] thanks to two own goals,<ref name="bournemouth away">{{cite news|title=Blades make it 'super six'|url=http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7383758/Blades-make-it-super-six-|access-date=17 December 2011|publisher=teamtalk.com|date=21 December 2011|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107160236/http://www.teamtalk.com/match/report/978/7383758/Blades-make-it-super-six-|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] making a similar gift of an own goal to contribute to their own defeat on [[Boxing Day]],<ref name="notts county home">{{cite news|title=Blades replace Owls in top two after gifted goal|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/blades_replace_owls_in_top_two_after_gifted_goal_1_4095363|access-date=2 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=28 December 2011|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064618/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/blades_replace_owls_in_top_two_after_gifted_goal_1_4095363|url-status=live}}</ref> before the Blades rounded the year off by crushing [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] on [[New Year's Eve]];<ref name="hartlepool home">{{cite news|title=Blades down Cooper's Pools|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408512,00.html|access-date=2 January 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=31 December 2011|archive-date=9 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109172652/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3408512,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> meaning that the Blades ended 2011 in second place in the table following eight victories in a row in all competitions.<ref name="Blades win eight in a row">{{cite news|title=Blades win eight in a row|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/01012012/58/league-blades-win-eight-row.html|access-date=2 January 2012|publisher=Eurosport|date=31 December 2011|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819130047/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_fe699aaf-9944-42e5-baef-9ea4403f7322|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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With the transfer window reopening in January, Danny Wilson's first signing was the return of former loan player [[Marcus Williams (footballer)|Marcus Williams]] who agreed a two and a half year deal.<ref name="williams perm deal" /> The New Year started disappointingly as the Blades crashed to their first defeat since the beginning of November as they were beaten 3–2 at [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]].<ref name="carlisle away">{{cite news|title=Blades' winning streak comes to end at Carlisle|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/carlisle_united_3_sheffield_united_2_blades_winning_streak_comes_to_end_at_carlisle_1_4108448|access-date=3 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=2 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073656/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/carlisle_united_3_sheffield_united_2_blades_winning_streak_comes_to_end_at_carlisle_1_4108448|url-status=live}}</ref> Following Danny Wilson being awarded 'League One Manager of the Month' for December,<ref name="decembermanagermonth" /> United soon got back to winning ways when they returned to home soil. The team saw off [[Salisbury City F.C.|Salisbury City]] 3–1 in the third round of the FA Cup,<ref name="salisbury home">{{cite news|title=Blades too sharp for Whites|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3474665,00.html|access-date=11 January 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=7 January 2012}}</ref> the first meeting ever between the two clubs, and then outclassed [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] a few days later, hitting four without reply including a brace from [[Lee Williamson]] and a first ever club goal from captain [[Michael Doyle (Irish footballer)|Michael Doyle]].<ref name="yeovil home">{{cite news|title=Doyle ends long wait as Blades overhaul Owls again|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/doyle_ends_long_wait_as_blades_overhaul_owls_again_1_4127067|access-date=11 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=10 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070848/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/doyle_ends_long_wait_as_blades_overhaul_owls_again_1_4127067|url-status=live}}</ref> With Danny Wilson looking to freshen up his squad United rewarded four of its younger players with contract extensions, with [[Erik Tønne]] and [[David McAllister (footballer)|David McAllister]] set to remain with the club until the summer of 2014, and youth team players [[Jordan Chapell]] and Jack Adams agreeing new deals until the end of the season.<ref name="4playersextensions">{{cite news|title=Extended deals for promising quartet |url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2574425,00.html |access-date=12 January 2012 |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712204728/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10418~2574425%2C00.html |archive-date=12 July 2015 }}</ref> In a busy day the club saw the departure of [[Elian Parrino]] as his short term deal came to an end,<ref name="4playersextensions" /> and then allowed McAllister to join [[Football League Two|League Two]] club [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] on a months loan,<ref name="DMcA loan">{{cite news|title=McAllister makes loan move|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2574908,00.html|access-date=12 January 2012|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=12 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006015813/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2574908,00.html|archive-date=6 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> with manager Danny Wilson bemoaning a lack of reserve games under the current system.<ref name="reserve-team reform">{{cite news|title=Concerned Wilson wants reserve-team reform|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/concerned_wilson_wants_reserve_team_reform_1_4144302|access-date=15 January 2012|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=12 January 2012 |
With the transfer window reopening in January, Danny Wilson's first signing was the return of former loan player [[Marcus Williams (footballer)|Marcus Williams]] who agreed a two and a half year deal.<ref name="williams perm deal" /> The New Year started disappointingly as the Blades crashed to their first defeat since the beginning of November as they were beaten 3–2 at [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]].<ref name="carlisle away">{{cite news|title=Blades' winning streak comes to end at Carlisle|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/carlisle_united_3_sheffield_united_2_blades_winning_streak_comes_to_end_at_carlisle_1_4108448|access-date=3 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=2 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073656/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/carlisle_united_3_sheffield_united_2_blades_winning_streak_comes_to_end_at_carlisle_1_4108448|url-status=live}}</ref> Following Danny Wilson being awarded 'League One Manager of the Month' for December,<ref name="decembermanagermonth" /> United soon got back to winning ways when they returned to home soil. The team saw off [[Salisbury City F.C.|Salisbury City]] 3–1 in the third round of the FA Cup,<ref name="salisbury home">{{cite news|title=Blades too sharp for Whites|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3474665,00.html|access-date=11 January 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=7 January 2012}}</ref> the first meeting ever between the two clubs, and then outclassed [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]] a few days later, hitting four without reply including a brace from [[Lee Williamson]] and a first ever club goal from captain [[Michael Doyle (Irish footballer)|Michael Doyle]].<ref name="yeovil home">{{cite news|title=Doyle ends long wait as Blades overhaul Owls again|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/doyle_ends_long_wait_as_blades_overhaul_owls_again_1_4127067|access-date=11 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=10 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070848/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/doyle_ends_long_wait_as_blades_overhaul_owls_again_1_4127067|url-status=live}}</ref> With Danny Wilson looking to freshen up his squad United rewarded four of its younger players with contract extensions, with [[Erik Tønne]] and [[David McAllister (footballer)|David McAllister]] set to remain with the club until the summer of 2014, and youth team players [[Jordan Chapell]] and Jack Adams agreeing new deals until the end of the season.<ref name="4playersextensions">{{cite news|title=Extended deals for promising quartet |url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2574425,00.html |access-date=12 January 2012 |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |date=12 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712204728/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10418~2574425%2C00.html |archive-date=12 July 2015 }}</ref> In a busy day the club saw the departure of [[Elian Parrino]] as his short term deal came to an end,<ref name="4playersextensions" /> and then allowed McAllister to join [[Football League Two|League Two]] club [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] on a months loan,<ref name="DMcA loan">{{cite news|title=McAllister makes loan move|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2574908,00.html|access-date=12 January 2012|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=12 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006015813/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2574908,00.html|archive-date=6 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> with manager Danny Wilson bemoaning a lack of reserve games under the current system.<ref name="reserve-team reform">{{cite news|title=Concerned Wilson wants reserve-team reform|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/concerned_wilson_wants_reserve_team_reform_1_4144302|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707064609/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/concerned_wilson_wants_reserve_team_reform_1_4144302|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|access-date=15 January 2012|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=12 January 2012}}</ref> The following week Wilson continued to overhaul the squad with reserve keeper [[Mihkel Aksalu]] leaving the club on mutual terms,<ref name="aksalu leaves" /> but was boosted by 'fans favourite' [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] agreeing a deal to remain at Bramall Lane until the end of the season.<ref name="new deal beattie">{{cite news|title=Beattie set to stay|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2589646,00.html|access-date=26 January 2012|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=26 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006051353/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2589646,00.html|archive-date=6 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Meanwhile, back in the league the Blades then continued their fine run of form, completing their second league double of the week, as they hit three without reply away at [[Bury F.C.|Bury]],<ref name="bury away">{{cite news|title=Cresswell leads way for Blades|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/bury_0_sheffield_united_3_cresswell_leads_way_for_blades_1_4141855|access-date=16 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=15 January 2012|archive-date=9 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309212537/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/bury_0_sheffield_united_3_cresswell_leads_way_for_blades_1_4141855|url-status=live}}</ref> but that form deserted them for a top-of-the-table trip to [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] where a bad tempered match resulted in both teams being reduced to ten men and a 1–0 loss for United.<ref name="charlton away">{{cite news|title=Blades manager Wilson blasts referee after top of table showdown defeat|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/huddersfield-town/blades_manager_wilson_blasts_referee_after_top_of_table_showdown_defeat_1_4170020|access-date=23 January 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=23 January 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205814/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/huddersfield-town/blades_manager_wilson_blasts_referee_after_top_of_table_showdown_defeat_1_4170020|url-status=live}}</ref> Seven days later United suffered their first back-to-back defeats of the season as they crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]].<ref name="birmingham home">{{cite news|title=Blades get Bramall Lane Blues|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3484135,00.html|access-date=30 January 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=28 January 2012|archive-date=31 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131161625/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3484135,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> With the transfer window about to close Bramall Lane was relatively quite on deadline day; [[Danny Philliskirk]] was handed an extended deal,<ref name="new deal philliskirk" /> and striker [[Will Hoskins]] signed on loan from [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] until the end of the season,<ref name="Hoskins checks in" /> whilst youngster [[Erik Tønne]] was allowed to join [[Yorkshire]] neighbours [[York City F.C.|York City]], also until the end of the season.<ref name="Erik to join Minstermen" /> The club also gave a trial to experienced Scottish defender [[David Weir (Scottish footballer)|David Weir]] with a view to a potential short term contract.<ref name="Weir Training">{{cite news|title=Weir remains an option|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2598033,00.html|access-date=2 February 2012|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=2 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006033001/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2598033,00.html|archive-date=6 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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===February–March: Promotion charge takes shape then falls apart=== |
===February–March: Promotion charge takes shape then falls apart=== |
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===April–May: The final straight ends in disappointment=== |
===April–May: The final straight ends in disappointment=== |
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With loan defender John Egan returning to his parent club at the start of April, Nick Montgomery's loan at Millwall was all but cut short after only two substitute appearances when he sustained a calf injury likely to sideline him until the end of the season.<ref name="Millwall Injury" /> David McAllister also saw his loan spell at Shrewsbury cut short shortly after receiving a red card, with the resulting three game ban ruling him out for the remainder of his time at the [[New Meadow]].<ref name=LaneReturn4DM>{{cite news|title=McAllister back with Blades|url=http://www.eatsleepsport.com/sheffield-united/mcallister-back-with-blades-1407964.html#.T3x_utla7hc|access-date=4 April 2012|publisher=eatsleepsport.com|date=4 April 2012}}</ref> Back in the league a nervy display saw the Blades edge out [[A.F.C. Bournemouth|Bournemouth]] at Bramall Lane,<ref name="bournemouth home">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409539,00.html|title=Sharp Blades pick off Cherries|access-date=8 April 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=7 April 2012|archive-date=9 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409132406/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409539,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> before a much more emphatic performance saw them bury [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] at the [[Spotland Stadium]].<ref name="rochdale away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3421810,00.html|title=Five-star Blades go second|access-date=14 April 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=10 April 2012}}</ref> With the Blades now in a straight fight with local rivals [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C|Sheffield Wednesday]] for the second automatic promotion spot they came from behind to beat [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] at Bramall Lane to open up a four-point gap on third placed Wednesday.<ref name="orient home">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-3-leyton-orient-1-blades-set-course-for-immediate-return-to-championship-waters-1-4450670|title=Blades set course for immediate return to Championship waters|access-date=22 April 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=16 April 2012|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607140239/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-3-leyton-orient-1-blades-set-course-for-immediate-return-to-championship-waters-1-4450670|url-status=live}}</ref> The next week however their campaign was dealt a crushing blow as star striker and top scorer [[Ched Evans]]'s case came to trial where he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in prison.<ref name="evans loss">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/blades-must-close-out-promotion-without-jailed-evans-1-4470833|title=Blades must close out promotion without jailed Evans|access-date=22 April 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=21 April 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065338/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/blades-must-close-out-promotion-without-jailed-evans-1-4470833|url-status=live}}</ref> Without Evans and missing his injured strike partner [[Richard Cresswell]], United slipped to a damaging defeat at [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|MK Dons]].<ref name="mk away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409729,00.html|title=Smith ends drought in Dons win|access-date=22 April 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=21 April 2012|archive-date=23 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423142230/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409729,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Worse was to come as United could only register a draw with [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] in a dramatic final home game at Bramall Lane, meaning they slipped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since February.<ref name="stevenage home">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-2-stevenage-2-faltering-blades-are-overhauled-with-the-finishing-line-in-sight-1-4499290|title=Faltering Blades are overhauled with the finishing line in sight|work=Yorkshire Post|date=30 April 2012|access-date=4 May 2012|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607062850/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-2-stevenage-2-faltering-blades-are-overhauled-with-the-finishing-line-in-sight-1-4499290|url-status=live}}</ref> United went into the final league fixture with [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] requiring to win and hope that rivals [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] were beaten to secure promotion; a combination that failed to materialise as Wednesday registered a victory and the Blades could only draw meaning they were consigned to the play-offs.<ref name="exeter away">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409836,00.html|title=Play-offs for Wilson's men|publisher=Sky Sports|date=5 May 2012|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508050719/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409836,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
With loan defender John Egan returning to his parent club at the start of April, Nick Montgomery's loan at Millwall was all but cut short after only two substitute appearances when he sustained a calf injury likely to sideline him until the end of the season.<ref name="Millwall Injury" /> David McAllister also saw his loan spell at Shrewsbury cut short shortly after receiving a red card, with the resulting three game ban ruling him out for the remainder of his time at the [[New Meadow]].<ref name=LaneReturn4DM>{{cite news|title=McAllister back with Blades|url=http://www.eatsleepsport.com/sheffield-united/mcallister-back-with-blades-1407964.html#.T3x_utla7hc|access-date=4 April 2012|publisher=eatsleepsport.com|date=4 April 2012}}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Back in the league a nervy display saw the Blades edge out [[A.F.C. Bournemouth|Bournemouth]] at Bramall Lane,<ref name="bournemouth home">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409539,00.html|title=Sharp Blades pick off Cherries|access-date=8 April 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=7 April 2012|archive-date=9 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409132406/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409539,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> before a much more emphatic performance saw them bury [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] at the [[Spotland Stadium]].<ref name="rochdale away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3421810,00.html|title=Five-star Blades go second|access-date=14 April 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=10 April 2012}}</ref> With the Blades now in a straight fight with local rivals [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C|Sheffield Wednesday]] for the second automatic promotion spot they came from behind to beat [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]] at Bramall Lane to open up a four-point gap on third placed Wednesday.<ref name="orient home">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-3-leyton-orient-1-blades-set-course-for-immediate-return-to-championship-waters-1-4450670|title=Blades set course for immediate return to Championship waters|access-date=22 April 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=16 April 2012|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607140239/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-3-leyton-orient-1-blades-set-course-for-immediate-return-to-championship-waters-1-4450670|url-status=live}}</ref> The next week however their campaign was dealt a crushing blow as star striker and top scorer [[Ched Evans]]'s case came to trial where he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in prison.<ref name="evans loss">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/blades-must-close-out-promotion-without-jailed-evans-1-4470833|title=Blades must close out promotion without jailed Evans|access-date=22 April 2012|work=Yorkshire Post|date=21 April 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304065338/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/blades-must-close-out-promotion-without-jailed-evans-1-4470833|url-status=live}}</ref> Without Evans and missing his injured strike partner [[Richard Cresswell]], United slipped to a damaging defeat at [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|MK Dons]].<ref name="mk away">{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409729,00.html|title=Smith ends drought in Dons win|access-date=22 April 2012|publisher=skysports.com|date=21 April 2012|archive-date=23 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423142230/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409729,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Worse was to come as United could only register a draw with [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]] in a dramatic final home game at Bramall Lane, meaning they slipped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since February.<ref name="stevenage home">{{cite news|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-2-stevenage-2-faltering-blades-are-overhauled-with-the-finishing-line-in-sight-1-4499290|title=Faltering Blades are overhauled with the finishing line in sight|work=Yorkshire Post|date=30 April 2012|access-date=4 May 2012|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607062850/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-2-stevenage-2-faltering-blades-are-overhauled-with-the-finishing-line-in-sight-1-4499290|url-status=live}}</ref> United went into the final league fixture with [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]] requiring to win and hope that rivals [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] were beaten to secure promotion; a combination that failed to materialise as Wednesday registered a victory and the Blades could only draw meaning they were consigned to the play-offs.<ref name="exeter away">{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409836,00.html|title=Play-offs for Wilson's men|publisher=Sky Sports|date=5 May 2012|access-date=6 May 2012|archive-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508050719/http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,,11065_3409836,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
===Another trip to Wembley=== |
===Another trip to Wembley=== |
||
{{main|2012 Football League One play-off |
{{main|2012 Football League One play-off final}} |
||
With [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] unavailable for the playoffs following a red card in the final game of the season against [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]], manager [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] was faced with a selection crisis ahead of the critical games against [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]. With only one senior striker available a patched up side contested a dour first-leg where neither team created many chances. United did manage to keep a clean sheet however and took the tie back to [[Bramall Lane]] with the scores level at 0–0.<ref name="stevenage pf away">{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11052012/63/toothless-blades-earn-draw.html|title=Toothless Blades earn draw|publisher=Eurosport|date=11 May 2012|access-date=14 May 2012|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515165218/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11052012/63/toothless-blades-earn-draw.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
With [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]] unavailable for the playoffs following a red card in the final game of the season against [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]], manager [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] was faced with a selection crisis ahead of the critical games against [[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]. With only one senior striker available a patched up side contested a dour first-leg where neither team created many chances. United did manage to keep a clean sheet however and took the tie back to [[Bramall Lane]] with the scores level at 0–0.<ref name="stevenage pf away">{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11052012/63/toothless-blades-earn-draw.html|title=Toothless Blades earn draw|publisher=Eurosport|date=11 May 2012|access-date=14 May 2012|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515165218/https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11052012/63/toothless-blades-earn-draw.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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|7.||[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]||12 |
|7.||[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]||12 |
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|}Sheffield United Reserves played in the [[ |
|}Sheffield United Reserves played in the [[Central League (England)|Central League: Central Division]] in the nearby [[Derbyshire]] town of [[Dronfield]] at the Coach and Horses ground, which was also the home of [[Sheffield F.C.|Sheffield FC]] during the season.<ref name="reservesroundup" /> Experienced defender [[Chris Morgan (English footballer)|Chris Morgan]] was appointed reserve team coach at the start of the season and given the responsibility of developing the young players which made up the bulk of the side.<ref name="reservesroundup">{{cite news|title = Morgan leads young Blades to title glory|newspaper = United! The Original – Matchday Magazine|pages = 46–47|date = 14 May 2012}}</ref> With many teams now opting not to enter a reserve side into an organised competition the Central Division consisted of just seven sides meaning fixtures were irregular throughout the season. In January 2012 Danny Wilson expressed the need to reform the reserve team structure due to this infrequent number of matches citing that experienced players do not gain much from them and the cost of staging the fixtures as issues.<ref name="reserve-team reform" /> |
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Despite this United's side ended the season as Champions, finishing one point ahead of nearest rivals [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]<ref name="reservesroundup" /> who had won the division in the previous season, ironically by one point from The Blades who had finished second. Following a nine match unbeaten run the title was clinched with the final game of the season as United held a strong [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] side to a 1–1 draw at the coach and Horses ground.<ref name="reservesroundup" /> [[Danny Philliskirk]] ended the season as top scorer, having netted six goals, whilst he was also the joint leading appearance maker along with [[Matthew Harriott|Matty Harriott]] and Shane Murray.<ref name="reservesroundup" /> |
Despite this United's side ended the season as Champions, finishing one point ahead of nearest rivals [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]<ref name="reservesroundup" /> who had won the division in the previous season, ironically by one point from The Blades who had finished second. Following a nine match unbeaten run the title was clinched with the final game of the season as United held a strong [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] side to a 1–1 draw at the coach and Horses ground.<ref name="reservesroundup" /> [[Danny Philliskirk]] ended the season as top scorer, having netted six goals, whilst he was also the joint leading appearance maker along with [[Matthew Harriott|Matty Harriott]] and Shane Murray.<ref name="reservesroundup" /> |
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|{{dts|17 December 2011}} |
|{{dts|17 December 2011}} |
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|Five yellow cards to date |
|Five yellow cards to date |
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|<ref name="williamson suspension">{{cite news|title=Williamson ruled out of Magpies test|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/williamson_ruled_out_of_magpies_test_1_4081565|access-date=22 December 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=22 December 2011 |
|<ref name="williamson suspension">{{cite news|title=Williamson ruled out of Magpies test|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/williamson_ruled_out_of_magpies_test_1_4081565|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707064721/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/williamson_ruled_out_of_magpies_test_1_4081565|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|access-date=22 December 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=22 December 2011}}</ref> |
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|17 |
|17 |
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|{{dts|27 December 2011}} |
|{{dts|27 December 2011}} |
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|Five yellow cards to date |
|Five yellow cards to date |
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|<ref name="quinn cresswell suspension">{{cite news|title=Blades duo banned|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/blades_duo_banned_1_4097594|access-date=29 December 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=29 December 2011 |
|<ref name="quinn cresswell suspension">{{cite news|title=Blades duo banned|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/blades_duo_banned_1_4097594|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707060950/http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/blades_duo_banned_1_4097594|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2013|access-date=29 December 2011|publisher=The Sheffield Star|date=29 December 2011}}</ref> |
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|10 |
|10 |
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|align=left|{{flag icon|NED}} [[Netherlands national under-17 football team|Netherlands U17]]||{{dts|31 October 2011}}||N||0||[[Substitute (association football)|Unused sub]] |
|align=left|{{flag icon|NED}} [[Netherlands national under-17 football team|Netherlands U17]]||{{dts|31 October 2011}}||N||0||[[Substitute (association football)|Unused sub]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|rowspan="2"| 3 ||rowspan="2"|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]||rowspan="2"|[[Lecsinel Jean-François]]||align=left rowspan="2"|{{flag icon|HAI}} [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]]<ref name="ljf haiti">{{cite news|title=International caps for LJF|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2525422,00.html|access-date=14 January 2012|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=23 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051557/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2525422,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>||rowspan="2"|[[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF |
|rowspan="2"| 3 ||rowspan="2"|[[Defender (association football)|DF]]||rowspan="2"|[[Lecsinel Jean-François]]||align=left rowspan="2"|{{flag icon|HAI}} [[Haiti national football team|Haiti]]<ref name="ljf haiti">{{cite news|title=International caps for LJF|url=http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2525422,00.html|access-date=14 January 2012|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=23 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051557/http://origin-www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2525422,00.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>||rowspan="2"|[[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF second round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]||align=left|{{flagicon|ATG}} [[Antigua and Barbuda national football team|Antigua and Barbuda]]||{{dts|11 November 2011}}||Y||0|| |
||
|- |
|- |
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|align=left|{{flagicon|ATG}} [[Antigua and Barbuda national football team|Antigua and Barbuda]]||{{dts|15 November 2011}}||Y||0|| |
|align=left|{{flagicon|ATG}} [[Antigua and Barbuda national football team|Antigua and Barbuda]]||{{dts|15 November 2011}}||Y||0|| |
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Line 2,432: | Line 2,440: | ||
|attendance = 2,774 |
|attendance = 2,774 |
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|result = W |
|result = W |
||
|penalties1 = {{Unbulleted list|[[Evan Horwood|Horwood]] {{pengoal}}|[[James Poole (footballer)|Poole]] {{pengoal}}|[[Nathan Luscombe|Luscombe]] {{pengoal}}|[[Sam Collins (English footballer)|S. Collins]] {{penmiss}}|[[Neil Austin|Austin]] {{pengoal}}|[[Colin Nish|Nish]] {{penmiss}}}} |
|penalties1 = {{Unbulleted list|[[Evan Horwood|Horwood]] {{pengoal}}|[[James Poole (footballer)|Poole]] {{pengoal}}|[[Nathan Luscombe|Luscombe]] {{pengoal}}|[[Sam Collins (English footballer)|S. Collins]] {{penmiss}}|[[Neil Austin (footballer)|Austin]] {{pengoal}}|[[Colin Nish|Nish]] {{penmiss}}}} |
||
|penaltyscore = 4–5 |
|penaltyscore = 4–5 |
||
|penalties2 = {{Unbulleted list|{{pengoal}} [[Richard Cresswell|Cresswell]]|{{pengoal}} [[Neill Collins|N. Collins]]|{{pengoal}} [[Nick Montgomery|Montgomery]]|{{penmiss}} [[Stephen Quinn|Quinn]]|{{pengoal}} [[Matthew Lowton|Lowton]]|{{pengoal}} [[Daniel Philliskirk|Pilliskirk]]}} |
|penalties2 = {{Unbulleted list|{{pengoal}} [[Richard Cresswell|Cresswell]]|{{pengoal}} [[Neill Collins|N. Collins]]|{{pengoal}} [[Nick Montgomery|Montgomery]]|{{penmiss}} [[Stephen Quinn|Quinn]]|{{pengoal}} [[Matthew Lowton|Lowton]]|{{pengoal}} [[Daniel Philliskirk|Pilliskirk]]}} |
Revision as of 10:12, 9 June 2024
2011–12 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Kevin McCabe (PLC Chairman) Christopher Steer (Football Club Chairman) | ||
Manager | Danny Wilson | ||
League One | 3rd | ||
FA Cup | fourth round | ||
League Cup | second round | ||
Football League Trophy | Quarter-final (North) | ||
Top goalscorer | League: Evans (29) All: Evans (35) | ||
Highest home attendance | 30,043 (vs. Stevenage)[1] | ||
Lowest home attendance | League: 15,783 (vs. Colchester United) Cup: 5,692 (vs. Bradford City)[1] | ||
Average home league attendance | 18,702[2] | ||
| |||
Sheffield United Football Club (known as the Blades) participated in League One, the third level of English football for the first time in 23 years having been relegated from the Championship at the end of the previous season. It was also their first appearance in both the Football League Trophy and the first round proper of the FA Cup for a similar length of time, as well as being the first season under new manager Danny Wilson. United began the season well, recording consistently sound results in Football League One and nearing the position required for an immediate return to the Championship. By the turn of the year, the squad was well positioned for promotion.
Reasonable progress was made in the cup competitions, reaching the second round of the League Cup, the fourth round of the FA Cup and the regional quarter finals of the Football League Trophy. With only a handful of games left to play in the league United looked set to finish in second place in the table, but in the aftermath of leading scorer Ched Evans being jailed, results declined, and United slipped to third place in the final week of the season. Although they reached the play-off final, the team were beaten on penalties by Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium, thus failing to achieve promotion and being destined to spend the following season in League One.
Team kit
The team kit for the 2011–12 season was produced by Macron for the third successive year. The home kit consisted of the club's traditional red and white stripes and was based on the kit worn by the team in the early 1970s, chosen following a poll of fans the previous year.[3] As the pre-season programme got under way the club also revealed a new all yellow away kit.[3] By mid July the club announced that they had struck a joint sponsorship deal with cross-city rivals Sheffield Wednesday which would see both teams sponsored by the same two local companies. The Blades' home kit was sponsored by Westfield Health and the away kit by local car dealers Gilders Group (with Sheffield Wednesday's kit's having the reverse).[4] The club later announced that a new secondary sponsor, Nexis, would appear on the back of the home shirts for the coming season.[5]
Season overview
Preseason
Following relegation from the Championship at the end of the previous season, company chairman Kevin McCabe sacked manager Micky Adams, insisting that the club needed a new start to take them forward.[6] After a few weeks of speculation, McCabe appointed former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson as Adams' successor.[7] Wilson began to assemble his back room team, appointing former United defender Frank Barlow as his number two,[8] fellow former Blade Billy Dearden as chief scout[9] and Dave Morrison as fitness coach.[10]
Wilson stressed that he intended to bring a better style of play to the team in the coming season[11] but admitted that players would have to be sold to balance the books. Deals were already in place to sell Jamie Ward to Derby County for an undisclosed fee,[12] and sign Danny Philliskirk from Chelsea on a free transfer,[13] but Wilson also added to the squad in June by signing Lecsinel Jean-François from his former club Swindon Town, also on a free transfer.[14] After much speculation, and with the players about to return for pre-season training, Darius Henderson was sold to Millwall for an undisclosed fee in order to free up money on the wage bill.[15]
The club announced a low-key series of friendlies for July,[16] while Wilson continued to reshape his squad, allowing young defenders Kingsley James and Phil Roe, both products of the Blades Academy, to leave and rejoin former boss Micky Adams at Port Vale on free transfers.[17] A youthful team were held to a draw by Sheffield[18] but overcame Worksop Town a few days later.[19] With the team about to leave for a training camp in Malta, Mark Yeates was sold to Watford for an undisclosed fee,[20] Ryan Flynn was signed from Falkirk for a similarly undisclosed fee[21] and Chris Porter arrived on a free transfer having been released by Derby County.[22] Once in Malta, United took on local sides Sliema Wanderers and Hibernians in friendly games, beating both sides.[23][24] Upon returning to England, the Blades completed their pre-season schedule with two home fixtures, losing to Doncaster Rovers[25] and drawing with Blackpool.[26] With their pre-season schedule completed the Blades signed young winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a six-month loan deal.[27]
Unfortunately, the latter half of July also saw the club hit the national headlines for the wrong reasons. Firstly, the club was identified by a Channel 4 undercover investigation as being offered for sale as part of an illegal ownership deal, although the Blades themselves were not implicated in any wrongdoing.[28] A fortnight later, striker Ched Evans was arrested and charged with rape following an incident in May.[29]
August–September: Early season optimism
The Blades won the opening game of the season away from home, outclassing Oldham Athletic,[30] but a strong side needed penalties to overcome Hartlepool United at Victoria Park in the first round of the League Cup a few days later.[31] Midfielder Kevin McDonald was added to the squad on a free transfer after a lengthy trial period,[32] before the Blades resumed their league campaign, beating Brentford at home,[33] and overturning a two-nil deficit to overcome Walsall at Bramall Lane.[34] Having spent the previous season on loan at United, Argentinian Elian Parrino returned to South Yorkshire on a one-year deal from Estudiantes de La Plata,[35] after which the Blades embarked on a four match run of away games in the space of eleven days. They dropped their first league points of the season as they were held to a draw by Tranmere Rovers,[36] before suffering their first defeat of the season on a quick return to Merseyside, allowing the lead to slip once more as they crashed out of the League Cup at the hands of Premiership Everton.[37] The team returned to league action and winning ways with an away trip to Yeovil,[38] the first ever competitive meeting between the two clubs, after which they despatched Burton Albion to progress into the second round of the Football League Trophy.[39]
With Danny Wilson still needing to raise money and trim the wage bill, the Blades had a relatively busy transfer deadline day, allowing Jordan Slew to join Blackburn Rovers for £1.1m,[40] and Daniel Bogdanović to join Blackpool for an undisclosed fee,[41] but turning down another offer from the Seasiders for Stephen Quinn.[42] The Blades also agreed a deal to take two young midfielders, John Fleck and Kyle Hutton, on loan from Rangers for the remainder of the season,[43] but the deal subsequently fell through due to issues with the paperwork involved.[44] The team kicked off September by crushing Bury 4–0 at Bramall Lane,[45] and then travelled to Scunthorpe United where they maintained their unbeaten start after coming from behind to grab a 1–1 draw.[46] Off the field the restructuring of the club continued with the appointment of former Blades player Julian Winter as Chief Executive to replace the departing Trevor Birch.[47] Danny Wilson added to his defensive options by signing Marcus Williams on a months loan from Reading,[48] with the defender making his début only hours later, although he was unable to prevent the Blades from crashing to their first league defeat of the season as they were trounced 3–0 at home by Huddersfield Town.[49] Despite this setback the Blades quickly returned to winning ways, reversing the previous scoreline to crush Colchester United 3–0 at Bramall Lane.[50] The month ended on a low note however as the team suffered a shock defeat at struggling Wycombe Wanderers,[51] although they still managed to hold onto second place in the table.
October–November: Important points dropped
October started no better for the Blades as they were easily beaten 2–0 at home by league leaders Charlton Athletic[52] and needed a last second goal to progress in the Football League Trophy as they struggled against League Two side Rotherham United.[53] Meanwhile, Danny Wilson boosted his squad ahead of the Steel City derby, with Marcus Williams agreeing to stay on loan for a further two months[54] and Matt Phillips and Billy Clarke arriving for a month each from Blackpool.[55] The new arrivals failed to halt the disappointing run of results however as the Blades let a 2–0 lead slip to end up drawing with their cross–city rivals.[56] Despite this disappointment the team bounced back to score an emphatic away win at Preston a few days later with both new signing Matt Phillips and old hand Lee Williamson netting two goals apiece.[57] With increased competition for first team places, youngsters Danny Philliskirk and Corey Gregory were allowed to go out on loan to Oxford United and Hucknall Town respectively;[58] swiftly followed by Connor Brown who joined Eastwood Town on a months deal.[59] Back in the league, the disappointing results continued as United threw away a lead once again, allowing ten-men Leyton Orient to snatch a draw with the last kick of the game.[60] Once again the Blades quickly responded to the setback by beating fellow promotion rivals MK Dons 2–1 at Bramall Lane,[61] but then conspired to throw away yet more points, allowing Exeter City to come from behind twice in the closing minutes of the next game to snatch a 4–4 draw.[62]
Into November and back on the road, yet another late goal was handed Stevenage all three points,[63] leaving United fifth in the table going into FA Cup week. With Phillips and Clarke playing the final game of their loan spell,[64] United tamely exited the Football League Trophy, losing on penalties to League Two strugglers Bradford City.[65] There was a more positive result in the FA Cup however as a brace from Ched Evans helped the Blades ease past Oxford United.[66] By mid–November, and with Danny Wilson still seeking to add to his attacking options, it was reported that former striker and fans favourite James Beattie had returned to training with the club and could be handed a contract depending on match fitness,[67] and a short term deal was duly signed a few days later.[68] Back in League action United saw out a victory over Carlisle United despite seeing a Richard Cresswell spot–kick saved in the second half,[69] and a week later Ched Evans scored his fifth goal in four games to beat Chesterfield by the same scoreline.[70] The month ended on a sombre note however as former player and manager Gary Speed was found dead at his home after having taken his own life less than a year after leaving his post at Bramall Lane.[71]
December–January: Maximum points for Christmas
December started with the second round of the FA Cup and despite conceding another late goal, the Blades progressed into the third round at the expense of Torquay United, thanks to another brace from in Ched Evans,[72] who then scored for the fifth game in succession in the next game, netting twice more in a league victory over Rochdale.[73] The team's impressive form continued with an away win at Bournemouth thanks to two own goals,[74] Notts County making a similar gift of an own goal to contribute to their own defeat on Boxing Day,[75] before the Blades rounded the year off by crushing Hartlepool United on New Year's Eve;[76] meaning that the Blades ended 2011 in second place in the table following eight victories in a row in all competitions.[77]
With the transfer window reopening in January, Danny Wilson's first signing was the return of former loan player Marcus Williams who agreed a two and a half year deal.[78] The New Year started disappointingly as the Blades crashed to their first defeat since the beginning of November as they were beaten 3–2 at Carlisle United.[79] Following Danny Wilson being awarded 'League One Manager of the Month' for December,[80] United soon got back to winning ways when they returned to home soil. The team saw off Salisbury City 3–1 in the third round of the FA Cup,[81] the first meeting ever between the two clubs, and then outclassed Yeovil Town a few days later, hitting four without reply including a brace from Lee Williamson and a first ever club goal from captain Michael Doyle.[82] With Danny Wilson looking to freshen up his squad United rewarded four of its younger players with contract extensions, with Erik Tønne and David McAllister set to remain with the club until the summer of 2014, and youth team players Jordan Chapell and Jack Adams agreeing new deals until the end of the season.[83] In a busy day the club saw the departure of Elian Parrino as his short term deal came to an end,[83] and then allowed McAllister to join League Two club Shrewsbury Town on a months loan,[84] with manager Danny Wilson bemoaning a lack of reserve games under the current system.[85] The following week Wilson continued to overhaul the squad with reserve keeper Mihkel Aksalu leaving the club on mutual terms,[86] but was boosted by 'fans favourite' James Beattie agreeing a deal to remain at Bramall Lane until the end of the season.[87] Meanwhile, back in the league the Blades then continued their fine run of form, completing their second league double of the week, as they hit three without reply away at Bury,[88] but that form deserted them for a top-of-the-table trip to Charlton Athletic where a bad tempered match resulted in both teams being reduced to ten men and a 1–0 loss for United.[89] Seven days later United suffered their first back-to-back defeats of the season as they crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Birmingham City.[90] With the transfer window about to close Bramall Lane was relatively quite on deadline day; Danny Philliskirk was handed an extended deal,[91] and striker Will Hoskins signed on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion until the end of the season,[92] whilst youngster Erik Tønne was allowed to join Yorkshire neighbours York City, also until the end of the season.[93] The club also gave a trial to experienced Scottish defender David Weir with a view to a potential short term contract.[94]
February–March: Promotion charge takes shape then falls apart
After various match postponements due to a spell of bad weather and the various cup competitions United finally returned to league action in mid February with new signing Hoskins scoring on his début as the Blades ran out 3–0 victors over Wycombe Wanderers.[95] After a successful spell, midfielder David McAllister opted to extend his loan deal at Shrewsbury until the end of March,[96] whilst young keeper George Long agreed a new long–term deal at Bramall Lane.[97] Meanwhile, on Valentine's Day, the Blades beat Yorkshire and promotion rivals Huddersfield Town 1–0 at the Galpharm Stadium as defender Neill Collins scored his first ever goal for the club,[98] before coming from behind to beat Preston North End at home a few days later, despite Ched Evans missing a penalty.[99] With Mihkel Aksalu having departed, United agreed a two and a half year deal with keeper, and free agent, Mark Howard to provide cover for Steve Simonsen,[100] before the club met their cross-city rivals in the second Steel City derby of the season where United suffered a narrow defeat.[101] Looking for a quick bounce–back, United were forced to come from behind to beat Scunthorpe United at home,[102] to leave them in second place, five points clear of third, in the table at the start of March.
Despite their form, United suffered a catastrophic start to March as they lost at home to Oldham Athletic having had a two-goal lead only to see both Matthew Lowton and Harry Maguire sent off and the team subsequently collapse.[103] With the entire back four unavailable, United were forced to draft in Matt Hill and John Egan on emergency loans,[104] but this was not enough to prevent them slipping to their third defeat in four games as they capitulated at Walsall.[105] Danny Wilson remained keen to find first team experience for the younger members of the squad and as such allowed Seamus Conneely to join Alfreton Town on loan[106] before United returned to winning ways with two goals from Ched Evans being enough to defeat Brentford at Griffin Park.[107] Unfortunately the Blades failed to take advantage of their game in hand, being held to a draw by Colchester United,[108] before once again allowing a lead to slip as they drew with Tranmere Rovers at Bramall Lane.[109] With the transfer deadline for loans approaching, the Blades' longest serving player and vice-captain Nick Montgomery was allowed to join Millwall until the end of the season due to an absence of first team football,[110] allowing Danny Wilson to bring in winger Michael O'Halloran on loan from Bolton Wanderers.[111] Meanwhile, on the pitch, United put their recent poor form behind them as they outclassed Notts County 5–2 at Meadow Lane,[112] before putting four goals past Chesterfield at Bramall Lane, including a hat–trick from in–form striker Ched Evans.[113] Despite a low–key team performance, a second Ched Evans penalty in as many games was enough to finish the month with a third straight victory, with the Blades defeating Hartlepool United at Victoria Park.[114]
April–May: The final straight ends in disappointment
With loan defender John Egan returning to his parent club at the start of April, Nick Montgomery's loan at Millwall was all but cut short after only two substitute appearances when he sustained a calf injury likely to sideline him until the end of the season.[115] David McAllister also saw his loan spell at Shrewsbury cut short shortly after receiving a red card, with the resulting three game ban ruling him out for the remainder of his time at the New Meadow.[116] Back in the league a nervy display saw the Blades edge out Bournemouth at Bramall Lane,[117] before a much more emphatic performance saw them bury Rochdale at the Spotland Stadium.[118] With the Blades now in a straight fight with local rivals Sheffield Wednesday for the second automatic promotion spot they came from behind to beat Leyton Orient at Bramall Lane to open up a four-point gap on third placed Wednesday.[119] The next week however their campaign was dealt a crushing blow as star striker and top scorer Ched Evans's case came to trial where he was found guilty of rape and sentenced to five years in prison.[120] Without Evans and missing his injured strike partner Richard Cresswell, United slipped to a damaging defeat at MK Dons.[121] Worse was to come as United could only register a draw with Stevenage in a dramatic final home game at Bramall Lane, meaning they slipped out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since February.[122] United went into the final league fixture with Exeter City requiring to win and hope that rivals Sheffield Wednesday were beaten to secure promotion; a combination that failed to materialise as Wednesday registered a victory and the Blades could only draw meaning they were consigned to the play-offs.[123]
Another trip to Wembley
With James Beattie unavailable for the playoffs following a red card in the final game of the season against Exeter City, manager Danny Wilson was faced with a selection crisis ahead of the critical games against Stevenage. With only one senior striker available a patched up side contested a dour first-leg where neither team created many chances. United did manage to keep a clean sheet however and took the tie back to Bramall Lane with the scores level at 0–0.[124]
The Blades entered the second leg still bereft of forwards, with Richard Cresswell having contracted an illness on the morning of the game, so were forced to play with just Chris Porter as a lone striker once more. An even first half saw few opportunities for either side but following the break United began to attack with more purpose. Despite chances for both sides the game looked to be heading for another draw until Porter scored an 85th-minute winner to put the Blades through to the final at Wembley.[125]
Richard Cresswell was passed fit for the final against Huddersfield but influential midfielder Kevin McDonald was left out through injury so the Blades were forced to make changes once more. The game was played under blistering heat and neither side created many chances.[126] It remained 0–0 after ninety minutes and so extra–time was played but there was still no breakthrough. Ultimately the game went to penalties, which saw every player for both sides take a spot kick only for United to lose 8–7 when goalkeeper Steve Simonsen missed the final kick, consigning the Blades to another season in League One.[126][127]
Academy and Reserve teams
Reserves
Team | Pts | |
---|---|---|
1. | Sheffield United | 22 |
2. | Derby County | 21 |
3. | Nottingham Forest | 18 |
4. | Port Vale | 15 |
5. | Walsall | 15 |
6. | Burton Albion | 13 |
7. | Stoke City | 12 |
Sheffield United Reserves played in the Central League: Central Division in the nearby Derbyshire town of Dronfield at the Coach and Horses ground, which was also the home of Sheffield FC during the season.[128] Experienced defender Chris Morgan was appointed reserve team coach at the start of the season and given the responsibility of developing the young players which made up the bulk of the side.[128] With many teams now opting not to enter a reserve side into an organised competition the Central Division consisted of just seven sides meaning fixtures were irregular throughout the season. In January 2012 Danny Wilson expressed the need to reform the reserve team structure due to this infrequent number of matches citing that experienced players do not gain much from them and the cost of staging the fixtures as issues.[85]
Despite this United's side ended the season as Champions, finishing one point ahead of nearest rivals Derby County[128] who had won the division in the previous season, ironically by one point from The Blades who had finished second. Following a nine match unbeaten run the title was clinched with the final game of the season as United held a strong Nottingham Forest side to a 1–1 draw at the coach and Horses ground.[128] Danny Philliskirk ended the season as top scorer, having netted six goals, whilst he was also the joint leading appearance maker along with Matty Harriott and Shane Murray.[128]
Academy
Sheffield United Academy U18s played in the FA Premier Academy League U18s Group D at the Shirecliffe ground at Firshill Crescent. Under the management of John Pemberton, the side were seeking to replicate the success of the previous season when they had reached the final of the FA Youth Cup final.[129] Shorn of a number of key players (who had either graduated to the first team or left the club), the team completed a solid but unspectacular season. Results fluctuated with impressive victories over the likes of Everton, Bolton and Sunderland being mixed with heavy defeats to Leeds United, Coventry City and West Ham United.[130] Eventually finishing fifth (out of ten teams) in their division, manager John Pemberton described the season as "another successful one for everyone associated with the Academy. We have five players becoming professionals who will all be linking up with the first team next season and that is what we are judged on – producing players."[130]
United's hopes of repeating the previous season's success in the FA Youth Cup did not come to fruition however. After a victory in the first round over Tranmere Rovers, they required penalties to see off Port Vale in the next round before finally being eliminated in round three when Southampton recorded a 7–0 victory over the Blades.[130]
Players
- As of the end of the season[1]
First-team squad
- Squad at end of season[131]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Left club during season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Transfers and contracts
In
Summer
Squad # | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | DF | Free | 20 June 2011 | [14] | ||
22 | FW | Free | 21 June 2011 | [13] | ||
11 | MF | Undisclosed | 14 July 2011 | [21] | ||
21 | FW | Free | 15 July 2011 | [22] | ||
27 | MF | Free | 13 August 2011 | [32] | ||
33 | DF | Undisclosed | 18 August 2011 | [35] |
Winter
Squad # | Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | FW | Free agent | Free | 24 November 2011 | [68] | |
30 | DF | Free | 1 January 2012 | [78] | ||
13 | GK | Free agent | Free | 20 February 2012 | [100] |
Loan in
Squad # | Position | Player | Loaned from | Start | End | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | MF | 5 August 2011 | 3 January 2012 | [27] | ||
30 | DF | 13 September 2011 | 13 December 2011 | [48] | ||
26 | FW | 14 October 2011 | 8 November 2011 | [55][64] | ||
32 | MF | 14 October 2011 | 8 November 2011 | [55][64] | ||
7 | FW | 31 January 2012 | 31 May 2012 | [92] | ||
26 | DF | 6 March 2012 | 3 April 2012 | [104] | ||
32 | DF | 6 March 2012 | 31 May 2012 | [104] | ||
29 | FW | 22 March 2012 | 31 May 2012 | [111] |
Out
Summer
Squad # | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18 | FW | Undisclosed | 9 May 2011 | [12] | ||
7 | FW | Undisclosed | 29 June 2011 | [15] | ||
15 | MF | Free agent | Contract Expired | 30 June 2011 | ||
22 | DF | Contract Expired | 30 June 2011 | [132] | ||
39 | GK | Contract Expired | 30 June 2011 | [133] | ||
30 | MF | Free | 1 July 2011 | [17] | ||
32 | DF | Free | 1 July 2011 | [17] | ||
11 | MF | Undisclosed | 13 July 2011 | [20] | ||
10 | FW | Undisclosed | 31 August 2011 | [41] | ||
12 | FW | £1.1 million | 31 August 2011 | [40] |
Winter
Squad # | Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | MF | Free | 1 December 2011 | [41] | ||
33 | DF | Released | 12 January 2012 | [83] | ||
13 | GK | Released | 19 January 2012 | [86] |
Loan out
Squad # | Position | Player | Loaned to | Start | End | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | MF | 31 August 2011 | 1 December 2011 | [41] | ||
22 | FW | 21 October 2011 | 19 November 2011 | [58] | ||
– | MF | 21 October 2011 | 31 January 2012 | [58] | ||
– | DF | 21 October 2011 | 19 November 2011 | [59] | ||
20 | MF | 12 January 2012 | 4 April 2012 | [84][96][116] | ||
24 | MF | 31 January 2012 | 31 May 2012 | [93] | ||
18 | MF | 6 March 2012 | 24 March 2012 | [134][135] | ||
18 | DF | 9 March 2012 | 9 April 2012 | [106] | ||
4 | MF | 19 March 2012 | 28 March 2012 | [110][115] |
Contracts
New contracts and contract extensions.
Player | Date | Length | Contracted until | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|
15 July 2011 | 2 Years | Summer 2013 | [136] | |
11 August 2011 | 3 Years | Summer 2014 | [137] | |
19 October 2011 | 4 Years | Summer 2015 | [138] | |
12 January 2012 | 2 Years, 6 Months | Summer 2014 | [83] | |
12 January 2012 | 2 Years, 6 Months | Summer 2014 | [83] | |
12 January 2012 | 6 Months | Summer 2012 | [83] | |
12 January 2012 | 6 Months | Summer 2012 | [83] | |
26 January 2012 | 6 Months | Summer 2012 | [87] | |
30 January 2012 | 1 Year, 6 Months | Summer 2013 | [91] | |
16 February 2012 | 4 Years | Summer 2016 | [97] | |
14 March 2012 | 1 Year | Summer 2013 | [139] |
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Charlton Athletic (C, P) | 46 | 30 | 11 | 5 | 82 | 36 | +46 | 101 | Promotion to Football League Championship |
2 | Sheffield Wednesday (P) | 46 | 28 | 9 | 9 | 81 | 48 | +33 | 93 | |
3 | Sheffield United | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 92 | 51 | +41 | 90 | Qualification for League One play-offs[a] |
4 | Huddersfield Town (O, P) | 46 | 21 | 18 | 7 | 79 | 47 | +32 | 81 | |
5 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 22 | 14 | 10 | 84 | 47 | +37 | 80 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- ^ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to Football League Championship.
Season firsts
Player début
Players making their first team Sheffield United début in a fully competitive match.
Squad # | Position | Player | Date | Opponents | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | MF | 6 August 2011 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park | [140] | |
2 | DF | 6 August 2011 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park | [141] | |
21 | FW | 6 August 2011 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park | [142] | |
7 | MF | 9 August 2011 | Hartlepool United | Victoria Park | On loan, League Cup[143] | |
27 | MF | 13 August 2011 | Brentford | Bramall Lane | [144] | |
30 | DF | 13 September 2011 | Huddersfield Town | Bramall Lane | On loan[145] | |
32 | MF | 16 October 2011 | Sheffield Wednesday | Bramall Lane | Sub, On loan[146] | |
26 | FW | 19 October 2011 | Preston North End | Deepdale | On loan[147] | |
7 | FW | 11 February 2012 | Wycombe Wanderers | Bramall Lane | Sub, On loan[148] | |
26 | DF | 6 March 2012 | Walsall | Bescot Stadium | On loan[149] | |
32 | DF | 6 March 2012 | Walsall | Bescot Stadium | On loan[150] | |
29 | FW | 28 March 2012 | Chesterfield | Bramall Lane | Sub, On loan[151] |
Début goal
Players scoring their first goal for Sheffield United in a competitive fixture.
Squad # | Position | Player | Date | Opponents | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | DF | 6 August 2011 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park | [152] | |
21 | FW | 27 August 2011 | Yeovil Town | Huish Park | [142] | |
27 | MF | 30 August 2011 | Burton Albion | Pirelli Stadium | Football League Trophy[153] | |
7 | MF | 3 September 2011 | Bury | Bramall Lane | [143] | |
32 | MF | 19 October 2011 | Preston North End | Deepdale | [146] | |
26 | FW | 29 October 2011 | Exeter City | Bramall Lane | [147] | |
11 | MF | 19 November 2011 | Oxford United | Bramall Lane | FA Cup[140] | |
8 | MF | 10 January 2012 | Yeovil Town | Bramall Lane | [154] | |
7 | FW | 11 February 2012 | Wycombe Wanderers | Bramall Lane | [148] | |
27 | MF | 11 February 2012 | Wycombe Wanderers | Bramall Lane | [144] | |
15 | DF | 14 February 2012 | Huddersfield Town | Galpharm Stadium | [155] |
Competitive fixture
First ever meeting of the two clubs in a competitive fixture.
Opposition | Date | Venue | Result | Score | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yeovil Town | 27 August 2011 | Huish Park | Win | 0–1 | [156] |
Burton Albion | 30 August 2011 | Pirelli Stadium | Win | 1–2 | Football League Trophy[157] |
Stevenage | 5 November 2011 | The Lamex Stadium | Loss | 2–1 | [158] |
Salisbury City | 7 January 2012 | Bramall Lane | Win | 3–1 | FA Cup[159] |
Stadia
First ever visit to a stadium for a competitive fixture
Venue | Opposition | Date | Result | Score | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Huish Park | Yeovil Town | 27 August 2011 | Win | 0–1 | [160] |
Pirelli Stadium | Burton Albion | 30 August 2011 | Win | 1–2 | Football League Trophy[161] |
Adams Park | Wycombe Wanderers | 24 September 2011 | Loss | 1–0 | [162] |
Don Valley Stadium | Rotherham United | 4 October 2011 | Win | 1–2 | Football League Trophy[163] |
The Lamex Stadium | Stevenage | 5 November 2011 | Loss | 2–1 | [164] |
B2net Stadium | Chesterfield | 26 November 2011 | Win | 0–1 | [165] |
Colchester Community Stadium | Colchester United | 13 March 2012 | Draw | 1–1 | [166] |
Stadium mk | Milton Keynes Dons | 21 April 2012 | Loss | 1–0 | [167] |
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
- As of 26 May 2012[1]
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | League One / Play-offs | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
1 | GK | Steve Simonsen | 54 | 0 | 47+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
2 | DF | Matthew Lowton | 55 | 6 | 47+0 | 6 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | |||
3 | DF | Lecsinel Jean-François | 31 | 0 | 22+3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
4 | MF | Nick Montgomery | 25 | 1 | 16+6 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
5 | DF | Chris Morgan | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
6 | MF | Johannes Ertl | 9 | 0 | 2+6 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
8 | MF | Michael Doyle | 54 | 3 | 42+4 | 3 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |||
9 | FW | Ched Evans | 43 | 35 | 30+6 | 29 | 4+0 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | |||
10 | FW | James Beattie | 19 | 0 | 2+16 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
11 | MF | Ryan Flynn | 34 | 4 | 16+12 | 3 | 1+2 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |||
13 | GK | Mark Howard | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
14 | MF | Lee Williamson | 48 | 13 | 34+9 | 13 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
15 | DF | Neill Collins | 54 | 2 | 45+0 | 2 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | |||
16 | DF | Andy Taylor | 5 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
17 | FW | Richard Cresswell | 51 | 10 | 33+11 | 9 | 3+1 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
18 | MF | Matthew Harriott | 2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |||
19 | DF | Harry Maguire | 56 | 1 | 47+0 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | |||
20 | MF | David McAllister | 10 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | |||
21 | FW | Chris Porter | 45 | 8 | 20+17 | 6 | 1+2 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 | |||
22 | FW | Danny Philliskirk | 3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |||
23 | MF | Seamus Conneely | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
24 | MF | Erik Tønne | 4 | 2 | 0+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 1 | |||
25 | GK | George Long | 4 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |||
27 | MF | Kevin McDonald | 38 | 3 | 32+1 | 3 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 | |||
28 | MF | Stephen Quinn | 53 | 4 | 46+2 | 3 | 3+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
29 | FW | Michael O'Halloran | 8 | 0 | 1+7 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
30 | DF | Marcus Williams | 23 | 0 | 15+4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
31 | FW | Jordan Chapell | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
32 | DF | Matt Hill | 15 | 0 | 15+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
DF | Terry Kennedy | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||||
DF | Marc Warren | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | ||||
Players who left before the end of the season: | |||||||||||||||
7 | MF | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | 11 | 1 | 4+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |||
7 | FW | Will Hoskins | 12 | 2 | 4+8 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
10 | FW | Daniel Bogdanović | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
12 | FW | Jordan Slew | 6 | 1 | 3+1 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
13 | GK | Mihkel Aksalu | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
26 | FW | Billy Clarke | 6 | 1 | 5+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | |||
26 | DF | John Egan | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | |||
32 | MF | Matt Phillips | 7 | 6 | 5+1 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | |||
33 | DF | Elian Parrino | 2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
Top scorers
Place | Number | Nation | Position | Name | League One | Playoffs | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | FW | Ched Evans | 29 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 35 | |
2 | 14 | MF | Lee Williamson | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | |
3 | 17 | FW | Richard Cresswell | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | |
4 | 21 | FW | Chris Porter | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | |
5 | 2 | DF | Matthew Lowton | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
32 | MF | Matt Phillips | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
6 | 28 | MF | Stephen Quinn | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
7 | 8 | MF | Michael Doyle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
11 | MF | Ryan Flynn | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
27 | MF | Kevin McDonald | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
8 | 15 | DF | Neill Collins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
7 | FW | Will Hoskins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
24 | MF | Erik Tønne | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
9 | 26 | FW | Billy Clarke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
19 | DF | Harry Maguire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
20 | MF | David McAllister | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
7 | MF | Nathaniel Mendez-Laing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
4 | MF | Nick Montgomery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
12 | FW | Jordan Slew | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
TOTALS | 82 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 99 |
Five additional own goals scored during the season, three in The Football League and two in the FA Cup.
Disciplinary record
Number | Nation | Position | Name | League One | Playoffs | FA Cup | League Cup | FL Trophy | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 | DF | Harry Maguire | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
14 | MF | Lee Williamson | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
2 | DF | Matthew Lowton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
27 | MF | Kevin McDonald | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
28 | MF | Stephen Quinn | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
17 | FW | Richard Cresswell | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
9 | FW | Ched Evans | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
10 | FW | James Beattie | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
8 | MF | Michael Doyle | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
3 | DF | Lecsinel Jean-François | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
15 | DF | Neill Collins | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
4 | MF | Nick Montgomery | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
1 | GK | Steve Simonsen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
11 | MF | Ryan Flynn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
21 | FW | Chris Porter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
30 | DF | Marcus Williams | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
32 | DF | Matt Hill | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
20 | MF | David McAllister | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
28 | FW | Jordan Slew | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
TOTALS | 69 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 79 | 4 |
Suspensions
Squad # | Position | Player | Suspension | Start date | Reason | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | DF | 1 game | 10 September 2011 | Five yellow cards to date | [168] | |
14 | MF | 1 game | 17 December 2011 | Five yellow cards to date | [169] | |
17 | FW | 1 game | 27 December 2011 | Five yellow cards to date | [170] | |
28 | MF | 1 game | 27 December 2011 | Five yellow cards to date | [170] | |
10 | FW | 3 games | 21 January 2012 | Straight red card – violent conduct | [171] | |
2 | DF | 1 game | 3 March 2012 | Two yellow cards | [172] | |
19 | DF | 1 game | 3 March 2012 | Straight red card | [172] | |
10 | FW | 4 games | 5 May 2012 | Straight red card (2nd of season) | [173] |
Date of start of suspension assumed to be the date of the game during which the disciplinary incident occurred.
International Call-ups
No. | P | Name | Squad | Competition | Opposition | Date | Cap | Goals | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | George Willis | 2012 U17 European Championship qualification |
26 October 2011 | Y | 0 | ||||
28 October 2011 | Y | 0 | |||||||
31 October 2011 | N | 0 | Unused sub | ||||||
3 | DF | Lecsinel Jean-François | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | 11 November 2011 | Y | 0 | |||
15 November 2011 | Y | 0 |
Matches
Key
Win Draw Loss
Football League One
6 August 2011 | Oldham Athletic | 0–2 | Sheffield United | Boundary Park |
15:00 | (Report) | Maguire Cresswell |
Attendance: 8,032 |
13 August 2011 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | Brentford | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Slew Cresswell |
(Report) | Attendance: 17,769 |
16 August 2011 | Sheffield United | 3–2 | Walsall | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | Lowton Williamson Cresswell |
(Report) | Hurst Grigg |
Attendance: 16,443 |
20 August 2011 | Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Prenton Park |
15:00 | Labadie |
(Report) | Montgomery |
Attendance: 6,244 |
27 August 2011 | Yeovil Town | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Huish Park |
13:00 | Haynes-Brown |
(Report) | Porter |
Attendance: 5,001 |
3 September 2011 | Sheffield United | 4–0 | Bury | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Porter Mendez-Laing Lowton Tønne |
(Report) | Attendance: 17,956 |
10 September 2011 | Scunthorpe United | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Glanford Park |
15:00 | Dagnall Barcham |
(Report) | Evans |
Attendance: 6,042 |
13 September 2011 | Sheffield United | 0–3 | Huddersfield Town | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | (Report) | Novak Gobern |
Attendance: 17,373 |
17 September 2011 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Colchester United | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans Porter Quinn |
(Report) | Attendance: 15,783 |
24 September 2011 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Adams Park |
15:00 | Beavon |
(Report) | Attendance: 5,506 |
1 October 2011 | Sheffield United | 0–2 | Charlton Athletic | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | (Report) | Kermorgant Wright-Phillips |
Attendance: 20,743 |
16 October 2011 | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | Bramall Lane |
12:00 | Quinn Evans |
(Report) | O'Grady Madine |
Attendance: 28,136 |
19 October 2011 | Preston North End | 2–4 | Sheffield United | Deepdale |
19:45 | Carlisle Hume |
(Report) | Phillips Williamson |
Attendance: 11,520 |
22 October 2011 | Leyton Orient | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Matchroom Stadium |
15:00 | Lisbie Daniels |
(Report) | Porter |
Attendance: 5,928 |
25 October 2011 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Milton Keynes Dons | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | Cresswell Phillips |
(Report) | Gleeson Smith |
Attendance: 16,367 |
29 October 2011 | Sheffield United | 4–4 | Exeter City | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Phillips Clarke Lowton |
(Report) | Nardiello Noble O'Flynn Dunne |
Attendance: 17,052 |
5 November 2011 | Stevenage | 2–1 | Sheffield United | The Lamex Stadium |
15:00 | Roberts Laird |
(Report) | Evans |
Attendance: 4,996 |
19 November 2011 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Carlisle United | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans |
(Report) | Attendance: 16,840 |
26 November 2011 | Chesterfield | 0–1 | Sheffield United | B2net Stadium |
13:00 | (Report) | Evans |
Attendance: 9,259 |
10 December 2011 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Rochdale | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans Cresswell |
(Report) | Attendance: 15,892 |
17 December 2011 | Bournemouth | 0–2 | Sheffield United | Dean Court |
15:00 | (Report) | Barrett Cook |
Attendance: 7,260 |
26 December 2011 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Notts County | Bramall Lane |
14:15 | Flynn Sheehan |
(Report) | Judge Demontagnac |
Attendance: 20,538 |
31 December 2011 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Hartlepool United | Bramall Lane |
13:00 | Flynn Porter Evans |
(Report) | Hartley |
Attendance: 20,372 |
2 January 2012 | Carlisle United | 3–2 | Sheffield United | Brunton Park |
15:00 | Zoko McGovern |
(Report) | Evans |
Attendance: 7,721 |
10 January 2011 | Sheffield United | 4–0 | Yeovil Town | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | Cresswell Doyle Williamson |
(Report) | Attendance: 15,965 |
14 January 2012 | Bury | 0–3 | Sheffield United | Gigg Lane |
15:00 | (Report) | Cresswell Evans Williamson |
Attendance: 6,970 |
21 January 2012 | Charlton Athletic | 1–0 | Sheffield United | The Valley |
15:00 | Jackson Russell |
(Report) | Beattie |
Attendance: 20,992 |
11 February 2012 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Hoskins Evans McDonald |
(Report) | Attendance: 17,165 |
14 February 2012 | Huddersfield Town | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Galpharm Stadium |
19:45 | (Report) | Collins |
Attendance: 17,320 |
18 February 2012 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Preston North End | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans |
(Report) | Cummins |
Attendance: 17,579 |
26 February 2012 | Sheffield Wednesday | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Hillsborough Stadium |
13:00 | O'Grady |
(Report) | Attendance: 36,364 |
29 February 2012 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Scunthorpe United | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | Williamson Quinn |
(Report) | Duffy Togwell |
Attendance: 16,165 |
3 March 2012 | Sheffield United | 2–3 | Oldham Athletic | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Lowton Evans Lowton Maguire |
(Report) | Cresswell Lee Kuqi |
Attendance: 17,267 |
6 March 2012 | Walsall | 3–2 | Sheffield United | Bescot Stadium |
19:45 | Mantom Macken Nicholls |
(Report) | Williamson Evans |
Attendance: 5,003 |
10 March 2012 | Brentford | 0–2 | Sheffield United | Griffin Park |
15:00 | (Report) | Evans |
Attendance: 7,414 |
13 March 2012 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Colchester Community Stadium |
19:45 | Gillespie |
(Report) | Hoskins |
Attendance: 4,572 |
17 March 2012 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Tranmere Rovers | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans |
(Report) | Akins |
Attendance: 17,444 |
20 March 2012 | Notts County | 2–5 | Sheffield United | Meadow Lane |
19:45 | Judge Bishop Kelly |
(Report) | Quinn Evans Lowton Collins Williamson |
Attendance: 9,468 |
28 March 2012 | Sheffield United | 4–1 | Chesterfield | Bramall lane |
19:45 | Williamson Evans |
(Report) | Moussa |
Attendance: 20,159 |
31 March 2012 | Hartlepool United | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Victoria Park |
15:00 | Hartley |
(Report) | Evans |
Attendance: 5,825 |
7 April 2012 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Bournemouth | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans Cresswell |
(Report) | Hines |
Attendance: 18,817 |
10 April 2012 | Rochdale | 2–5 | Sheffield United | Spotland Stadium |
19:45 | Kennedy Obadeyi |
(Report) | McDonald Evans Williamson Doyle |
Attendance: 5,309 |
14 April 2012 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Leyton Orient | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Williamson Doyle Evans |
(Report) | Lisbie |
Attendance: 18,272 |
21 April 2012 | Milton Keynes Dons | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Stadium mk |
15:00 | Smith Powell |
(Report) | Attendance: 15,938 |
28 April 2012 | Sheffield United | 2–2 | Stevenage | Bramall Lane |
17:20 | Cresswell Lowton |
(Report) | Byrom Laird |
Attendance: 30,043 |
5 May 2012 | Exeter City | 2–2 | Sheffield United | St James Park |
15:00 | Gow Bennett |
(Report) | Williamson McDonald Beattie |
Attendance: 6,045 |
Playoffs
11 May 2012 Semi Final (1st leg) | Stevenage | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Lamex Stadium |
19:45 | (Report) | Attendance: 5,802 |
14 May 2012 Semi Final (2nd leg) | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Stevenage | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | Porter |
(Report) | Attendance: 21,182 |
26 May 2012 Final | Huddersfield Town | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (8–7 p) | Sheffield United | Wembley, London |
15:00 | (Report) | Attendance: 52,100 | ||
Penalties | ||||
FA Cup
12 November 2011 Round 1 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Oxford United | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Evans Flynn |
(Report) | Attendance: 7,991 |
3 December 2011 Round 2 | Sheffield United | 3–2 | Torquay United | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Ellis Evans |
(Report) | Howe Stevens |
Attendance: 10,105 |
7 January 2012 Round 3 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Salisbury City | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Porter Evans Webb |
(Report) | Macklin |
Attendance: 10,488 |
28 January 2012 Round 4 | Sheffield United | 0–4 | Birmingham City | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | (Report) | Redmond Rooney Elliott |
Attendance: 18,072 |
Football League Cup
9 August 2011 Round 1 | Hartlepool United | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–5 p) | Sheffield United | Victoria Park |
19:30 (postponed to 19:45 due to power-cut) | Sweeney |
(Report) | Quinn |
Attendance: 2,774 |
Penalties | ||||
24 August 2011 Round 2 | Everton | 3–1 | Sheffield United | Goodison Park |
20:00 | Cresswell Anichebe Arteta |
(Report) | Cresswell |
Attendance: 17,173 |
Football League Trophy
30 August 2011 Round 1 | Burton Albion | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Pirelli Stadium |
19:30 | Richards |
(Report) | McAllister Tønne |
Attendance: 2,725 |
4 October 2011 Round 2 | Rotherham United | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield |
19:45 | Revell |
(Report) | Porter Evans |
Attendance: 6,737 |
8 November 2011 Quarter Final | Sheffield United | 1–1 (5–6 p) | Bradford City | Bramall Lane |
19:45 | Phillips |
(Report) | M. Flynn |
Attendance: 5,692 |
Penalties | ||||
Pre–season and friendlies
9 July 2011 | Sheffield | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Coach and Horses Ground, Dronfield |
15:00 | Purkiss |
(Report) | Philliskirk |
Attendance: 2,053 |
12 July 2011 | Worksop Town | 0–1 | Sheffield United XI | Sandy Lane, Worksop |
19:30 | (Report) | Gregory |
Attendance: 1,364 |
18 July 2011 | Sliema Wanderers | 1–3 | Sheffield United | Ta' Qali Stadium, Attard, Malta |
18:30 | Lima |
(Report) | Doyle Cresswell Maguire |
20 July 2011 | Hibernians | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Paola Stadium, Malta |
18:30 | Dos Santos |
(Report) | Bogdanović McAllister Maguire |
26 July 2011 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Doncaster Rovers | Bramall Lane |
19:30 | (Report) | Gillett |
Attendance: 5,002 |
27 July 2011 | Alfreton Town | 2–1 | Sheffield United XI | North Street, Derbyshire |
19:30 | Clayton |
(Report) | Tønne |
31 July 2011 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Blackpool | Bramall Lane |
15:00 | Porter |
(Report) | Sutherland |
Attendance: 5,696 |
2 August 2011 | Stocksbridge Park Steels | 0–4 | Sheffield United XI | Bracken Moor, Stocksbridge |
19:30 | (Report) | Philliskirk Oates Conneely Oates |
Honours and awards
PFA League One Team of the Year
League One Manager of the Month
- December: Danny Wilson[80]
League One Player of the Month
- March: Ched Evans[177]
Football League Young Player of the Month
- August: Harry Maguire[178]
Sheffield Star Young Player of the Year
League One Team of the Week
|
|
Fans Player of the Month
|
|
Club end-of-season awards
- Player of the Year: Harry Maguire[202]
- Young Player of the Year: Harry Maguire[202]
- Goal of the Season: Nick Montgomery (vs. Tranmere Rovers)[202]
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Notes
- ^ Jean-François was born in Cayenne, French Guiana, but also qualified to represent Haiti internationally through his parents and made his international debut for Haiti in 2008.
- ^ Montgomery was born in Leeds, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at U-21 level.
- ^ Williamson was born in Derby, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and was called up by Jamaica in 2008 before making his international debut in September 2015.
- ^ Harriott was born in Luton, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented them at U-19 level.
- ^ Conneely was born in Lambeth, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented them at U-21 and U-23 level.
- ^ Bogdanović was born in Misrata, Libya, but also qualified to represent Malta and made his international debut for Malta in February 2002.
- ^ Ward was born in Birmingham, England, but also qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally through his grandfather and represented them at U-18 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in August 2011.