Posted by By Sean Beynon
at Ashton Gate
City hearts went from joy to despair in an astonishing turnaround at Ashton Gate on Saturday. Having seemingly rescued a point five minutes into injury time, the Robins were broken when Darius Henderson’s third goal of the game secured three points for Sheffield United with a heart-breaking winner seconds from full time.
Alvaro Saborio looked to have given City a share of the spoils in stoppage time with a neat finish through a sea of defenders. The Blades were not be be deterred and, after City gave the ball away from the kick-off, Henderson popped up inside the area to beat an outstretched Dean Gerken with a sweetly timed drive.
The loss brings to an end City’s eleven-month unbeaten home record. It is the manner of the loss, against a tenacious United, that will most concern Gary Johnson. A litany of mistakes from a fragile looking defence cost City dear, and leaves them in 12th place in the Championship.
Lee Johnson replaced Lewin Nyatanga in City’s only change, and the home side started well. Confident passing football was well received by the Ashton Gate faithful. Paul Hartley, in particular, was at his influential best, and some fine inter-play with Evander Sno and Johnson gave City some early hope.
Plenty of chances were created, but City couldn’t make their dominance count. Danny Haynes blasted two speculative shots well wide and Marvin Elliott kept United’s loanee keeper Carl Ikeme alert on his debut.
Just as City’s dominance looked sure to break the deadlock, United got themselves into the game. They won a spate of corners in quick succession and the pressure told. Gerken could only punch Jamie Ward’s delivery to Henderson’s feet. Taking a touch, he finished cooly, only for the linesman’s flag to be raised. After a prolonged consultation, referee Andy Hall over-ruled his assistant and gave the goal, much to the fury of City’s players and fans.
City’s day quickly went from bad to worse. Jamie McCombe inexplicably gave the ball straight to Ward, who drew his man and slid through to Henderson who made no mistake. With McCombe’s confidence visibly drained, he was given a tough time by a minority of City’s fans, and saw little of the ball for the remainder of the half.
Haynes wasted two golden chances before half-time to get the home side back into the game. He first lashed wide after Ikeme had fumbled a cross. Just before the break, Hartley set the former Ipswich man free. Haynes dallied and then slipped, and Ikeme’s strong keeping kept the Blades two clear going into half time.
City looked certain to halve the deficit immediately after the restart. Sno’s sublime pass from the left found an equally excellent Johnson run. With a sight of goal, the midfielder was too cute with his finish, which was well blocked by an advancing Ikeme.
Louis Carey then gave the Robins a lifeline. City’s skipper did well to get on the end of Hartley’s excellent free-kick, heading powerfully home to give the keeper no chance.
Finally, Ashton Gate got behind Carey’s side as they chased the game. United tried a range of time-wasting tactics, but a refreshed City always looked likely to find the leveller. Ikeme made two smart saves from Maynard and Haynes, and Ivan Sproule and Saborio were introduced to freshen things up. Despite their dominance, City gave the ball away endlessly. There was some exceptional football, but it was largely eclipsed by disappointing errors.
Just as any remaining hope was disappearing, Saborio popped up. City had abandoned their attempts to play flowing football, pushing McCombe forward and launching desperate balls into the box. Finally, one fell for the Costa Rican international. Saborio’s second goal for City was a scrappy one, but it sent the home fans into raptures. City had got out of jail in the most extraordinary fashion. Or so they thought…
City chipped the ball back to Ikeme from the restart. United broke, and it was Henderson – who else – who was on hand to fire home the winner. A stunning, frantic game for the neutral, but one which will leave Gary Johnson’s men sick to the stomach. Their proud unbeaten home record gone, City will have a chance to make amends next Saturday, as Ipswich Town visit Ashton Gate.
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