Phillips Goal Avoids Close Shave


Sheffield United 2-1 MK Dons (Npower League 1) - Bramall Lane. Att: 16,367

Sheffield United moved up to fourth in League 1 with a hard-fought victory over play-off contenders MK Dons.

Matt Phillips (right) scored the 67th minute winner as he combined with fellow Blackpool loanee Billy Clarke to take the Blades to within 3 points of the automatic places.

The hosts started the game nervously after conceding a goal late in Saturday’s draw at Leyton Orient and Dons midfielder Stephen Gleeson’s poke at George Long’s goal caused early problems before Neil Collins brave block.

The alarm bells were ringing for United but they broke the deadlock on 22 minutes through centre forward Richard Cresswell. Stephen Quinn broke free from the halfway line and after a neat one-two with Clarke; he laid on Cresswell to power home from 15 yards for his fifth of the season.

In a stop-start encounter, Phillips stung the hands of David Martin before the excellent centre half Harry Maguire headed a Quinn corner narrowly wide.

Target man Jabo Ibehre laid on Gleeson to restore parity in the 52nd minute however, with a low 20 yard drive that flashed past 17 year old Long – who was making his home debut.

The Blades, who are now four unbeaten, ensured it wasn’t to be a successive stalemate though when Clarke twisted and turned inside the box to fire across for Phillips to prod home from close range on 67 minutes.

Disappointment for Karl Robinson’s men was heightened further by the dismissal of Adam Smith for a second booking to compound a miserable evening in the Steel City.

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