Ten on the Spin by the Lad from a Tin*

Sheffield United 1-0 Carlisle United
Sky Bet League 1
Bramall Lane
Attendance: 15,437

Hopes of a Wembley double are still very much alive for Nigel Clough whose side recorded a routine win against Carlisle United in what has been a far from routine season so far for Sheffield United.

Clough (right), who saw his side book a date in the FA Cup semi-final with victory over Charlton Athletic at the weekend, allowed himself the luxury of dreaming of an unlikely play-off spot just months on from relegation fears.

“The top five have probably gone away a little bit but that sixth spot is still up for grabs,” he said optimistically.

The Blades, who celebrate their 125^th anniversary this season, have now recorded ten consecutive wins in all competitions and saw this one out thanks to Jose Baxter’s 28^th minute strike.

“I’m incredibly proud of what the players have achieved. You almost run out of superlatives as to what they have done,” added Clough. “Some of them were dead on their feet.”

The rustiness of United’s performance was in evidence early on; Ryan Flynn set up Stefan Scougall who shot straight at the visitor’s ‘keeper Jordan Pickford, before the favour was returned and Flynn screwed past the post.

The deadlock was broken just short of the half hour mark as on-loan Liverpool midfielder Conor Coady found former Everton striker Baxter (right) who made space for himself in the box before coolly slotting past Pickford.

That one goal lead sufficed as Clough’s men never looked like adding to it and the few half chances which fell the way of the Cumbrian’s – via Brad Pott’s long range shot and Dave Symington’s deflected strike – never threatened to equal it.

*To those who may be confused by the headline, United goalscorer Jose Baxter shares his name with the famous Scottish soup giants. Here is a photo of one of their products, just for reference.