Sheffield United travelled to Middlesbrough on the 1st January and it wasn't to be the start of an eventful month, picking up just four points out of a possible twelve. They were kicked out at the third stage of the FA Cup for the second season running with a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Swansea City.
Backup keeper Paul Gerrard was put in goal for the game at the Riverside Stadium, with Paddy Kenny picking up an injury during the 1-0 win over Arsenal on 30 December, whilst substitute shot stopper Ian Bennett was also unavailable through injury.
The home side took the lead through Mark Viduka (36 minutes) before Phil Jagielka (45) levelled from the spot. After the break the Reds came back with abundance with Yakubu (69 & 76 pen) grabbing a brace to win the game 3-1.
Before the Blades visited the North East it was publicly announced that striker Ade Akinbiyi had been sold to Burnley in a deal that could rise to £1,200,000. Akinbiyi was bought from Burnley in January 2006, netting on his debut at Derby County.
He also netted the Blades second goal in their 2-1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday. In all the forward made just 14 (+6) starts and scored a total of four goals.
David Unsworth left Sheffield United to join fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic on a free transfer on the Friday before United lost 3-0 at home to Swansea City in the FA Cup Third Round. Paul Butler (53 & 59) and Leon Britton (67 pen) scored the goals for the Swans.
And, on the following Monday Neil Warnock makes his first signing in the new transfer window with the arrival of full-back Matthew Kilgallon from Leeds United in a £1,750,000 move. Meanwhile winger Paul Ifill is sold to boyhood team Crystal Palace for £750,000.
Following the signing of Kilgallon, Neil Warnock is quick to recruit his next deal. Former Blackburn Rovers striker Jonathan Stead arrives from Sunderland in a £750,000 deal and goes straight into the starting XI to face Portsmouth.
The game ended 1-1 with Stephen Quinn (22) smashing in a almighty free-kick before a mix between Claude Davis and Paul Gerrard allowed Gary O'Neil (81) to snatch an unworthy point for the visitors.
United soon make it four new signings with the exciting Luton Shelton and Mamadou Seck arriving from Helsingborgs (Sweden) and Le Harve (France) a deal with £2,000,000 and a free transfer respectively.
Striker Neil Shipperley leaves Bramall Lane to join League One strugglers Brentford on a free transfer, the Bees are eventually relegated to League Two.
Jonathan Forte extends his loan move at Doncaster Rovers until the end of the season, Forte would be thankful for the move after Rovers win the Johnstone Paint Trophy at the Millennium Stadium on Easter weekend against Bristol Rovers. The loanee netted within 90 seconds of the start and eventually won the game 3-2 in extra-time.
The Blades visit to the Madejski Stadium was a disaster, with United losing 3-1. French striker Christian Nade (77) netting a consolation goal after Shane Long (44), Usiles De La Cruz (50) and Stephen Hunt (50).
However United were reduced to 10 ten when Keith Gillespie was handed a straight red card for elbowing Hunt, which caused a Malay in the dugout involving Neil Warnock and Reading coach Wally Downes. Both clubs eventually fined.
Sheffield United claimed their first win of the month with a 2-0 victory over Fulham, with Michael Tonge and Jonathan Stead netting his first Blades goal.
Stead pulled out some terrific performances in the short period of time he had been at Bramall Lane, and did enough to be voted Player of the Month for January.
Results
- 01 January - Middlesbrough 3-1 Blades
- 06 January - Blades 0-3 Swansea City (FAC3)
- 13 January - Blades 1-1 Portsmouth
- 20 January - Reading 3-1 Blades
- 30 January - Blades 2-0 Fulham
Blades-Mad Player of the Month: 1. Jonathan Stead, 2. Stephen Quinn, 3. Chris Lucketti