The previous season saw Sheffield United reach the play-offs for the third time since being relegated from the Championship in 2011. Under the previous stewardship of Nigel Clough, the Blades lost the first leg of the semis at home to Swindon Town before recording a dramatic 5-5 draw at the County Ground after finding themselves three goals down after twenty minutes, sparking one of the greatest games ever played but due to the result, one which will quickly be sketched out of the memories.
Preston North End would go onto destroy Swindon in the final at Wembley, ending the season on a positive note after losing second spot to MK Dons on the final day of the regular season. Bristol City were also promoted as Champions.
The Blades pre-season preparations begun with appointing a new manager following the dismissal of Clough after failing to meet expectations. Nigel Adkins who had a good CV with Scunthorpe United and Southampton at this level was the chosen candidate to steer United into the Championship. United also begun work on the new £1M Desso 4G pitch.
Adkins task was to improve on the previous season’s performance and go one step further. His first move into the transfer market saw him recruit Martyn Woolford from Millwall, whom he had maanged whilst at Scunny.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was on target in the away victory at Ilkeston.
Ilkeston Town 0-1 Sheffield United - Friendly
Saturday, 18 July 2015
Nigel Adkins Sheffield United kick-started the pre-season preparations with a single goal victory at non-leaguers Ilkeston FC last Saturday with a goal from youngster Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Calvert-Lewin netted for the Blades with only five minutes of the match remaining to hand victory to United who fielded 23 different players throughout the course of the 90 minutes. Whilst the hosts will be happy with the result, especially after recording an identical score line against our neighbours Sheffield Wednesday but whilst this was a match scheduled in order to start gaining match fitness the result more than flattered our opponents.
The headlines would have been congratulating Michael Higdon rather than an academy starlet had he converted his chances in the first half, his efforts were on target and destined to bulge the net. His first coming just 90 seconds into the match. A Harris corner was met by the head of the former Motherwell striker but was disappointed to see his header booted off the line. He was handed a second chance to score moments later but this time he headed wide at the far post.
Adkins had fielded a more recognisable starting XI in the first half with Neill Collins wearing a United shirt for the first time since they lost at Chesterfield last October and James Wallace returning from injury. Marc McNulty started in attack alongside Higdon with Jamie Murphy out wide. Striker McNulty was busy in attack for the Blades but he was denied twice by Brazilian stopper Rachoni. At the other end Gordon looped an effort into the hands of Mark Howard. On the half hour mark Higdon again connected with Harris’ corner but his header was once again cleared off the line. Rachoni was equal to Wallace’s header and Chris Basham saw his shot deflect wide as the Blades failed to punish their hosts in the first 45 minutes of play.
Che Adams and Kieran Wallace – both formerly with Ilkeston were added to the side in the second half. The entire XI was changed with more senior players Stefan Scougall and Jose Baxter also added. Florent Cuvelier was included also after an absence through injury and newly re-signed youngster Diego DeGirolamo was put to the test. On 55 minutes Adams, who made his name scoring twice against Tottenham last season almost broke the deadlock but was denied by the legs of Rachoni who was making a good account of himself in the Ilkeston goal.
George Long was mostly unused in the second half and might as well have got the deck chair out in what was pretty much a quiet second 45 minutes. With ten minutes remaining the game livened up when Adams went so close to scoring and De Girolamo squandered his chance until the net finally bulged. Wallace had marshalled the ball out of defence with the ball making its way through midfield via Adams and De Girolamo before CALVERT-LEWIN fired past Rachoni and into the bottom corner; 0-1. As the game drew to a close United continued to attack but failed to add to the score-line.
Cheltenham Town 1-3 Sheffield United - Friendly
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Late goals from Michael Higdon and Jose Baxter was enough to secure victory over Cheltenham Town last night and make it two wins out of two. United had taken the lead through young starlet Che Adams before a Amari Morgan-Smith strike levelled for the hosts. But back to back goals for Higdon and Baxter in the 89th and 90th minute respectively was enough to ensure a second pre-season victory for new boss Nigel Adkins.
In contrast to the win at Ilkeston last Saturday the Blades chief opted to field a starting XI, all of which played 60 minutes before changing personnel. The replacements included a debut for Martyn Woolford and the inclusion of Jamie Murphy. From the off it was evident that Adams would be installed as striker and this tactical moved paid off, within 13 minutes a cool ball through from Dominic Calvert-Lewin saw ADAMS fire past Phillips in the Robins goal; 1-0.
The hosts were reduced to set pieces as they struggled to carve their way through the United defence but came close when Storer hit wide, Pell fired over the bar and Parslow saw his header off target. Close to the break Calvert-Lewin almost turned home from a James Wallace free-kick. Before the half-time whistle blew there was further action to be had, McGahey's clearance was intercepted by Munns and his ball through to a unmarked MORGAN-SMITH who fired home from distance past Long.
Early in the second half Conor Dimaio and Diego DeGiralomo made attempts to get back into the lead but failed before Long was forced into action, saving Downes effort before - on the hour mark - the subsequent changes were made. Higdon was unfortunate to not get on the score-sheet in the win at Ilkeston after he saw two efforts cleared off the line and it seemed as though he would get short change at Whaddon Road also as he headed Campbell-Ryce's cross into the arms of substitute Kitscha. At the other end Dale created a shot and fired wide.
With the two teams fielding a new XI they both struggled to find shape within the team and came as no surprise that the goal mouth action was somewhat drab from then onwards, right until the closing minutes when the 236 travelling Blades fans were treated to some celebrations. Woolford's corner was attempted to be cleared but HIGDON collected on the edge of the box and his half-volley cannoned into the back of the net.
There was enough time for the visitors to claim a third goal before the end of the game, Murphy proved the catalyst down the left flank and his low cross fell kindly for BAXTER to hit home; 3-1.
Exeter City 1-2 Sheffield United - Friendly
Thursday, 26 July 2015
A narrow victory for Sheffield United last night at St James Park made it three wins out of three in the space of five days. Neill Collins had given the Blades a lead before a Tom Nichols penalty levelled things up for Exeter City before Che Adams was once again on the score-sheet, sliding the ball past keeper Bobby Olejnik for the winner.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins once again rotated the squad which had won at Cheltenham Town two days previous with most of the starting line-up again playing an hour of football before being subsequently changed. Only George Long in goal played the full 90 minutes whilst Martyn Woolford started at left-back for the injured Bob Harris. It was the hosts who made the brighter start to the game with United fortunate that both Wheeler and Holmes fired off-target but the more experienced Blades were more successful at the other end. Having won a corner, Woolford delivered into the box with COLLINS thumping header reaching the top corner of the goal.
On the half hour mark the visitors went close to doubling their lead when Baxter, after linking up well with Higdon saw his effort deflect wide and with the first half drawing to a close Freeman looked to score but Oakley headed off the line. A chance fell for United early in the second half. After Adams was introduced for Higdon, from a Freeman cross, McNulty looked to pounce but left for Basham who missed the target. It was a miss which proved costly, at the other end Wheeler spun away from the Blades defence and was pulled down by Collins in the box. NICHOLS was on hand to send Long the wrong way to equalise.
United continued to pepper the goal, a fortunate ricochet allowed Campbell-Ryce to play in McNulty, but his effort was blocked and in another attack Woolford saw his shot pushed round the post. At the other end Wheeler fired over the top before Adkins rang in the planned changes. Long was put under pressure from a McGahey back-pass but he managed to keep out Nicholls whilst, at the other end Adams crossed for Calvert-Lewin whom headed over the bar. But on 79th minute the small 192 Blades fans who made the long journey to Devon was left reeling in celebration when a ball over the top saw ADAMS chase one-on-one with the keeper and coolly slot home at his near post; 2-1. As the game drew to a close Calvert-Lewin almost extended the lead but Egan cleared for the hosts.