BLADES WIN WITH QUINN

Last updated : 29 December 2004 By @blades_mad1889

Scotland international Gray broke the deadlock seven minutes after the interval before midfielder Quinn secured the points in the 65th minute.

But the Foxes had already seen winger Keith Gillespie dismissed in the 29th minute fafter the Northern Ireland international petulantly shoved Jon Harley to the floor following an innocuous tackle.

The Blades could have forged ahead after just three minutes when some incisive passing from midfield saw Michael Tonge ping the ball to the back post, and, when Chris Makin could only half clear, Gray's header was blocked before Danny Cadamarteri glanced the rebound wide.

Then, as the rain lashed down, Gray's control let him down on the edge of the area as he failed to get a clean touch when perfectly placed.

Leicester hit back after 13 minutes and David Connolly tried a clever right-footed lob to catch Ian Bennett off his line.

United were coping better with the tricky conditions and, midway through the half, Chris Morgan had a chance when a corner was half cleared in his direction, but he could not get the ball from under his feet quickly enough.

And the pressure increased on Leicester after 28 minutes when Gillespie received his marching orders.

There seemed little in the challenge from Harley to warrant a response but, as the full-back got to his feet, he was pushed back to the floor unceremoniously by Gillespie, leaving referee Mike Pike to show the former Manchester United man a straight red.

The Blades pressed, looking to make their one-man advantage count, and Leicester goalkeeper Stuart Taylor was almost caught after half-an-hour as he fumbled and then gathered Andy Liddell's free-kick at the second attempt.

But, despite a late surge which saw Gray again go close, there was no way through for the home side.

There was no let-up from the Blades after the restart as Tonge shot into the side-netting from the left edge of the area.

And the creative midfielder was instrumental again six minutes later as Gray fired the hosts ahead.

Tonge's surge from midfield caught the Leicester defence back-peddling and, when he slipped a pass to the left to Gray, the striker cut back to deceive his marker and hammered low into the corner.

United were in full flow and Cadamarteri lashed a shot straight at Taylor before Liddell's charge on goal was halted by a last-ditch tackle.

Then, in the 65th minute, they found the killer second goal as Cadamarteri burst down the left flank and cut back for Quinn to thump home emphatically.

Leicester knew the game was slipping away from them and sent on Lee Morris in place of David Connolly in a bid to pep up their flagging attack.

But, although James Scowcroft went close with a 20-yard effort that looped over the crossbar in the 76th minute, it mattered little.