Blues went into the game knowing that only a win would guarantee the Top Six finish required, and in the end, it proved that anything less would indeed have resulted in Blues finishing 7th. Such a precarious position meant that players would have to calm their nerves to grind out a result, and for 45 minutes, those in blue struggled to do so.
United had picked a youthful side, and this showed as their energy in the opening exchanges meant that they were the better and more dangerous looking side. Ex Blues forward Peter Ndlovu went close after getting the better of Grainger on the edge of the area, although Nico Vaesen was equal to Ndlovu's tame effort.
Blues gradually got themselves back into the game - though not emphatically. Tommy Mooney, again in his unaccustomed wide left role, flashed a volley just wide of Simon Tracey's right hand post. Olivier Tebily also caused havoc in the Blades defence with one of his typical forays forward. However, Blues were unable to make that vital breakthrough, and went into the interval with the slightest of holds onto 6th place, ahead of Burnley.
Blues started the second half somewhat more brightly, though still struggled to find that cutting edge. They finally took the lead - much to the relief of a packed St Andrews - on the hour mark, through Horsfield. A Jeff Kenna throw-in into the area caused United problems, and after Bryan Hughes won a scrambled ball, Horsfield was on hand to prod home from some 2 or 3 yards to ecstatic scenes in the stands.
Blues doubled their advantage just 2 minutes later, courtesy of Grainger's second spectacular strike in as many games. Stern John, who had been lively throughout, was felled some 25 yards from goal, slightly to the right. Tracey, in the United goal, showed Grainger an awful lot of his goal at his near post, and Grainger duly obliged by curling the ball in. Grainger then continued to pepper the United goal with a series of free-kicks for the rest of the game - hitting the cross-bar with his next effort, but then gradually losing his range.
The afternoon was dampened considerably for Blues with the dismissal of defensive lynchpin Darren Purse, some 13 minutes from time. Purse was caught out by a ball over the top that United substitute Nick Montgomery had latched onto, and with Montgomery thorugh on goal, Purse appeared to haul him down. Given the circumstances, the merest of touches would have merited a red card, and referee Phil Preston produced one. Blues were never really troubled with their depleted numbers, but Blues fans must now wait patiently to see what ban Purse receives, and which game(s) he will miss. It could prove costly.
Overall, a nervous Blues side probably deserved their victory, but will have to up their game considerably for the tough task of facing Millwall over two legs in the play-off semis. With the First Leg at St Andrews, Steve Bruce and his men will look for the crowd to whip up a frenzied atmosphere again to try and help us enter the hostile New Den with at least a two goal lead. Very much easier said than done, but even so, very much possible.
Richard Barker
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