City edged out in five-goal thriller

Bristol City’s Bramall Lane hoodoo continued as bottom of the table Sheffield United came from behind to edge a five-goal thriller.

The Robins, who have not won at Sheffield United in 54 years, took the lead on 10 minutes when Blades ‘keeper Steve Simonsen inexpilcably bundled Brett Pitman’s inswinging corner into his own net.

Relegation-haunted United then turned the game on its head with two goals in five minutes before the break.

First, Jamie McAllister’s attempted clearance ricocheted off of Lee Williamson and into the net (40) for a deserved equaliser.

Two minutes later, City striker Nicky Maynard was sent off for a two-footed tackled by blundering ref Andy D’Urso before David McAllister rifled the Blades into the lead with a first-time shot following a Nyatanga mistake.

Boss Keith Millen was clearly unhappy with his side at the interval and chose to make a treble change by throwing on Jon Stead, Cole Skuse and Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

The changes seemed to have worked as Pitman fired a 25-yard free-kick against the post on 52, before Stead was scythed down by young Harry Maguire when racing clean through on goal.

D’Urso produced his second red card of the afternoon to dismiss Maguire before Pitman stepped up to dispatch the resulting penalty into the bottom right-hand corner.

Both Pitman and Marvin Elliott wasted glorious chances to re-establish City’s lead only for Jordan Slew to seal a massive three points for the home side when he rifled home Matt Lowton’s low cross four minutes from time.

SHEFF UTD (4-4-2): Simonsen; Maguire, Lowry, Lowton, Mattock; Williamson (Kozluk ’62), Montgomery, D. McAllister, Quinn (Riise ’76); Slew (Philliskirk ’91), Henderson.

CITY (4-4-2): James; Spence, Stewart, Nyatanga, J. McAllister; Adomah (Skuse ’46), Elliott, Cisse (Campbell-Ryce ’46), Woolford (Stead ’46); Pitman, Maynard.

REFEREE: Andy D’Urso (Essex)