Sheffield United vs Millwall

UTB 53
R Ashley Ward is on target in the win at West Brom
Nottingham Forest and Stoke City being
especially damaging.
2. Whilst cup runs to match the previous
season were unrealistic the manner of the
team’s exit from the FA Cup and League Cup
was disappointing. In the FA Cup the team had
done well to reach the last eight but in a tight,
tense game at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light
the Blades lost 1-0. In the League Cup the
Blades were deservedly beaten 2-0 at home
by Division Two Queens Park Rangers in the
second round.
3. The sale of influential midfielder, Michael
Brown, in December 2003 to Tottenham
Hotspur was a blow. Brown had been a key
player the previous season notching 16 league
goals. Although he had not started this season,
missing games through injury and suspension,
he was nevertheless still a key player and was
difficult to replace. As he was out of contract at
the end of the season the club had no option
but to accept a lower fee than they would have
otherwise required.
× THE UNUSUAL...
1. The first day of the new season, Saturday
9th August 2003, was one of the hottest in
which the Football League had kicked off.
Temperatures of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit
were recorded at Luton Town and Bradford
City. The Blades played Gillingham at the
Lane, a game which ended 0-0 as the players
struggled to cope with the heat.
2. Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was injured in the
40th minute at Crystal Palace on 26th August
2003 and did not return to action until the end
of December. For the remaining 50 minutes
of the Palace game Phil Jagielka went in goal
and did a fine job conceding only one goal, a
penalty, as the team clinched a 2-1 win. After
the Palace game Kenny’s replacement was Paul
Gerrard signed on loan from Everton. Gerrard‘s
loan was time limited and when this temporary
move ended the Blades fielded two ‘keepers
making their debuts in the 3-2 defeat at Burnley.
In the first-half Lee Baxter played but made
errors costing two goals. He was replaced at
half-time by Alan Fettis.
3. The team earned a remarkable 14 penalties
during the course of the league season netting
12 and missing two. There were also five
different players who took the kicks. They were
Michael Brown, Peter Ndlovu, Jack Lester, Andy
Gray and Michael Tonge. Tonge was the only
one of the above who did not score.
× THE VERDICT...
An eighth-place finish two places and two
points outside the play-offs was a very
disappointing outcome after such a promising
start to the season. The team lost impetus in the
second half of the season winning only six of its
final 19 league games.
R Baking hot conditions greet the teams on
the opening day against Gillingham
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs MILLWALL