Sheffield United vs Rotherham United

48 UTB
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Each week PAUL HOLLAND looks back on a prominent game
from the past between the Blades and our opponents…
SHEFFIELD UNITED 1-0 ROTHERHAM UNITED
SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER 1951
An impressive
53,537 attended
this Second
Division fixture which saw
United escape with a
1-0 victory.
The Blades maintained a
100% home record, having
won seven matches,
during which United
claimed a 7-3 victory over
Sheffield Wednesday
and a 5-0 success
over Swansea.
Against Rotherham, the
score was goalless at the
break. The home faithful
will have been relieved
that they had not fallen
behind when the Millers
failed to convert a first-half
spot-kick. Jack Grainger’s
cross was met by the head
of Peter Wragg, who would
later become a Blades
player, his goalbound
effort was handled on
the line by Harry Latham,
resulting in a penalty.
Norman Noble took the
spot kick but hit the post,
and as the ball rebounded
to him, he smashed it over
the bar. United, however,
could have taken the lead
as early as the first minute
after Alf Ringstead’s free
kick found Jimmy Hagan
but Millers’ stopper
Danny Bolton saved the
low effort.
The Blades too
were unfortunate. The
impressive Hagan had
delivered a quality ball to
Ringstead inside the box,
his effort was good, but
Grainger cleared, and in
doing so, almost dragged
the ball over the line.
The winning goal arrived
with 20 minutes remaining.
United were awarded a
free kick on the edge of
Rotherham’s penalty area
and after positioning his
players, Hagan dinked a
ball into the box which saw
Harold Brook swing and
fire past Bolton.
The hosts were guilty
of wasting golden
opportunities to extend
their lead as Brook flashed
over the bar from Hagan’s
hard work, and Ringstead
missed two efforts in as
many minutes.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs ROTHERHAM UNITED