Swindon 5 Sheffield Utd 5 (7-6 agg): Blades endure yet more play-off heartache

Sheffield United's Robert Harris stands dejected.Sheffield United's Robert Harris stands dejected.
Sheffield United's Robert Harris stands dejected.
THE wait goes on. Twenty seven years after first dipping their toes in the lottery that is the play-offs, Sheffield United are still waiting to enjoy the sweet taste of success.

Rarely, though, during those eight fruitless attempts at trying to prevail in the end-of-season deciders can the Blades have been involved in such drama as last night, the highest-scoring game in play-off history.

An incredible 10 goals were scored by two teams who have now shared 22 in four pulsating meetings this term.

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And while United came up just short, mainly thanks to a woeful opening 18 minutes that saw Nigel Clough’s side fall 3-0 behind on the night and 5-1 on aggregate, they did play a full part in one of the play-offs craziest games.

Che Adams scores to make it 5-5 but, even with seven minutes of stoppage time, Sheffield United could not draw level on aggregate with Swindon (Picture: Martyn Harrison).Che Adams scores to make it 5-5 but, even with seven minutes of stoppage time, Sheffield United could not draw level on aggregate with Swindon (Picture: Martyn Harrison).
Che Adams scores to make it 5-5 but, even with seven minutes of stoppage time, Sheffield United could not draw level on aggregate with Swindon (Picture: Martyn Harrison).

Only the night when Neil Warnock’s Blades reached the 2003 final by beating Nottingham Forest 4-3 in the second leg can surely come close to matching last night’s amazing clash.

Not, of course, that this will be much consolation this morning as United reflect on how a 63-game season ended with five goals being scored at the home of a promotion rival and yet it was not enough to earn one final match at Wembley, against Preston.

What, ultimately, dashed those dreams was a beginning to the game where the visitors’ defence bore the look of many a motorist who has come a cropper on the notorious ‘magic roundabout’ that sits outside the County Ground.

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Confusion and chaos abounded in the Blades’ backline and the upshot was the Robins racing into what proved to be an unassailable advantage.

Nathan Byrne, the man who had secured their precious first-leg victory at Bramall Lane with a stoppage-time strike, was the main tormentor. Twice, he made ridiculously light work of the Blades’ backline to create openings for Ben Gladwin, which were gleefully accepted.

The first came inside three minutes, Gladwin powering a header beyond Mark Howard after being picked out by a searching delivery from the wideman.

Swindon’s second came seven minutes later, Byrne winning a 50/50 duel with Bob Harris before expertly setting up Gladwin with a deft cross that was just begging to be tapped in.

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It was a nightmare start for Clough’s men and one that got even worse on 18 minutes thanks to more slack defending on the part of the visitors.

Michael Smi