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Date Tuesday 5 March David Smith, returning from his loan spell at Macclesfield, went straight in to the side in place of the injured Karim Fradin and Keith Briggs returned for John Hardiker with Ali Gibb reverting to his wing-back role. Youngster fraser mcLachlan took a starring role in the opening eleven mintues of this match. Firstly he was booked for a hard challenge in the cetre circle after just five minutes, but then on 11 he played a superb ball over the top of the Bradford defence, Luke Beckett raced on to it and prodded it past the Bradford 'keeper. So we were 1-0 up, and believe it or not we haven't lost this season after taking the lead and having already beaten Bradford this season the omens were good. They could have looked even better just a couple of minutes later, but Keith Briggs' header was blocked and Luek beckett's follow-up was cleared off the line by Stuart McCall. Nathan Blake, possibly offside or possibly not, was played through behind the County defence and Rob Clare had two goes at attempting to bring him down. The second was successful, and though replays showed that the second contact, let alone the first, took place outside the area the referee gave a penalty on the advice of his assisstant. This decision might not have been correct, but the sending-off of Clare was. Dean Sturridge took the penalty and made Lee Jones look a fool as he was hopelessly fooled by a stuttering run-up leaving the former-Leicester man to stroke it in to the other side of the net. Down to ten men against the league leaders was always going to be tough, and bad dfending on 28 minutes made the mountain even higher. Mark Kennedy's corner was partially cleared but the ball came back to him on the right-hand side and his inswinging left-side cross went between Joleon Lescott, brother of County's Aaron, and Lee Jones and in to the back of the net. Jones will not enjoy seeing it again as he should have done better. Goalkeeping errors were not strictly limited to the County No. 1 though, as Michael Oakes showed that he had caught the bug by gifting County a way back in to the game on 33 minutes. Oakes took too long teying to control the ball and Luke Beckett closed him down before blocking the clearance and putting the ball in from a tight angle. He now becomes the top scorer at the club with three goals. However, County couldn't keep this foothold until half-time as they pressed the self-distruct button again from a corner. Mark Kennedy's left-sided corner swung in to find Dean Sturridge just six yards put, who simply flicked the ball in to the net with the outside of his right boot. My half-time text read COUNTY 1 WOLVES 3 CLARE SENT-OFF. In to the second half, and Wolves made their man advantage count to the full as they produced a number of saves from Lee Jones. Perhaps the most impressive of these was a double save by Jones, keeping out both of the goalscorers (Kennedy and Sturridge) on 65 minutes. However, a mere six minutes later Kennedy did have his second goal, and what a goal it was too. The ball came out from the edge of the area to te left-sided player who slammed it from fully 30 yards with the outside of his boot and the curl took it in to the top corner of the net. For neutrals this put the game beyond doubt, but seasoned County fans knew it ws over long before this. County offered little in the closing stages and Wolves made a mockery of the earlier 2-2 result between the clubs at Molineux earlier in the season. There was certainly a gap between the two clubs, and come six months time it could be two leagues. County: (3-5-2) Jones 6; Clare 5, Challinor 6, Thomas 6 (Carratt 5); Hardiker 6, Wild 6, Briggs 7, A.Lescott 6, Fradin 6; Palmer 5, Beckett 6. Not used: Turner, Hancock, Ross, Williams.
Wolves: (4-4-2) Oakes; Muscat, Butler, J.Lescott, Camara; Newton, Rae, Cameron (Andrews), Kennedy; Sturridge (Miller), Blake (Ndah). Not used: Connelly, Murray.
ATTENDANCE: 8,481 Date Saturday 2 March County made only two changes from the side that capitulated at Grimsby, but also a change in formation from the ill-fated and probably ill-advised 3-4-3 back to 3-5-2. The personell changes were Gibb for Briggs and a debut for Fraser McLachlan in place of the injured Aaron Lescott. Conuty started the first half playing towards the visiting fans, and with the baiting Sheffield United fans booing Carlton Palmer every time he touched the ball due to his previous involvement with Sheffield Wednesday (does every team have a reason to boo him?). The first half as a whole was a strange affair. Neither side was able to work up any real rhythm due to the high number of injuries that occured throughtout the half; four players in total had to be substituted, two from each side. The first of these injuries befell on-loan Birmingham striker Paul Furlong midway through the half, but only after he had had the best chance of the entire half, glancing his header wide from a left-wing corner The injury served to bring on one of the most infamous figures to have played in a County shirt over the last couple of years, Laurent D'Jaffo. John Hardiker, again starting in the right wing-back role, had County's best sight of goal. He broke away after County had cleared a Sheffield United set-piece and got to the edge of the penalty area before seeming to lose his way, being unsure whether to pass or not, and he then blasted a rather desperate shot at goal which endangered the Conuty fans more than the home goal. The spate of injuries resurfaced as half-time approaches, Karim fradin forced off and replaced by Phil Carratt and the homes side's Phil Jagielka going off after being injured in a tackle with Ali Gibb, although the challenge did appear fair. This meant that there were five minutes of added time at the end of the half, and even in this period there was still time for another injury to strike County. 'Keeper Lee Jones took the bal inside the penalty area under presure from D'Jaffo who made contact with Jones around the neck area. Jones, wearing grey was forced off and replaced by he lilac-wearing Sam Turner. Beckett and Hardiker were also booked in a drab first half. County had held their own in the first half, a fact reinforced by the boos from the home fans at the half time whistle, so when the second half began, at 4.13, County were probably in confident mood. By half past, this confidence was a distant memory. The first goal came on 51 minutes, for a dubiously-awarded free-kick for an apparent foul by Gibb on D'Jaffo. Michael Brown put the free-kick in and Colin Woodthorpe rose with Ndlovu and flicked it over Turner in to his own net. A third own goal of the year for Woodthorpe following strikes against Gillingham and Bolton. Two incidents four minutes later diffused any remaining County hope. Luke Beckett attempted to tackle Keith Curle as he cleared the ball but got there a fraction late, Curle rolled around on the floor, Beckett was shown a second yellow card and sent-off. The free-kick came to Paul Peschisolido who got to the egde of the area and drilled the ball past Turner. Two became three on 61 minutes in slgihtly bizaare fashion. Rob Ullathorne got down the left and shot at goal, Turner beat it out but only at Ndlovu, whose reaction header went in off the base of the post, leaving Turner bemused. The rest of the game was something of a non-event, United passing the ball amogst themselves for long periods, and Palmer getting a yellow card much to the delight of the home faithful. Both Ndlovu, who headed side when unmarked from six yards and D'Jaffo, who fired over the bar with Turner on the ground, should have increased the margain of victory. However, three was more than enough to beat sorry County, who now face the real possibility of being relegated by arch-rivals Burnley next Saturday if they fail to earn any points from that game or the one against Bradford. Sheffield United: (4-4-2) Tracey; Uhlenbeek, Curle, Page, Ullathorne; Jagielka (Tonge), Brown, Ford, Ndlovu; Peschisolido (Santos), Furlong (D'Jaffo). Not used: Nicholson, Montgomery.
County: (3-5-2) Jones 7 (Turner 5); Clare 6, Palmer 5, Challinor 5; Hardiker 5 (Thomas 6), Gibb 6, Fradin 6 (Carratt 5), McLachlan 6, Woodthorpe 6; Beckett 5, Daly 6. Not used: Ross, Wild.
ATTENDANCE: 15,642
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