Date: 7 April 2007
Venue: Bramall Lane
KO Time: 1500 GMT
WEBBER SET FOR BLADES RETURN
Striker Danny Webber could return to Sheffield United's squad to face Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.
Webber missed last weekendÂ’s defeat at Bolton Wanderers with a foot injury but has trained this week.
With leading scorer Rob Hulse ruled out for the season with a broken leg Jon Stead is challenging Christian Nade for a place in the starting line-up.
Newcastle defender Craig Moore could retain his place in the team to face the Blades.
The Australia international limped out of last SaturdayÂ’s 1-0 Barclays Premiership defeat by Manchester City with a groin injury which Glenn Roeder thought might sideline him for several weeks.
However, he has responded to treatment and could be available at Bramall Lane.
Roeder has no fresh fitness concerns with strikers Michael Owen (knee) and Shola Ameobi (hip) close to returning to full training.
so is owen going to start this match?
SHEFFIELD UNITED v NEWCASTLE UNITED, 1-2 Sat 7 Apr 2007
Sheffield United's relegation worries increased after a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.
Obafemi Martins put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute when he volleyed home from the edge of the area after James MilnerÂ’s knockdown.
Blades substitute Christian Nade fired home on the angle from 10 yards in the 74th minute but, six minutes later, Steven Taylor out-jumped Leigh Bromby to head past Paddy Kenny.
Having dropped into the Barclays PremiershipÂ’s bottom three after CharltonÂ’s goalless draw at Manchester City on Good Friday, Neil WarnockÂ’s side find themselves just two points ahead of second-bottom West Ham United following the HammersÂ’ shock victory at Arsenal.
In truth, for long periods they played like a side with relegation on their mind, with the majority of the 32,572 crowd enduring similar feelings.
The manager made three changes to the team beaten 1-0 at Bolton last week, replacing Matthew Kilgallon, Michael Tonge and Nade with Chris Armstrong, Stephen Quinn and former Sunderland striker Jon Stead.
Craig Moore (groin) was passed fit and so NewcastleÂ’s two changes saw Kieron Dyer and Celestine Babayaro make way for Milner and Antoine Sibierski.
In the third minute, Quinn won a free-kick after MilnerÂ’s late challenge. Mikele Leigertwood curled in a cross but Chris Lucketti could not get any power on his header and the ball bounced to safety.
At the other end, Damien DuffÂ’s low corner from the left found its way through a crowd of players to Sibierski but he scuffed a shot wide from 12 yards.
In the ninth minute, a misunderstanding between Phil Jagielka and Kenny as to who had to deal with a long ball forward presented Martins with a chance but the goalkeeper scrambled clear.
But if the Blades had had a lucky escape then they were not so fortunate in the 17th minute.
DuffÂ’s high cross from the left was headed back towards the edge of the penalty area by Milner and the former Inter Milan striker volleyed the ball past the unsighted Kenny.
In the 25th minute, Nick Montgomery collected a knockdown from Kazim-Richards and let fly from 25 yards but Shay Given tipped it on to a post and behind - only for referee Mark Halsey to award a goal-kick.
Armstrong then drilled a long-range shot straight into the chest of Steven Taylor.
In the 37th minute, Duff cut in from the left, played a one-two with Sibierski, before bundling a right-foot shot just wide of KennyÂ’s right-hand post.
Montgomery responded with a 25-yard volley which was deflected for a corner off ParkerÂ’s head.
When the cross came in Bromby flicked it up but Lucketti directed a weak six-yard header straight at Given.
The second half began with Given making a good save from a Bromby header, although the defender had already been flagged offside, and Duff blazing into the side-netting after bursting down the left.
ParkerÂ’s ankle injury saw him replaced by Emre with 10 minutes of the half gone, while Warnock threw on striker Nade and midfielder Michael Tonge for Quinn and Leigertwood, with Kazim-Richards moving out to the left wing.
Sibierski should have put the result out of reach in the 62nd minute when he blazed over an empty goal after Kenny had charged out wide to try to beat Martins to the ball but then, inexplicably, tried to shepherd it out of play.
Martins curled the ball in and it rebounded off a post to the former Manchester City forward who embarrassingly fired over.
TongeÂ’s miss at the other end was not as bad - Given was stood in his goal - but it was just as wayward, while NadeÂ’s diving 71st-minute header from GillespieÂ’s curling right-wing cross rolled agonisingly past the post.
However, the French striker made no mistake in the 74th minute when GillespieÂ’s right-wing free-kick reached him via Kazim-Richards and Montgomery.
He drilled home on the angle from 10 yards to lift the roof off Bramall Lane.
However, the joy lasted six minutes as Taylor out-jumped Bromby to head the Magpies in front again from MilnerÂ’s right-wing corner.
Lucketti had a similar chance from close range with eight minutes to go but headed across goal and wide.