Sharp ends Lambert’s hopes of a vital victory
POACHER Billy Sharp saved his – and Sheffield United’s – blushes with his 13th goal of the season.
The striker missed a first-half sitter when he sent a perfect Mark Duffy cross over the bar from close range.
But the Bramall Lane skipper made amends when he cancelled out an Ellis Harrison wonder strike for the home side.
Blades assistant manager Alan Knill said: “Billy Sharp may have missed one but he always keeps going and thankfully got on the end of a great cross from Olly Norwood.
“It was a great finish. We dominated the game from start to finish, apart from a dodgy five-minute spell. The only thing missing was clinical finishing.”
Town played with a spirit that was well above their rock-bottom status and boss Paul Lambert was more than happy with another point in his bid to stave off relegation.
He said: “It’s a huge point for us. That was as good a performance as I’ve had here.
“That was a fantastic goal by Ellis Harrison. I’m so pleased for him.
“We conceded so soon after half-time but we showed resilience to keep at it against a very good side.
“We’re still in the fight to get out of trouble.
“We need reinforcements but even loans are expensive and we can’t jeopardise the club’s future.”
Lambert brought in several Ipswich greats – including George Burley, Terry Butcher, John Wark and Russell Osman – to the training ground and the ploy seems to have paid off.
The Suffolk men had to withstand an early onslaught before Harrison, making his first full start under Lambert, rifled in a long-range drive.
But just minutes into the second half Sharp showed he still has it when he nodded home firmly from a superbly flighted cross from Norwood.
It could have been so different if the visitors had taken their first-half chances. Enda Stevens sent a couple of shots wide, then former Ipswich favourite David McGoldrick did the same.