Heck of a boost for Blades as head boy Iliman is main man
FURIOUS Steve Morison branded a Sheffield United supporter an “absolute disgrace” after claiming Cardiff’s team doctor Len Nokes was subjected to vicious abuse.
Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United won the game to strengthen their hold on a play-off place after Iliman Ndiaye headed in a cross from Morgan Gibbs-White two minutes into the second half.
Yet Cardiff City manager Morison was almost beside himself after complaining bitterly that Nokes had been targeted by a Blades fan in the main stand during the first half.
The Bluebirds boss said:
“It’s just amazing how people are allowed to talk to people.
“I can’t say what he said but it showed a lack of respect and nothing was done.
“The culprit carried on for the rest of the game and it’s an absolute disgrace.
“Imagine if I’d said that?
“But that’s football. They can say what they want to us and we can’t say anything back.
“Maybe I should have said it was racist because something would have happened then.
“It’s totally wrong.” Morison said the United fan should have been apprehended, and added: “They knew who it was and let him stay there because it’s easier.
“Maybe that’s why we have problems in the world.”
After United gave their play-off hopes a massive boost, Heckingbottom said: “I have gone up via the play-offs as a player and as a manger, so to
SHEFF UTD...1 CARDIFF finish in the top six now would be brilliant.”
The Bluebirds had the best chance of the first half, when Max Watters’ tame effort was saved by keeper Wes Foderingham despite being clean through on goal.
Just two minutes after the restart, Wolves loanee Gibbs-White found space down the left and crossed for an unmarked Ndiaye to head home from six yards.
Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge had the chance to seal the win deep in added time, but his right-foot curling effort crashed back off the post.
The Blades stay in sixth place with victory, but extend their advantage over the chasing pack to three points and now appear a decent bet to reach the play-offs showdown.
Heckingbottom said: “Overall, it was a strong performance and I thought we got better as the game went on.
“A win’s a win and it’s about getting the points.
“It’s going to be nervy and that’s the stage of the season we’re at.
“We spoke about it internally but we didn’t really express it internally, but this season I saw as a big chance to get in the mix and we’re in the mix, so we need to stay there.”
SHEFF UNITED: Foderingham 6; Basham 6, Egan 6, Robinson 6; Osborn 6, Norwood 6, Fleck 6, Stevens 6; Berge 7, Gibbs-White 7, Ndiaye 7 (Sharp (70th) 6)
CARDIFF: Phillips 6; Ng 6, Nelson 6, Denham 6; Drameh 5 (McGuiness (45th) 6),Wintle 6, Ralls 5 (Vaulks (45th) 6), Bagan 6; Doyle 6; Hugill 6, Watters 5 (Colwill (66th) 6)
STAR MAN: Morgan Gibbs-White
REF: O Langford