Apparently they had put the prices up for Villa! We were lucky and at £10 and £5 created a good crowd (but very quiet apart from us lot!)
We arrived in Sheffield at 11.40 and were soon in the Rutland Arms, before moving onto the Devonshire Cat.
We left about 2.30 and quickly queued up for our tickets and soon joined the large away following in the stand (I would guess at 1,200+). The noise was superb and Cullip got a great reception.
The game was great to watch and we played really well at the back again. We also had the better chances.
Before Chippy scored Reid should have, but placed the ball wide, but then Sheffield United should have scored, Virgo was beaten down the flank, they cut inside but luckily for us the forward blasted the ball wide.
Just before half time they had a corner. Cullip and Oatway tussled but the ball broke out. Harty did brilliantly to keep the move flowing, somehow recovering his feet after he collided with the defender. He passed to Leon who maintained the momentum and he set up Chippy a treat with a great sideways ball and Chippy superbly finished the move off!
The second half and we started as we finished. Sheffield could not get a shot on goal, so we decided to help them out. I have no idea what happened but it appeared Mayo lobbed Kuipers and it was 1-1.
However we bounced back. Sheffield looked very negative and we took the game to them. Leon broke clear but put off by Cullip couldn't get a shot in.
Then Reid missed another chance, but we were creating loads. Gray missed a free header for Sheffield but they didn't really create that many good opportunities.
As 4 minutes went up on the board I thought to myself, I hope we can hold out!
As the 4 minutes was up, Kuipers punted a long clearance, which Knight controlled brilliantly and squared to Reid. He put a brilliant return pass ahead of knight who then toe pocked the ball round the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
The away end when mental and so did the players.
They kicked off and a few seconds later it was all over. Every Albion player and Cullip applauded us and we celebrated the 3 points!
It was the 17.27 back for us and a few cans to celebrate the win.
Kuipers - 7 did everything that was needed
Reid - 9 My MOTM. Defended well and got forward all the time and was central to most that happened in the game
Mayo - 7 defended well (apart from the goal) and played his way out the back superbly
Butters - 7 another great display
Hinshelwood - 8 as above
Virgo - 7 as above
Oatway - 7 never gave up and his belief we can win spreading to the other players
Carpenter - 9 Pushed Reid for MOTM and appears to have recovered fitness and form
Harding - 7 looks much more confident in left midfield slot, got involved well
Hart - 7 never stopped running and ran himself into the ground!
Knight - 9 pushed Reid and Chippy for MOTM. Great goal and also a great assist, keep that up and he will score loads more this season
McGammon - 6 gave away the ball too often, but unsettled the United defence.
Not sure who else was on the bench! (Watson, Hammond, May and Nicolas.)