Wanderers: 4-5-1

JUSSI JAASKELAINEN 7

Handled everything well until Sandford popped up at the back post with the decisive header.

JOHN O'KANE 7

Close to an equaliser at the end, the only Wanderer to seriously test the Blades keeper.

GUDNI BERGSSON 8

He'll wonder how he ended on the losing side after being so comfortable and in control of events.

PAUL WARHURST 8

Thought he'd cleared the danger when he conceded the fateful corner; didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

ROBBIE ELLIOTT 7

His much-anticipated lightweight bout with Devlin was a good, clean fight with honours even.

BO HANSEN 6

Squandered the best of the chances, missing the target at the end of the game's best move.

PER FRANDSEN 6

At his best he would have dominated a game like this but he couldn't find the cutting edge.

FRANCK PASSI 7

Busy and combative, he sat in front of the back four and did a good spoiling job in midfield.

KEVIN NOLAN 6

Looked certain to rescue a point until Murphy dived in to block his shot.

RICARDO GARDNER 8

Uhlenbeek couldn't match his pace and trickery but Wanderers failed to make the most of the advantage.

MICHAEL RICKETTS 8

He's played a lot worse and scored; deserved something for the work he put in and the trouble he caused.

Subs: Ian Marshall (6) for Hansen 65 mins, Carsten Fredgaard for Passi 84 mins, John Gope-Fenepej, Leam Richardson, Steve Banks.

SHEFFIELD UTD

4-4-2

SIMON TRACEY

GUS UHLENBEEK

SHAUN MURPHY

KEITH CURLE

WAYNE QUINN

PAUL DEVLIN

GEORGE SANTOS

MICHAEL BROWN

CURTIS WOODHOUSE

LAURENT D'JAFFO

PATRICK SUFFO

Subs: David Kelly for D'Jaffo 67 mins, James Thomas for Suffo 67 mins, Lee Sandford for Curle 72 mins, Bruno Ribeiro, Nick Montgomery.

Referee: Clive Wilkes (Gloucester).

Attendance: 14,962.

Goal: Blades - Sandford 81 mins.

Shots/headers on target: Blades 5, Wanderers 4.

Corners: Blades 5, Wanderers 6.

Offsides: Blades 7, Wanderers 5.

Fouls committed: Blades 8, Wanderers 11.

Bookings: Blades - Curle 32 mins (foul on Ricketts), Brown 93 mins (foul on Fredgaard); Wanderers - Bergsson 91 mins (foul on Thomas).

Man of the Match

MICHAEL RICKETTS

It can be tough and demoralising when you're the lone striker away from home but Big Sam's "£7 million man" stuck at it and gave Curle and Murphy a real run for their money.

No clear cut scoring chances but he's played a lot worse than this and grabbed the glory. He was a constant threat.

Moan of the Match

Being the dominant force and far and away the superior side, Wanderers know they should have taken all three points, never mind one. They only have themselves to blame.

Magic Moment

The sweeping first half move, started by Jaaskelainen and featuring neat touches from Passi and Gardner before Ricketts supplied the cross, was top quality counter-attacking ... sadly Hansen's finish was off target.

ACTION SHOTS

15 mins: Tracey makes a brave interception under pressure after Gardner skins Uhlenbeek and aims a cross towards Ricketts.

16 mins: D'Jaffo looks suspiciously offside but the flag stays down as his header loops off target.

18 mins: Bergsson and D'Jaffo are lectured as tempers fray.

19 mins: The Blades appeal in vain for a penalty as Warhurst gets the better of Murphy in an aerial challenge.

26 mins: Jaaskelainen beats away Devlin's shot after Passi carelessly loses possession to Brown.

28 mins: It's audacious and ambitious but Ricketts is only inches too high with a 20 yard chip.

36 mins: Jaaskelainen is in the right spot to collect Suffo's glancing header from Uhlenbeek's free kick.

38 mins: It looks good as Ricketts races away from Murphy until Curle heads him off on the edge of the box.

39 mins: Jaaskelainen's well-aimed throw and slick interpassing between Passi and Gardner sends Ricketts away on the left; the cross is firm and low to the far post but Hansen's shot hits the side-netting.

43 mins: Murphy heads Quinn's cross just over the bar and Passi escapes penalty appeals with the Blades claiming handball.

Half-time: 0-0.

53 mins: Suffo turns on Devlin's pass and fires in a low left footer which Jaaskelainen does well to smother at the foot of the post.

61 mins: A good spell of Sheffield pressure sees Suffo waste a good chance, heading over from Quinn's inviting cross.

62 mins: Ricketts cuts inside Murphy only to have his shot blocked by Curle.

69 mins: Marshall gets in front of Curle but just can't turn Gardner's cross on target.

77 mins: Frandsen works the ball to Marshall on the edge of the box for a shot that squirts through Tracey's hands for a corner.

GOAL!

81 mins: Sandford gets up at the back post to head home Brown's cross from Quinn's short corner.

86 mins: Ricketts stretches but can't get a firm connection on Gardner's cross.

88 mins: Marshall feeds Nolan and the equaliser looks on until Murphy blocks the youngster's shot.

89 mins: Frandsen and Fredgaard go close with long range shots.

90 mins: Tracey gets across to save O'Kane's long range rocket.

Full-time: 1-0.