Blades frustrated by Cumbrians
Last Updated: April 1, 2013 6:56pm
Liam Noble: Denied by the post
Promotion hopefuls Sheffield United were held to a third straight 0-0 home draw as 10-man Carlisle earned a share of the spoils.
Carlisle midfielder Liam Noble came closest to breaking the deadlock, but his 44th-minute drive came back off a post before the visitors had defender Sean O'Hanlon sent off for a second bookable offence 16 minutes from the end.
In a tight opening 45 minutes, Carlisle winger Jon-Paul McGovern saw his 20-yard drive turned away by Blades goalkeeper George Long, while visiting goalkeeper Mark Gillespie was forced to palm Kevin McDonald's stinging half-volley behind for a corner at the other end.
Blades loanee Jonathan Forte should have put the home side ahead in the 67th minute, but he scuffed wide when well placed after being teed-up by substitute Joe Ironside.
Cumbrians centre-half O'Hanlon then headed narrowly wide of Long's goal, moments before he was dismissed following a foul on teenage forward Ironside.
The Blades pushed hard for a winner in their quest for automatic promotion, but Greg Abbott's hard-working side held on for a point.
Matches
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npower League 1
Table
npower League 1
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 84 |
| 2 | Bournemouth | 46 | 83 |
| 3 | Brentford | 46 | 79 |
| 4 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 77 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 75 |
| 6 | Swindon Town | 46 | 74 |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 71 |
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 70 |
| 9 | Walsall | 46 | 68 |
| 10 | Crawley Town | 46 | 68 |
| 11 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 67 |
| 12 | Notts County | 46 | 65 |
| 13 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 64 |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 59 |
| 15 | Coventry City | 46 | 55 |
| 16 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 55 |
| 17 | Carlisle United | 46 | 55 |
| 18 | Stevenage | 46 | 54 |
| 19 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 51 |
| 20 | Colchester United | 46 | 51 |
| 21 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 48 |
| 22 | Bury | 46 | 41 |
| 23 | Hartlepool United | 46 | 41 |
| 24 | Portsmouth | 46 | 32 |
