Dull Blades out-foxed
By Simon Fudge. Last Updated: January 1, 1970 1:00am
Sheffield United lost more ground on Championship leaders Reading after a 4-2 defeat at Leicester City.
With ongoing reports that Blades boss Neil Warnock may be set to leave Bramall Lane for the vacant manager's post at Portsmouth, there seemed an air of unease around the South Yorkshire club.
They were undone by a fine performance from Craig Levein's side, even though Danny Webber missed a chance to give United the lead with a header that flew just wide of goal after 26 seconds.
Elvis Hammond then hit the crossbar for The Foxes five minutes later, but the home side soon claimed the lead on 11 minutes.
Canadian international Iain Hume finished off Hammond's header from close range to give Leicester the lead.
The former Tranmere Rovers hit-man then turned provider, as Ryan Smith headed home Hume's cross from the right for a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes.
Hume then forced Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny into a good save from Smith's cross, as The Foxes took their two-goal lead into the break.
Substitute Steve Kabba came on for the second half and reduced the deficit after tapping home Webber's cross for 2-1.
After quality chances were squandered at both ends, Hammond restored Leicester's two-goal lead with an assured finish on 74 minutes.
Hume then got his second with a powerful finish in injury time for 4-1, before Webber bundled a header home to make the scoreline more respectable.
Matches
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npower Championship
Table
npower Championship
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiff City | 46 | 87 |
| 2 | Hull City | 46 | 79 |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 77 |
| 4 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 46 | 75 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 72 |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 68 |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 68 |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 67 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 65 |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 61 |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 61 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 61 |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 61 |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 60 |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 59 |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 59 |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 58 |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 58 |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 58 |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 56 |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 55 |
| 22 | Peterborough United | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 51 |
| 24 | Bristol City | 46 | 41 |
Iain Hume
Steve Kabba
Danny Webber
Elvis Hammond
