Full time: Sheffield Utd 2, Rovers 0
Sheffield United (2) 2
Kelly 5, Devlin 25
Blackburn Rovers (0) 0
ROVERS suffered their second consecutive defeat in a frustratingly bad display at Bramhall Lane.
Graeme Souness' side were up against it from the start - and it was all their own fault.
Alan Kelly committed a dreadful error after four minutes when he smashed the ball against the legs of Marcus Bent following a Henning Berg backpass.
The ball rolled passed him at an acute angle and crossed the line before the keeper could retrieve the situation.
Rovers came under constant pressure from a committed home side and went further behind after 26 when Paul Devlin latched onto a loose ball. The defence stood off and allowed him to strike a stunning 25-yarder just under
the bar.
And it could have been three before the break when a Marcus Bent effort was ruled out after Martin Taylor was adjudged to have been fouled.
Christian Dailly, out of favour in recent weeks, was brought in to shore up a shaky defence in the second half.
While Rovers had the better of the possession in the second half, chances were few and far between except for a Kaba Diawara double strike which was comfortably dealt with by Simon Tracey.
Then, with five minutes remaining, Nathan Blake headed a free kick onto the post before Diawara's replacement, James Thomas, sidefooted over when it was easier to score.
Two minutes later Damien Duff dragged a shot across the area and Henning Berg was only able to get a toe on it from close range, not enough to divert the ball into the goal.
Rovers are still without a win away from home this season.
Teams:
Rovers (4-3-3):
Kelly;
Curtis, Berg, Taylor, Bjornebye;
McAteer, Flitcroft, Dunn;
Diawara, Blake, Duff.
Subs: Kenna, Miller, Thomas, Johnson, Dailly
Sheffield United (4-4-2):
Tracey;
Uhlenbeek, Murphy, Sandford, Quinn;
Devlin, Ford, Brown, Woodhouse;
Bent, Kelly.
Subs: Woodward, Newby, Smith, Ribeiro, Blackwell
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