First half goals from Greg Halford and Darius Henderson saw Sheffield United to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Blues at Bramall Lane. Town rarely looked like getting anything from the game with Pim Balkestein closest to scoring with two second half headers.

First half goals from Greg Halford and Darius Henderson saw Sheffield United to a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Blues at Bramall Lane. Town rarely looked like getting anything from the game with Pim Balkestein closest to scoring with two second half headers.

After Jon Stead and Alan Quinn had received a warm welcome back from their old fans, the midfielder struck the game's first shot, but his freekick flew well over.

United enjoyed the better of the early stages and on 15 Henderson chased a long ball over the top and forced Wright into a save from a tight angle.

Four minutes later, the Blades went in front. Greg Halford was given far too much time and space a few yards outside the area and struck a shot which flew past Wright and into the top corner of the net. It was a fine strike, but the former Colchester man had been given much too long to pick his spot.

The home side continued to have the better of it and on 27 they made it two. Alex Bruce and Jon Stead got in one another's way when clearing a corner, the striker only managing to get the ball out to Kyle Naughton on the edge of the box. The full-back sent in a cross back to the far post where Henderson beat Balkestein in the air to head the ball past Wright.

Ward headed wide from the edge on the half hour with Wright livid with his defenders as the Sheffield United chances continued to come. Wright pushed David Cotterill's cross just wide and then from the resultant corner Matthew Kilgallon headed over.

Pim Balkestein felt he ought to have been awarded a penalty in the 43rd minute when he seemed to be shoved as Quinn's freekick came in from the left, Garvan eventually hitting a shot into the sidenetting.

A minute later, Quinn managed Town's first shot on target, ending a long spell of Town passing with a strike which flew straight to Paddy Kenny.

Moments later the whistle went to boos from the Town support after one of the Blues' poorer recent away performances. Both goals were very defendable, while Town had rarely been in control of the game and lacked any penetration up front with Lisbie and Stead both below par.

Ward hit the second half's first shot wide in the 47th minute, prior to Alan Quinn picking up the game's first yellow card for kicking the ball away after harshly being penalised for handball.

Wright saved from Henderson on 54, before Town made a double substitution, Pablo Couñago and Danny Haynes replacing Jon Stead and David Norris. Norris's replacement produced chants of "You don't know what you're doing” from the away support.

On 65 a Campo freekick aimed towards Shumulikoski was played straight to Jamie Ward, who shot wide when he should have made it three. Four minutes later Halford struck a 30-yard freekick straight through to Wright.

At the other end, Danny Haynes scuffed an effort wide from just outside the area when he should have done much better, before Moritz Volz replaced Campo, Bruce moving to centre-half.

Town enjoyed their best spell as the game entered its final 10 minutes. Shumulikoski's shot from the edge of the box was blocked, then from a Quinn corner Balkestein forced Kenny into a fine save with a back-post header.

Haynes nodded a looping effort over Kenny and also the crossbar, then in injury time Balkestein saw another header well saved by Kenny, this time from a Garvan header.

Ben Thatcher picked up a yellow card as the teams played out five minutes of injury time with the result never having looked in any doubt since the Blades scored their second goal in the 27th minute. Again boos from the away end greeted the final whistle.

Although Town probably improved after the break, the home side were never really put under any serious pressure. That the best chances were Balkestein's headers towards the end illustrates how rare opportunities were and it's difficult to recall any of the strikers hitting the target.

The changed midfield looked less effective than in recent away games, while defensively Gareth McAuley was missed with Darius Henderson causing Campo and Balkestein more than a few problems in the air.

Overall, the Blades won without having to particularly stretch themselves and appear worthy of the play-off place they are likely to fill when the season ends. Town, who seem destined to spend the rest of the season in 10th, still look some way off from being a side similarly deserving of a top six position.

Town: R Wright, Bruce, Thatcher, Balkestein, Campo (Volz 74), Shumulikoski, Garvan, Norris (Haynes 54), Quinn, Lisbie, Stead (Couñago 54). Unused: Bialkowski, Miller. Att: 25,315.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls