League One
December 29, 2012
Sheff Utd
2 - 3
Hartlepool
League One
15:00 +00:00, December 29, 2012
Bramall Lane, England
Referee: D Deadman
Pools blunt Blades
Scoring Summary
| Sheffield United | Hartlepool United |
|---|---|
| Michael Doyle (30') | Steve Howard (7') |
| Harry Maguire (90') | Ritchie Humphreys (54') |
| Steve Howard (72') |
Teams
| Sheffield United | Hartlepool United |
|---|---|
| 25 George Long | 1 Scott Flinders |
| 6 Matthew Hill | 5 Sam Collins |
| 30 Marcus Williams | 6 Evan Horwood |
| 2 Darryl Westlake | 29 Peter Hartley |
| 5 Harry Maguire | 3 Ritchie Humphreys |
| 8 Michael Doyle | 15 Antony Sweeney |
| 11 Kevin McDonald | 8 Simon Walton |
| 7 Ryan Flynn | 7 Jonathan Franks |
| 14 Dave Kitson | 19 Jordan Richards |
| 10 Nick Blackman | 39 Steve Howard |
| 19 John Cofie | 36 Charlie Wyke |
| Substitutes | |
| 35 Danny Coyne | Adam McHugh 31 |
| 32 Terry Kennedy | Neil Austin 2 |
| 22 Daniel Philliskirk | Darren Holden 22 |
| 16 David McAllister | Jack Baldwin 18 |
| 21 Jordan Chapell | Andy Monkhouse 11 |
| 17 Richard Cresswell | James Poole 10 |
| 24 Joe Ironside | Luke James 33 |
| Substitutions | |
| Jordan Chapell for John Cofie (67) | James Poole for Charlie Wyke (60) |
| Richard Cresswell for Michael Doyle (82) | Neil Austin for Simon Walton (69) |
| Joe Ironside for Dave Kitson (82) | Andy Monkhouse for Jonathan Franks (80) |
| Yellow Cards | |
| Harry Maguire (89) | Sam Collins (69) |
| Peter Hartley (70) | |
| Andy Monkhouse (88) | |
| James Poole (89) | |
| · Squads: Sheffield United | Hartlepool United | |
Two goals from veteran striker Steve Howard helped Hartlepool to a surprise 3-2 success at Bramall Lane, ending their miserable 22-game winless run and the Blades' unbeaten home league record.
Lifelong Sheffield Wednesday fan Ritchie Humphreys also found the net for the visitors, with Michael Doyle and Harry Maguire scoring for the hosts, who began the day top of npower League One but slip to second place after this shock defeat.
Bottom-of-the-table Pools took a surprise seventh-minute lead when Howard headed home Evan Horwood's pin-point cross.
Buoyed by that early goal, the visitors put the Blades' defence under pressure for a spell with Howard missing the target after being put through on goal. Jonathan Franks also put an effort off target.
The hosts then enjoyed a good spell of possession with Nick Blackman having a shot on the run saved by Scott Flinders.
But a 30th-minute error from Flinders brought the Blades level, Doyle's 25-yard shot slipping through the goalkeeper's hands and into the back of the net.
Humphreys put Hartlepool back in front with a near-post shot after 54 minutes, George Long got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.
Howard handed them a two-gaol cushion with a looping header from James Poole's cross in the 72nd minute.
The visitors hung on until stoppage tim when Maguire's 12-yard finish made it 3-2 but it was too little, too late for Danny Wilson's side.