A first half goal from Jason Price wasn't enough for the Tigers this evening as Sheffield United ran out 3-1 winners at the KC Stadium.
There were two changes to the side that lost at Leeds on New Years Eve. Ryan France returned at right back in place of Mark Lynch who dropped to the bench. Nick Barmby also returned to the starting eleven, replacing the injured Craig Fagan.
Barmby began the game on the left side of midfield with Stuart Elliott up front, although the two interchanged as the match progressed.
It was the visitors who created the first chance of the game after only three minutes. A corner from their left found Neil Shipperley unmarked at the far post eight yards from goal, but the experienced striker blazed over when he had time to do better.
City registered their first effort on goal in the 11th minute when France delivered a deep cross to Elliott who produced a looping header that was on target, but easily claimed by Paddy Kenny.
A minute later the action switched to the other end when a long Leigh Bromby throw found Michael Tonge who produced a stinging volley that Bo Myhill did well to beat away.
The Tigers began to pile the pressure on their opponents and they forced two corners in succession. From the second, taken by Andy Dawson, Elliott saw a powerful header flash wide.
Price then found Billy Paynter as he switched play from right to left. The former Port Vale man took the ball down in the box but just as he was about to shoot Derek Geary got back to clear the ball behind.
In the 20th minute a piece of individual brilliance by Barmby saw him latch onto his own flick and attempt a lob over Kenny, but the United keeper somehow tipped the ball over the bar.
Three minutes later, City took the lead. As the ball ricocheted about on the edge of the box it fell to Price who curled a beautiful left-footed shot beyond Kenny and into the top corner of the net.
The home side continued to pour forward and Price looked to be in with a chance of a second on 26 minutes until he was dragged back by David Unsworth. The veteran defender was booked for the foul and from the resulting free kick taken by Dawson, Kenny was forced to tip the ball over once again.
United began to come back into the game and they found an equaliser on 31 minutes in fortunate circumstances. Paul Ifill cut back into the box from the left and hit a shot which deflected off Sam Collins, wrong-footing Myhill, and finding the far corner of the net.
The Blades were now on top and moments later Bromby saw his effort blocked on the line after Myhill had dropped an Unsworth free kick.
City looked to come back at the visitors and Leon Cort [pictured] almost put his side back in front with a powerful drive which Kenny deflected onto the post.
As the first half headed towards added time, United took the lead in controversial circumstances. Price appeared to be fouled deep in the Sheffield half but the referee waved play on. The ball quickly moved up to the other end of the pitch where Danny Webber hit a shot beyond Myhill and into the net.
Webber almost scored again deep into added time, but Myhill tipped his powerful effort wide.
Half Time: Tigers 1-2 Blades
Neither side made any changes during the break and there were huge cheers from the City faithful when the referee awarded the home side a free kick within 60 seconds of the re-start.
United continued to look dangerous and almost extended their lead on 47 minutes. Chris Armstrong forced Myhill to push his shot wide. From the corner, the ball dropped to Phil Jagielka who struck the post with a right foot shot.
Five minutes later the Blades did make it 3-1. Webber held the ball up well on the left before picking out Armstrong who drilled a low shot past Myhill.
City almost found a way back into the game on 58 minutes when a cross from the right found Barmby. His header was poor and looked to be going wide before Elliott managed to hammer the ball back across goal but Price couldn't get a good enough contact and United cleared.
Peter Taylor made a double change on 62 minutes when former Blade Curtis Woodhouse [pictured] and Stuart Green came on for Keith Andrews and Elliott.
United went close through a Shipperley header before City made their final change on 72 minutes as Kevin Ellison came on for Price.
The visitors made their first change four minutes later when Keith Gillespie replaced Ifill.
City forced a corner in the 80th minute but Cort could only head into the side-netting. A minute later Woodhouse was booked for holding back Webber.
As the crowd began to drift away, City tried to look for a way back into the game but United stood firm. Webber was booked in added time after an altercation with Barmby as City lost their first home game since early November.
Tigers (4-4-2) Bo Myhill; Ryan France, Leon Cort, Sam Collins, Andy Dawson; Jason Price (Ellison 72), Keith Andrews (Woodhouse 62), Damien Delaney, Stuart Elliott (Green 62); Nick Barmby [captain], Billy Paynter.
Subs: Matt Duke, Mark Lynch, Stuart Green, Curtis Woodhouse, Kevin Ellison.
Bookings: Woodhouse 81
Sheffield United (4-4-2) Paddy Kenny; Derek Geary, Leigh Bromby, Chris Morgan [captain], David Unsworth; Paul Ifill Gillespie 76), Phil Jagielka, Michael Tonge (Montgomery 80), Chris Armstrong; Neil Shipperley, Danny Webber
Subs: Steve Kabba, Alan Quinn, Rob Kozluk, Nick Montgomery, Keith Gillespie.
Bookings: Unsworth 26, Webber 90
