2009–10 Sheffield United F.C. season

The 2009–10 season was Sheffield United's third year in the Football League Championship after being relegated from the Premier League in 2007.

Sheffield United

2009–10 season
Chairman	Kevin McCabe
Manager	Kevin Blackwell
Stadium	Bramall Lane
Football League Championship	8th
FA Cup	Fourth round
League Cup	First round
Top goalscorer	League: Cresswell (12) All: Cresswell (14)
Highest home attendance	29,210 (vs. Sheffield Wednesday)
Lowest home attendance	7,627 (vs. Port Vale)
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

Kit

Sheffield United's kit manufacturers became Macron. Their shirt sponsor continues as VisitMalta.com.

Events

• 1 September 2009 – Paddy Kenny is banned for 9 months after failing his drug test.
• 2 October 2009 – Jordan Robertson is sentenced for 32 months after causing death by a car crash, forcing his loan spell at Bury to be cut short.
• 6 November 2009 – Paddy Kenny signs new contract until the summer of 2011.^[1]
• 20 November 2009 – Trevor Birch is appointed as Chief Executive.^[2]

League

The Blades playing against Cardiff City

Sheffield United played their first game of the season in a 0–0 draw against former Premier League side Middlesbrough. Then the Blades beat Watford 2–0 with Ched Evans getting his debut goal. Leicester City held United to a 1–1 draw. They then beat Reading 3–1. This was followed by a thrilling 2–2 draw against West Bromwich Albion with David Cotterill scoring a late penalty. This was followed by a 1–0 win at Derby County with Matthew Kilgallon getting a last minute winner. United suffered their first league defeat of the season against Coventry City, they bounced back in the Steel City Derby which they won 3–2. The Blades suffered another defeat against Swansea City. The Blades started October with a draw against Doncaster Rovers, with Richard Cresswell getting his first goal for the blades. The next two games saw two loses against Scunthorpe United and Blackpool. The Blades continued their losing streak against Cardiff City. A 1–0 defeat at home to Newcastle United, this was followed with a draw against Barnsley. The following game they beat Peterborough United. United got a late win against Bristol City, with Darius Henderson getting his first hat-trick of his career.^[3] James Harper scored the only goal in a win over Plymouth Argyle. The Blades were then held to draw with Nottingham Forest. Sheffield then beat Crystal Palace 2–0, with Lee Williamson getting his first goal in a Blade shirt and Quinn got his second of the season. Queens Park Rangers held the Blades to a 1–1 draw. Sheffield then suffer their first defeat since 2 November against Leicester City this was quickly followed by a win over Preston North End.

Their first game of 2010 saw the Blades beat Middlesbrough 1–0 at Bramall Lane. This was followed up by a 3–0 home win against Reading. The Blades were then beaten 3–1 away at West Bromwich Albion.

FA Cup

In the third round Sheffield United held Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers to a 1–1 draw, resulting in a replay to take place.^[4] The Blades won the replay 3–2 at Loftus Road. Premier League Bolton Wanderers knocked out the Blades in the fourth round, beating them 2–0 at the Reebok Stadium.

League Cup

The first round saw a shock 2–1 home defeat against League Two Port Vale.

Players

First-team squad

Squad at end of season^[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  IRL Paddy Kenny[notes 1] 2 DF  ENG Ryan France 3 DF  SCO Gary Naysmith 4 MF  SCO Nick Montgomery[notes 2] 5 DF  ENG Chris Morgan 6 DF  ENG Nyron Nosworthy[notes 3] (on loan from Sunderland) 7 FW  ENG Darius Henderson 9 FW  WAL Ched Evans 11 MF  IRL Mark Yeates 12 MF  JAM Lee Williamson[notes 4] 13 GK  ENG Ian Bennett 15 MF  ENG James Harper 16 DF  ENG Andy Taylor 17 FW  ENG Richard Cresswell 18 MF  NIR Jamie Ward[notes 5]

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 DF  ENG Jordan Stewart 20 DF  NED Marcel Seip (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) 21 DF  ENG Kyle Bartley 25 MF  ENG Glen Little 26 DF  ENG Derek Geary 28 MF  IRL Stephen Quinn 30 GK  EST Mihkel Aksalu 32 DF  FIN Toni Kallio (on loan from Fulham) 33 DF  ENG Jonathan Fortune 34 DF  ENG Matthew Lowton 35 FW  ENG Nathan Foster 36 DF  ENG Kingsley James 37 FW  SEN Henri Camara 40 DF  ENG Phil Roe

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 10 MF  ENG Kyel Reid (on loan to Charlton Athletic)

No. Pos. Nation Player 24 FW  ENG Billy Sharp (on loan to Doncaster Rovers)

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 6 DF  ENG Matthew Kilgallon (to Sunderland) 11 MF  WAL David Cotterill (to Swansea City) 14 DF  AUS David Carney (to FC Twente) 17 MF  ENG Lee Hendrie (to Derby County) 20 MF  ENG Brian Howard (to Reading) 21 DF  ENG Leigh Bromby (to Leeds United) 21 DF  ENG Andrew Davies (on loan from Stoke City) 22 GK  MLT Justin Haber (to Ferencváros)

No. Pos. Nation Player 23 GK  ENG Mark Bunn (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) 23 GK  ENG Steve Simonsen (on loan from Stoke City) 27 MF  IRL Keith Treacy (on loan from Blackburn Rovers) 30 GK  NGA Carl Ikeme[notes 6] (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers) 31 DF  ENG Paul Connolly (on loan from Derby County) 34 DF  ENG Kyle Walker (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) 39 FW  ENG Jordan Robertson (released)

Squad statistics

As of end of the season

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Championship		FA Cup		League Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	IRL	Paddy Kenny	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
2	MF	ENG	Ryan France	10	0	3+6	0	0	0	1	0
3	DF	SCO	Gary Naysmith	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	0
4	MF	SCO	Nick Montgomery	43	1	39	1	3	0	1	0
5	DF	ENG	Chris Morgan	40	2	37	2	3	0	0	0
7	FW	ENG	Darius Henderson	35	12	28+4	12	1+1	0	1	0
9	FW	WAL	Ched Evans	36	4	21+12	4	2+1	0	0	0
11	MF	IRL	Mark Yeates	20	2	11+9	2	0	0	0	0
12	MF	JAM	Lee Williamson	23	4	14+6	3	2+1	1	0	0
13	GK	ENG	Ian Bennett	6	0	4+1	0	0	0	1	0
15	MF	ENG	James Harper	36	4	31+3	4	2	0	0	0
16	DF	ENG	Andy Taylor	30	0	22+4	0	3	0	1	0
17	FW	ENG	Richard Cresswell	34	14	28+3	12	2+1	2	0	0
18	FW	ENG	Jamie Ward	31	8	25+3	7	1+2	1	0	0
19	DF	ENG	Jordan Stewart	23	0	15+8	0	0	0	0	0
20	DF	NED	Marcel Seip	8	0	5+1	0	1+1	0	0	0
21	DF	ENG	Kyle Bartley	14	0	10+4	0	0	0	0	0
24	FW	ENG	Billy Sharp	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
25	MF	ENG	Glen Little	18	0	7+9	0	0+1	0	1	0
26	MF	IRL	Derek Geary	9	0	5+2	0	2	0	0	0
28	MF	IRL	Stephen Quinn	48	4	38+6	4	3	0	1	0
30	GK	EST	Mihkel Aksalu	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
32	DF	FIN	Toni Kallio	8	0	8	0	0	0	0	0
33	DF	ENG	Jonathan Fortune	6	1	3+2	1	1	0	0	0
34	DF	ENG	Matthew Lowton	2	0	1+1	0	0	0	0	0
37	FW	SEN	Henri Camara	25	4	9+14	4	2	0	0	0
39	FW	ENG	Jordan Robertson	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Players who left before the end of the season:
6	DF	ENG	Matthew Kilgallon	23	1	21	1	1	0	1	0
10	MF	ENG	Kyel Reid	8	0	0+7	0	0	0	1	0
11	MF	WAL	David Cotterill	14	2	3+11	2	0	0	0	0
20	MF	ENG	Brian Howard	5	0	3+1	0	0	0	1	0
21	DF	ENG	Leigh Bromby	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
21	DF	ENG	Andrew Davies	8	0	7+1	0	0	0	0	0
23	GK	ENG	Mark Bunn	35	0	31+1	0	3	0	0	0
23	GK	ENG	Steve Simonsen	7	0	7	0	0	0	0	0
27	MF	IRL	Keith Treacy	17	1	12+4	1	0	0	1	0
30	GK	ENG	Carl Ikeme	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
31	DF	ENG	Paul Connolly	7	0	7	0	0	0	0	0
34	DF	ENG	Kyle Walker	28	0	26	0	2	0	0	0

Disciplinary record

Number	Pos	Player
7	FW	Darius Henderson	8	1
5	DF	Chris Morgan	10	0
17	FW	Richard Cresswell	8	0
4	MF	Nick Montgomery	8	0
28	MF	Stephen Quinn	8	0
12	MF	Lee Williamson	6	0
16	DF	Andy Taylor	6	0
6	DF	Nyron Nosworthy	3	1
9	FW	Ched Evans	4	0
34	DF	Kyle Walker	4	0
11	DF	Paul Connolly	1	1
11	MF	David Cotterill	3	0
20	DF	Marcel Seip	3	0
18	MF	Jamie Ward	3	0
23	GK	Mark Bunn	2	0
15	MF	James Harper	2	0
32	MF	Toni Kallio	2	0
19	DF	Jordan Stewart	2	0
27	MF	Keith Treacy	2	0
11	MF	Mark Yeates	2	0
21	DF	Kyle Bartley	1	0
21	DF	Andrew Davies	1	0
11	MF	Brian Howard	1	0
6	DF	Matthew Kilgallon	1	0
20	MF	Brian Howard	1	0
26	MF	Derek Geary	1	0

Events

Summer transfers in

Date	Player	Club	Fee
	Lee Williamson	Watford	£500,000
	Kyel Reid	West Ham United	Free
	Leigh Bromby	Watford	Undisclosed
	Andy Taylor	Tranmere Rovers	£400,000
24 July 2009[6]	Ched Evans	Manchester City	£3,000,000
24 July 2009[6]	Ryan France	Hull City	Free
5 August 2009[7]	Glen Little	Portsmouth F.C	Free
	Jordan Stewart	Derby County	Undisclosed
	Jonathan Fortune	Charlton Athletic	Free

Summer transfers out

• * Indicates the player joined the club after being released.

Date	Player	Club	Fee
	Ben Starosta	Released	–
	Ugo Ehiogu	Retired	–
	Nicky Law	Rotherham United	Free
	Adam Chapham	Oxford United	Nominal
	Jamie Annerson	Rotherham United*	Free
	Keith Quinn	Released	–
22 July 2009[8]	Kyle Walker	Tottenham Hotspur	Undisclosed
	Kyle Naughton		Undisclosed
	Sun Jihai	Chengdu Blades*	Free
	Martin Donelly	Crusaders	Free
	Aymen Tahar	Ferencvárosi TC	Free
	Nicky Travis	Central Coast Mariners	Free
	Mamadou Seck	Released	–
	David Carney	FC Twente	£500,000
	Leigh Bromby	Leeds United	£250,000
	Brian Howard	Reading	£500,000
	Danny Webber	Portsmouth*	Free

Loans in

• ** Indicates that the player returned before the return date.

Player	Club	Arrival date	Return date
Keith Treacy	Blackburn Rovers**	24 July 2009[6]	24 January 2010 (16 Dec 09)
Mark Bunn	Blackburn Rovers	3 August 2009	End of season
Kyle Walker	Tottenham Hotspur**	5 August 2009[7]	End of season (2 February 2010)
James Harper	Reading	1 September 2009	End of season
Andrew Davies	Stoke City**	17 September 2009	17 December 2009 (16 Dec 09)
Richard Cresswell	Stoke City	29 September 2009	29 December 2009
Carl Ikeme	Wolverhampton Wanderers	26 November 2009	26 December 2009
Toni Kallio	Fulham	26 November 2009	23 December 2009
Marcel Seip	Plymouth Argyle	1 January 2009	End of Season

Loans out

Player	Club	Arrival date	Return date
Jordan Robertson	Bury	14 August 2009	3 January 2010
Billy Sharp	Doncaster Rovers	1 September 2009	End of season
David Cotterill	Swansea City	24 November 2009	4 January 2010

January transfers in

Player	Club	Fee
Richard Cresswell	Stoke City	Undisclosed
Mark Yeates	Middlesbrough	Undisclosed
James Harper	Reading	Undisclosed

January transfers out

Player	Club	Fee
David Cotterill	Swansea City	£600,000
Matthew Kilgallon	Sunderland	Undisclosed

Fixtures and results

Championship

Middlesbrough v Sheffield United

7 August 2009 1	Middlesbrough	0–0	Sheffield United	Riverside Stadium
20:00		Report		Attendance: 23,541

Sheffield United v Watford

15 August 2009 2	Sheffield United	2–0	Watford	Bramall Lane
20:00	Ward 12' Evans 63'	Report		Attendance: 24,638

Sheffield United v Leicester

18 August 2009 3	Sheffield United	1–1	Leicester	Bramall Lane
19:45	Treacy 66'	Report	Fryatt 52'	Attendance: 26,069

Reading v Sheffield United

22 August 2009 4	Reading	1–3	Sheffield United	Madejski Stadium
15:00	Mills 13'	Report	Quinn 42' Ward 62' Citterill 90'	Attendance: 16,025

Sheffield United v West Bromwich Albion

29 August 2009 5	Sheffield United	2–2	West Bromwich Albion	Bramall Lane
15:00	Evans 56' Cotterill 88' (pen.)	Report	Bednar 54', 60'	Attendance: 25,169

Derby County v Sheffield United

12 September 2009 6	Derby County	0–1	Sheffield United	Pride Park Stadium
15:00		Report	Kilgallon 80'	Attendance: 28,441

Coventry City v Sheffield United

15 September 2009 7	Coventry City	3–2	Sheffield United	Ricoh Arena
19:45	Best 12' Morrison 50' Craine 60'	Report	Ward 31' Harper 76'	Attendance: 14,426

Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday

18 September 2009 8	Sheffield United	3–2	Sheffield Wednesday	Bramall Lane
19:45	Ward 7' Henderson 15' Buxton 42' (o.g.)	Report	Tudgay 46' Esajas 60'	Attendance: 29,210

Swansea City v Sheffield United

26 September 2009 9	Swansea City	2–1	Sheffield United	Liberty Stadium
15:00	Trundle 52' (pen.) Butler 82' López  77'  Dyer  90'	Report	Quinn 73'	Attendance: 14,324

Sheffield United v Ipswich Town

29 September 2009 10	Sheffield United	3–3	Ipswich Town	Bramall Lane
19:45	Henderson 9', 77' Morgan 90'	Report	Walters 24' Leadbitter 34' McAuley 70'	Attendance: 28,366

Sheffield United v Doncaster Rovers

3 October 2009 11	Sheffield United	1–1	Doncaster Rovers	Bramall Lane
15:00	Cresswell 65'		Hayter 45'	Attendance: 26,211

Scunthorpe United v Sheffield United

17 October 2009 12	Scunthorpe United	3–1	Sheffield United	Glanford Park
12:00	McCann 22', 59' Hayes 53'		Evans 51'	Attendance: 7,599

Blackpool v Sheffield United

20 October 2009 13	Blackpool	3–0	Sheffield United	Bloomfield Road
19:45	Seip 60' Euell 69' Adam 82'			Attendance: 8,042

Sheffield United v Cardiff City

24 October 2009 14	Sheffield United	3–4	Cardiff City	Bramall Lane
15:00	Henderson 43', 45' Harper 90'		Bothroyd 41' Whittingham 45' (pen.), 60', 85'	Attendance: 25,021

Sheffield United v Newcastle United

2 November 2009 15	Sheffield United	0–1	Newcastle United	Bramall Lane
19:45			Morgan 41' (o.g.)	Attendance: 26,536

Barnsley v Sheffield United

9 November 2009 16	Barnsley	2–2	Sheffield United	Oakwell
19:45	De Silva 53' Bogdanović 74'		Henderson 61' (pen.), 83' (pen.)	Attendance: 12,988

Sheffield United v Peterborough United

21 November 2009 17	Sheffield United	1–0	Peterborough United	Bramall Lane
15:00	Camara 42'			Attendance: 25,144

Bristol City v Sheffield United

28 November 2009 18	Bristol City	2–3	Sheffield United	Ashton Gate
15:00	Carey 53' Saborio 90'		Henderson 30', 33', 90'	Attendance: 14,637

Plymouth Argyle v Sheffield United

5 December 2009 19	Plymouth Argyle	0–1	Sheffield United	Home Park
15:00			Harper 88'	Attendance: 9,231

Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest

8 December 2009 20	Sheffield United	0–0	Nottingham Forest	Bramall Lane
19:45				Attendance: 26,490

Sheffield United v Crystal Palace

12 December 2009 21	Sheffield United	2–0	Crystal Palace	Bramall Lane
15:00	Williamson 21' Quinn 90'			Attendance: 25,510

Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United

19 December 2009 22	Queens Park Rangers	1–1	Sheffield United	Loftus Road
15:00	Leigertwood 2'		Cresswell 8'	Attendance: 12,639

Leicester City v Sheffield United

26 December 2009 23	Leicester City	2–1	Sheffield United	Walkers Stadium
18:00	Morrison 26' Fryatt 35' (pen.)		Camara 47'	Attendance: 23,999

Sheffield United v Preston North End

28 December 2009 24	Sheffield United	1–0	Preston North End	Bramall Lane
15:00	Ward 86'			Attendance: 25,231

Sheffield United v Middlesbrough

16 January 2010 25	Sheffield United	1–0	Middlesbrough	Bramall Lane
15:00	Cresswell 56'			Attendance: 23,974

Sheffield United v Reading

26 January 2010 26	Sheffield United	3–0	Reading	Bramall Lane
15:00	Fortune 12' Cresswell 42' Morgan 80'			Attendance: 24,009

West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United

30 January 2010 27	West Bromwich Albion	3–1	Sheffield United	The Hawthorns
15:00	Dorrans 19' (pen.) Bednář 30' Thomas 50'		Henderson 49' (pen.)	Attendance: 22,193

Watford v Sheffield United

2 February 2010 28	Watford	3–0	Sheffield United	Vicarage Road
19:45	Cleverley 39' Helguson 55' Cowie 74'			Attendance: 13,076

Sheffield United v Derby County

6 February 2010 29	Sheffield United	1–1	Derby County	Bramall Lane
15:00	Williamson 90'		Savage 17'	Attendance: 25,300

Preston North End v Sheffield United

9 February 2010 30	Preston North End	2–1	Sheffield United	Deepdale
19:45	James 17' Parkin 71'		Yeates 81'	Attendance: 10,270

Sheffield United v Bristol City

13 February 2010 31	Sheffield United	2–0	Bristol City	Bramall Lane
15:00	Camara 49' Henderson 62'			Attendance: 22,613

Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United

16 February 2010 32	Nottingham Forest	1–0	Sheffield United	City Ground
19:45	Earnshaw 4'		Henderson  46'	Attendance: 22,076

Sheffield United v Plymouth Argyle

27 February 2010 33	Sheffield United	4–3	Plymouth Argyle	Bramall Lane
15:00	Camara 7' Ward 35', 47' Cresswell 80'		Bolasie 48' Mason 56' Mackie 85'	Attendance: 24,886

Crystal Palace v Sheffield United

6 March 2010 34	Crystal Palace	1–0	Sheffield United	Selhurst Park
15:00	Lee 23'			Attendance: 13,455

Peterborough United v Sheffield United

9 March 2010 35	Peterborough United	1–0	Sheffield United	London Road
19:30	Mackail-Smith 40'			Attendance: 6,674

Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers

13 March 2010 36	Sheffield United	1–1	Queens Park Rangers	Bramall Lane
15:00	Cresswell 44'		Taarabt 49'	Attendance: 23,456

Sheffield United v Blackpool

16 March 2010 37	Sheffield United	3–0	Blackpool	Bramall Lane
19:45	Cresswell 1', 66' Montgomery 43'			Attendance: 22,555

Doncaster Rovers v Sheffield United

20 March 2010 38	Doncaster Rovers	1–1	Sheffield United	Keepmoat Stadium
15:00	Hayter 5'		Harper 88'	Attendance: 13,026

Cardiff City v Sheffield United

24 March 2010 39	Cardiff City	1–1	Sheffield United	Cardiff City Stadium
19:45	Bothroyd 45'		Quinn 67'	Attendance: 18,715

Sheffield United v Scunthorpe United

28 March 2010 40	Sheffield United	0–1	Scunthorpe United	Bramall Lane
12:15			Hayes 45'	Attendance: 23,005

Sheffield United v Barnsley

3 April 2010 41	Sheffield United	0–0	Barnsley	Bramall Lane
15:00	Connolly  90'			Attendance: 24,808

Newcastle United v Sheffield United

5 April 2010 42	Newcastle United	2–1	Sheffield United	St James' Park
19:45	Løvenkrands 45' (pen.) Nolan 73'		Cresswell 22'	Attendance: 48,270

Sheffield United v Coventry City

10 April 2010 43	Sheffield United	1–0	Coventry City	Bramall Lane
15:00	Cresswell 47'			Attendance: 23,603

Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United

18 April 2010 44	Sheffield Wednesday	1–1	Sheffield United	Hillsborough
13:00	Potter 41'		Williamson 60'	Attendance: 35,485

Sheffield United v Swansea City

24 April 2010 45	Sheffield United	2–0	Swansea City	Bramall Lane
15:00	Cresswell 62' de Vries 90' (o.g.)			Attendance: 25,966

Ipswich Town v Sheffield United

2 May 2010 46	Ipswich Town	0–3	Sheffield United	Portman Road
13:00	Eastman  58'		Yeates 34' Evans 56' Cresswell 66'	Attendance: 23,003

FA Cup

Sheffield United v Queens Park Rangers

3 January 2010 Third round	Sheffield United	1–1	Queens Park Rangers	Bramall Lane
15:00	Cresswell 45'		Simpson 39'	Attendance: 11,461

Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United

12 January 2010 Third round replay	Queens Park Rangers	2–3	Sheffield United	Loftus Road
19:45	Buzsaky 71' (pen.) Stewart 88'		Williamson 19' Ward 68' Cresswell 70'	Attendance: 5,780

Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United

23 January 2010 Fourth round	Bolton Wanderers	2–0	Sheffield United	Reebok Stadium
15:00	Steinsson 48' Elmander 84'			Attendance: 14,572

League Cup

Sheffield United v Port Vale

11 August 2009 First round	Sheffield United	1–2	Port Vale	Bramall Lane
19:45	Sharp 33'		Richards 20', 61'	Attendance: 7,627

Summer friendlies and Malta tour

Sheffield United are due to play three friendly matches in July all away as well as tour of Malta. The Friendlies are:

• 10 July 2010: Mansfield Town F.C.
• 12–17 July: Malta Tour
• 20 July 2010: Burton Albion F.C.
• 24 July 2010: Rotherham United F.C.