Sheffield United 2 Shrewsbury Town 1 - Report and pictures

[gallery] A remarkable 90 minutes of football saw nine-men Shrewsbury Town go down as Paul Hurst suffered a first defeat as Town boss, writes Lewis Cox at Bramall Lane

Salop were two goals and two men down at the break, with Jim O'Brien and Abu Ogogo receiving their marching orders by ref Darren Deadman.

The hosts' goals arrived with ease, with slack marking punishing Salop, Sheffield top scorer Billy Sharp also spurned a penalty as O'Brien was dismissed.

United, unbeaten in 12 before today, climbed to 2nd with their victory. But were breathing a huge sigh of relief come full-time.

But a phenomenal, steady, second-half display saw Hurst's charges dig in as Sheffield hammered attack after attack towards Mark Halstead's goal.

The shot-stopper enjoyed a wonderful afternoon between the sticks.

Louis Dodds' goal was a lifeline and made more than 500 travelling fans believe, but it proved a step too far.

The red cards were Salop's fifth and sixth of the campaign. They went into the clash with the poorest disciplinary record and little was done to help that. Supporters will be wondering how the statistic can be improved

It was always going to be the most serious test of Hurst's Salop reign so far, but the visitors were not helped by having to field 10 men for 70 minutes.

O'Brien's dismissal looked contentious, but referee Darren Deadman was certain he fouled Dan Lafferty, despite the ball flying in another direction, and had to show the Scot his marching orders.

Mark Halstead, retaining his place between the sticks, stood up strong and denied Billy Sharp's fierce spot-kick, but the damage had already been done.

Salop were already one down. Sharp opening the scoring after just seven minutes with the simplest of finishes.

John Fleck was afforded the freedom of Bramall Lane to ping a ball over the top. Olly Lancashire had pushed up and in nipped Sharp to finish consummately under Halstead.

It didn't matter that the Blades had missed from 12 yards, because within five minutes Shrewsbury handed them a second on a platter.

A Paul Coutts corner found Kieron Freeman totally unmarked at the back post and he helped it across the ball to Stefan Scougall who finished through a crowd.

Shrewsbury were hanging on for dear life and looked set to make it into half-time with 10 men and a two-goal deficit.

But, two minutes into three added on, the game was taken even further beyond Hurst's side as Abu Ogogo lunged in on Coutts, seemingly missing the ball and catching the midfielder.

Deadman produced his second straight red of the afternoon to leave Salop reeling and in need of a miracle.

Hurst was always going to make changes at the break and, surprisingly, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was summoned for AJ Leitch-Smith, with Ian Black on for Ivan Toney.

The second-half proved an incredible spectacle. Akin to an attack v defence training session from in the week, Sheffield lodged themselves in Town's halves and offered wave after wave of attacks.

Halstead was called into action time and time again and stood firm on a number of occasions as the hosts, with a bit of ruthlessness could have had double figures.

One particularly save from Shropshire born Matt Done was world class and as good as you'll see.

But as Bramall Lane grew edgier as chances were spurned, there was never any realistic thoughts nine-men Salop would get back in it.

That until Louis Dodds, a boyhood Sheffield Wednesday fan, turned in a terrific volley from Junior Brown's fine cross with 18 minutes to play.

A stunned ground was shaken to its core as the Blades continued to create, and panic, as they failed to beat Halstead.

A combination of Brown and the post saved the day as Halstead was beaten with some five minutes remaining to leave Salop clinging to hope.

In the end, the nine men couldn't muster another opportunity, but my how they gave the high-fliers a second-half scare.

Key moments

6 - The hosts almost score as Mark Duffy's strike inside the area, but skipper Billy Sharp inadvertently kept out the goalbound shot.

8 - SHEFFIELD GOAL - But moments later they do score. John Fleck is given far too much time at the base of midfield to spray a pass forward to Sharp, Olly Lancashire pushed out and left the sharp-shooter all alone to finish under Mark Halstead.

11 - Gary Deegan has a good go. A Salop free-kick is cleared and Deegan left-footed volley from 30 yards is not far wide.

12 - Shrewsbury are having a go and AJ Leitch-Smith profits from a defensive error but is forced onto his left foot. Still gets an effort away, which Simon Moore parries away.

14 - Sharp is all over Salop and inches away from a second as his strike arrows wide of the far post.

20 - Sheffield penalty. Jim O'Brien red card - Nice interplay between Dan Lafferty and Sharp and O'Brien reaches for the ball from behind. Darren Deadman points at the spot. O'Brien, Chris Doig and Paul Hurst are livid. Seemed to win the ball.

21 - Halstead SAVES the Sharp spot-kick. Penalty powered down the middle and Halstead beats it away.

25 - Sheffield GOAL - 2-0 to the hosts and it's another easy goal. Paul Coutts' corner is met by an unmarked Kieron Freeman at the back post, who headed it back across goal for sub Stefan Scougall to divert in through a number of bodies.

39 - Almost a comic third for the Blades. Scougall's scrappy effort is stopped on the line by Adam El-Abd, who almost back-heeled it beyond Halstead.

42 - Sharp should have the match ball wrapped up by half-time. His free header is narrowly over the top.

45+2 - Disastrous. Shrewsbury second RED CARD. Abu Ogogo is given his marching orders after catching Coutts with a firm challenge. Salop down to nine men.

51 - Sheffield are camped in the Town half in an attack v defence style training session. Chance after chance falls their way, with Halstead denying Coutts and Sharp on umpteen occasions.

59 - Junior Brown diverts a low cross straight across the six yard line before Halstead stands up to save well from Sharp.

67 - Sheffield carve out chance after chance with their men advantage as one particular move is recycled for Sharp and Coutts to both spurn golden chances inside the six yard box.

72 - SHREWSBURY GOAL - Out of absolutely nothing after barely edging into the Blades half, Town may be back in it!! Fine work from Brown and a terrific delivery finds Louis Dodds who slams in a volley.

75 - Sub Harry Chapman somehow places a diving header over the top as Bramall Lane gets restless.

82 - Incredible from Halstead. World class stop to get down and deny Matt Done who is through on goal. Fingertips around the post. Then saves a header from resulting corner. Outstanding.