Thank you very much Lee Probert. Contrary to popular belief I was not one of the people that made the trip to Bramall Lane to watch Queen’s Park Rangers take on Sheffield United. I was there to watch a referee desperate for attention cheat a team out of a hard earned point. Luckily I was not disappointed.

Olly made changes to the side that played out a disappointing 1-1 draw with Gillingham in the week. Royce was in goal for the final time this season behind a back four of Bignot, Shittu, Davies and Padula. Miller, Rowlands, Bircham and Cook lined up in midfield with Gallen partnered by Santos in attack. Big Pat Kanyuka featured on the bench for the first time in his fledgling career alongside fellow youngsters Bailey and Baidoo.

The opening exchanges were fairly predictable as far as Sheffield United were concerned. The searing pace of Danny Webber was all too evident and he was trying to pull onto Davies at every opportunity. He had the ball in the net early on only to be denied by the linesman’s flag. Rangers’ best source of attacking flair seemed to be coming from Danny Shittu. Twice he set of on powerful jinking runs, his first ended with a shot being blocked and the second with a corner being won.

The swirling wind inside Bramall Lane was forcing both teams to get the ball down rather than resort to hoofball and when the ball was visible amongst the balloons littering the pitch it was pretty entertaining stuff. Chances though were limited for both sides so it was a relief when a moment of real quality handed Rangers the lead.

Launching a flowing move from inside their own half the ball ended up with Rowlands. He played the ball into Santos on the edge of the box before taking his quick return in his stride and firing past Kenny with the aid of a deflection. This ground has good memories for Rowly as this goal added to the two he got here in the League Cup last season.

Sheffield United almost responded immediately and were only denied by Royce’s brilliance. Rob Kozluk fired in a cross from the right flank and it was met by the head for former Wednesday man Alan Quinn from no more than six yards. The header had power a direction but it gave Royce the slightest chance and he responded with a flying save to his right to turn the ball away. Quite how Quinn managed to get the header will be a source of concern. Bignot probably should have been round on the cover but he was well off the pace all afternoon.

            Quinn went close again for The Blades with a dipping effort that clipped the roof of the net with Royce either being supremely confident or doing a bloody good impression of someone that was! Then just before the break United equalised through Webber. Davies challenged the on loan Watford man near the centre circle but the ball broke Webber’s way. Bignot had a chance to challenge but backed off and Webber was flying. Davies could not get back and he fired through Royce’s legs to finally spark the deathly quiet Bramall Lane crowd into life. Colin must be glad that his players show a bit more passion than the lifeless mob that come to watch them.  

Shortly before the break Rowlands was forced from the action with a hamstring strain. This meant that seventeen year old Stefan Bailey was thrown into the fray for his debut. He didn’t get a touch in the injury time that remained but he would certainly make his mark in the second period.

Sheffield United started the second half the brighter side and within eight minutes of the restart they were a goal up. Jon Harley found space twenty five yards from goal and thundered a shot at goal. Royce did well to tip the ball onto the bar but the only player to react to the rebound was Webber and he had a simple task to nod into the unguarded net. Rangers were behind now in a game they had bossed for long periods.

Rangers started to get back into the game though and a major reason for this was the drive of Bailey from the middle of the park. He seemed to have plenty of confidence, more so than when I have seen him at either youth or reserve level, and he was flying into the challenges. He got caught in possession a couple of times but that is hardly a surprise as the games he has played in have had nothing like the pace of The Championship.

Santos gave up a gilt edged chance to equalise when he was sent clear of the United defence. He sent his effort high into the top tier of the stand. Georges is no striker but he was a willing worker all afternoon in a position to which he is ill suited. Indeed it was as a result of his strong challenging that Rangers did level the scores.

The ball was played into the Sheffield United area and Santos and Bromby came together in a bone crunching collision. Georges was the stronger of the two though and he fed Gallen who shot at goal and saw two deflections take the ball past the helpless Kenny. Back on level terms now and deservedly so after what had been a spirited showing to this point.

The game went into another period of few chances now as United continually relied on the pace of Webber for any attack they launched. If only Gallen or Santos had a fraction of this pace they may have made more of some probing balls from Bailey in the middle of the park.

With a couple of minutes to go Olly decided that it was time for a charge and he withdrew the impressive Padula and threw Cureton on. Curo had not had a chance to get into the game when the idiotic Probert got into the action. A long freekick was sent into the box and Bircham and Bromby were under its flight. Bromby went to ground as the ball neared them and Probert gave the pen. Nobody appealed for it, despite what the ever ungracious Warnock might say, and the whole ground was stunned. Having seen the replay Bircham is guilty of nothing more than standing behind Bromby, a heinous crime if ever there was one.

As rent-a-foul Andy Gray prepared to take the kick Bignot noticed that it wasn’t on its spot and pointed this out to the ref. Probert booked Bignot and than made Gray re-spot the ball! So it was off the spot then, so what was the booking for? Gray made no mistake as he rolled the ball to Royce’s left to grab the latest, and most undeserved, of winners.

Surely Probert could do no more to heighten the farce he had already created? Wrong I am afraid. As the game entered five minutes of imaginary injury time Steve, sorry, Steven (gone all big time it would seem) Kabba chased a ball and was second best to Davies. He shoved Davies to the floor and then as Davies raised his hand to appeal for the freekick Kabba went over it. A clear freekick to Rangers it would seem. Not from Probert’s point of view though and he showed a second yellow to Davies and sent him from the field. Olly was going mental by this point and it was probably all he could do not to chin this fool.

Even after this though, Rangers came within a whisker of grabbing the point their endeavour deserved. Gallen was played into space and sent a fierce drive at goal. Kenny was beaten but the ball shaved the side netting and cannoned back off of the stanchion. Many in the ground thought it was in and it only served to compound a frustrating afternoon.

Most played well at Bramall Lane. Royce, Shittu and Padula were excellent. Davies did well at time but still seemed hesitant but Bignot had an afternoon to forget. Miller showed some nice touches but still looks like he needs time to adjust to this standard, Rowlands took his goal well and looked sharp before the injury. Bircham was often wasteful in possession but worked hard for the cause, likewise Cook on the left. Santos ran his spuds off up top even though the position is clearly alien to him. Gallen, like Bircham, gave the ball away a lot but kept showing for chances and was unlucky not to equalise for a second time.

The real bright spot of the afternoon though was the impact of Bailey on his debut. After an initial period to settle down he worked really hard and showed good craft and vision as well as a willingness to tackle anything that came within five yards of him. He certainly did enough to earn more chances before this season is out.

Now then, on to Mr Probert. If the Football League or FA ever set a minimum standard for their officials then you can be sure that this clown will fall well below it. He has reffed us three times this season now. At Wolves he was intimidated by the crowd and allowed the game to go on in dangerous and unplayable conditions. Against Preston at home he sent off a seven foot cat! And today he gave a non-existent penalty, sent a player off for getting fouled, consistently favoured the home side in his decision and if certain comments coming out of Rangers are to be believed, allowed himself to be intimidated by the odious Colin Wanker.

Lee Cook was booked for his first foul of the game, one of two he committed all afternoon. Compare this to Andy Gray who gave away five in the fist half without censure. Santos was booked for kicking the ball away despite the fact that the multi ball system employed at Bramall Lane meant that by the time he did Harley had another ball in his hands. Bignot was booked for telling the ref the ball was not on the spot and he made Gray re-place it. The only booking worthy of the name was Davies’ first. The second was high farce. If we never see this bloke again it will be too soon. No doubt with such an appalling display he will be elevated to the so called elite list before to long. Yet another faceless automaton sent to blight the game that people pay a fortune to watch. That’s right Mr Probert, we pay to watch the game, not you, perhaps you would do well to remember that in future you weak minded cretin.

simon@qprnet.com