The Championship game between Sheffield United and Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane on Saturday Jan 16 2009.
Richard Cresswell propelled Sheffield United into the Championship play-offs as Middlesbrough's promotion hopes continued to fade at Bramall Lane.
The former Sheffield Wednesday striker's fifth goal since he left Stoke City enabled his team to climb above Leicester and Blackpool into sixth place in the Championship table while Boro's slide under Gordon Strachan continued.
Creswell ensured his club's upward mobility with Kevin Blackwell's side now having lost just once in 12 matches while Boro have won just three times since Strachan took the reins last October.
It was in an attempt to invigorate his team that Strachan handed debuts to his former Celtic charges Chris Killen, Barry Robson and Willo Flood but it was a case of same old, same old for Boro who have all the hallmarks of a nearly team.
The new-look Boro, looking for their club's first win here since 1987, may have shaded the first half but lack bite in attack and Robson, Isaiah Osbourne and Chris Riggott all had chances but Blades goalkeeper Mark Bunn foiled them all without undue anxiety.
Despite spending most of time on the front foot thanks to the sprightly Jeremie Aliadiere, the visitors endured the opening half's most nervous moment when referee Andy D'Urso failed to punish Barry Robson when he handled Richard Cresswell's cross inside his own penalty box.
Perhaps motivated by a sense of injustice following a series of decisions that went Boro's way, Blackwell's side raised their game after the break and took the lead in the 56th minute.
Cresswell was given the chance to break the deadlock when left-back Andy Taylor crossed and the forward bravely shrugged off David Wheater's challenge to apply the finishing touch with his head five yards from goal.
Back came Boro and Aliadiere had a decent claim for a penalty dismissed by D'Urso following Marcel Seip's clumsy challenge and then Robson wasted a chance to equalise.
After riding their luck, the hosts started to dominate again and should have doubled their lead ten minutes later when Ched Evans teed up James Harper following Taylor's cross but the former Reading player was unable keep his close-range volley on target.
Substitute Henri Camara almost put clear water between the sides late on but his low shot struck the inside of Danny Coyne's left-hand post and rebounded into the goalkeeper's arms but United ran out comfortable victors.
Match details
Sheffield United (4-4-2): Bunn; Walker, Morgan, Seip, Taylor; Williamson (Ward 70), Montgomery, Harper, Quinn; Evans (Camara 70), Cresswell (Henderson 89).
Subs: Bennett (g), Stewart, Geary, Fortune
Booked: Cresswell, Quinn, Williamson
Middlesbrough (4-4-2): Coyne; McMahon, Riggott, Wheater, Hoyte; Robson, Osbourne, O'Neil, Flood (Franks 75); Aliadiere (Johnson 63), Killen.
Subs: Steele (g), Bent, Arca, Bennett, Williams.
Booked: Robson, O'Neil
Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).
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