Sheff Utd 2-1 Cardiff

Sheffield United's Andy Liddell celebrates the equalizing goal

Sheffield United staged a second-half revival to beat 10-man Cardiff City.

On-loan striker Neil Harris put Cardiff deservedly ahead on 41 minutes, but Graham Kavanagh was sent off a minute later after a wild lunge on Jon Harley.

The Blades piled on the pressure after the break and were level on 69 minutes when Andy Liddell slotted home after a clever pass from Michael Tonge.

Andy Gray snatched victory 11 minutes from time when he pounced on a loose ball in the six-yard box.

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock:
"We were very poor in the first half. I thought the two forwards didn't do anything right and it was a toss-up between Andy Gray and Paul Shaw over who came off.

"But we were very positive in the second half and passed the ball quicker.

"We should have gone to four across the back straight away.

"We were always going to play three centre-backs and we had to adapt because Cardiff used a diamond formation for the first time. But the sending off killed them."

Cardiff City manager Lennie Lawrence:
"I've never been in such total control of a game here as we were in the first half.

"There were three or four magnificent individual performances.

"The referee was an absolute disgrace. If [Peter Thorne's] goal had been at the other end, there's no doubt it wouldn't have been disallowed.

"He only got one thing right and that was the sending off."

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Sheff Utd: Bennett, Geary (Liddell 45), Harley, Morgan, Bromby, Cullip, Jagielka, Quinn (Thirlwell 88), Tonge, Gray, Shaw (Cadamarteri 45).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Beckett.

Booked: Geary, Cullip.

Goals: Liddell 69, Gray 79.

Cardiff: Warner, Williams, Collins, Gabbidon, Barker, Kavanagh, Boland, Ledley (Parry 80), Harris, Jerome (McAnuff 45), Thorne.
Subs Not Used: Alexander, Vidmar, Bullock.

Sent Off: Kavanagh (42).

Booked: Barker, Gabbidon, Harris.

Goals: Harris 41.

Att: 18,240

Ref: A Marriner (W Midlands).