Mackail-Smith on target as Peterborough overcome a poor Sheffield United side at London Road

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Craig Mackail-Smith was reinstated into the starting eleven and was rewarded with his eighth goal of the campaign, his first since December last year, thus condemning Sheffield United to another away defeat.Home bo s Jim Gannon changed the system again for the visit of The Blades, this time starting with a 4-3-3 formation involving the Mak Attack for the first time since Cardiff away with Liam Dickinson completing the front line. Dom Green started again, this time in the middle of the park with Lee Frecklington and Charlie Lee. The set up was attacking which was no doubt pleasing for the home fans to see.Under-pre sure Blades bo s, Kevin Blackwell, made 3 changes from the 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace at the weekend with Jordon Stewart, James Harper and striker Ched Evens all coming in for Toni Kallio, Mark Yeates and Stephen Quinn respectively with the latter two dropping to the bench. Blackburn loanee Jace Fry Jersey  Mark Bunn, who saved a George Boyd penalty in the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane in November, continued in between the sticks for the steel city side.The first real action of the match involved U21 keeper Lewis and Wales international Ched Evans on 8 minutes as they both challenged for the loose ball that had been flicked on by Montgomery. Lewis came out to collect the ball only to get crunched by a high flying Evans foot. Play was paused for a while as both received treatment, with Evans receiving a yellow card for his karate-like-kick on Lewis. This was a bad start for Blackwells men as he witne sed Evans trudge down the tunnel with a shoulder injury; Henri Camera was his replacement moments later.The first attack of any significance came on the quarter hour mark as, after some poor visiting defending, Dom Green took the advantage of some space in the middle and got his effort away but his shot, from just inside the area, although not a bad hit, Mark Bunn was equal to it, making a comfortable save to his left to deny the youngster his first championship goal.Posh were keeping up the pre sure and, after some nice pa sage of plays, Frecklington should have done better after dragging an acrobatic volley wide of Bunns right hand post after losing his marker. It was midfield man Frecklington again who had  Danny Mendick Jersey another effort on goal, but this was a more ambitious shot from 25 yards which, left footed, whistled just over the Blades goal. Sheffield United on the other hand were creating next to nothing, and it was clear, even at this early stage, that the travelling fans were restle s.The home side continued to pre sure with the away side barely contesting in the match. A Dom Green corner found its ways onto utility man Charlie Lees head which rebounded after hitting the bar but Craig Mackail-Smith was quickest to react by knocking the ball into the back of the net, despite the efforts of Bunn who could only push the ball onto the underside of the bar. Things got worse for the team in red and white as Jaime Ward was replaced a minute later through injury, being replaced by Stephen Quinn.With Sheffields game plan being completely undone, you could see a rare influx of confidence flooding back into the Posh players with Mclean trying his luck from outside the area firing towards the top corner but Bunn, the former Cobblers keeper, was able to make the catch.Half time was met with a cheer from the home crowd but, contrastingly, a chorus of boos from Sheffield fans who were infuriated by the poor and direct performance of the Blade team.Both sides made a change at half time with Kevin Blackwell being forced to bring off Williamson through injury who was replaced by the Middlesbrough loanee, Mark Yeates. Posh brought off Lee Frecklington and replaced him with Sergio Torres who made his first Posh appearance of the season. Torres was controversially booked after just 90 seconds after entering the pitch without the fourth officials consent.The Blades began the second half all guns blazing with Yeates hitting the wall with a free kick and central midfielder Harper having two efforts on  Harold Baines Jersey goal blocked. Zakuani and Morgan in particular were performing in an impre sive style at the heart of the Posh defence.On 68 minutes, Exodus Geohaghon was introduced to the action in a make shift central midfield role replacing Aaron Mclean who had had a quite game despite his effort levels. With 20 minutes to go, Gannon was happy to go more defensive, switching to a 4-4-2 formation. This said, The Posh were looking comfortable with Lewis not having a save to make.After a good run and cro s from full back Little, Tommy Rowe was unable to record his first Championship goal with Nicky Delmonico Jersey  the former Stockport man firing his half volley over the bar. Substitute Torres was running his socks off, committing himself into vigorous tackles despite being cautioned earlier in the match. It was clear the Argentine was trying to grab his chance at Championship football with both hands. The home fans responded by chanting his name in recognition.The tackles were flying in with referee Jarnail Singh having a busy day at the office cautioning no le s than 6 players and blowing up for a total of 34 fouls  24 of which were from the visiting side.Despite time running out, the away side were unable to create any sort of chance with Posh happy to defend out the remaining minutes, using Exodus Geohaghons mammoth throw as the main source of attack. Blade captain Chris Morgan hooked a last minute volley wide of the target and glanced a header past Lewiss post as a feeble Sheffield attack couldnt get past the Posh defence.After the final whistle, there were chants of Blackwell out! from the Blades fans that sunk to their 7th consecutive defeat on the road. The Yorkshire club fell further behind the promotion chasing pack who are now 4 points off the play offs and find themselves in 9th place. Posh remain bottom, 10 points from safety. Although the season is as good as over for Peterborough, this result will undoubtedly inject a new lease of confidence into the club going in to a winnable fixture away at Watford at the weekend as the club still search for the first away win of the season.Posh: 1.Joe Lewis, 4.Craig Morgan, 5.Gabriel Zakuani, 6.Charlie Lee, 7.Liam Dickinson, 8.Lee Frecklington (sub Torres Luis Aparicio Jersey  46min), 9.Aaron Mclean (sub Geohaghon 68min), 12.Craig Mackail-Smith, 14.Tommy Rowe, 16.Mark Little, 25. Dominic Green. Substitutes: 13. James McKeown, 17.Jamie Day, 23.Billy Crook, 30.Scott Griffiths, 31.Nathan Koranteng.Sheffield United: 23.Mark Bunn, 4.Nick Montgomery, 5.Chris Morgan, 6.Nyron Nosworthy, 9.Ched Evans (sub Camara 9mins), 12.Lee Williamson (sub Yeates 46min), 15.James Harper, 17.Richard Cre swell, 18.Jamie Ward (sub Quinn 41 min), 19.Jordan Stewart, 21.Kyle Bartley. Unused substitutes:13.Ian Bennett, 16.Andy Taylor, 20.Marcel Seip, 34.Matt Lowton.Attendance: 6,674 (1,331 Sheffield United fans)