Frustration kicks in like never before....

Tuesday’s game was another case of what might have been for the Railwaymen after Sheffield United gift wrapped us an easy way to victory, then right at the death stole the points to the deep despair of the on looking Alex fans.

Team selection seemed fine: no Kenny meant that Higgy and Jonah played deeper roles than usual behind Deano. The inclusion of defensive midfield duo JC and Sorvs provided ample cover for the three attackers. The inspirational David Vaughan was showing no ill effects of his long injury lay off throughout the game and was subsequently man of the match by a country mile.

Adie and Foz were kept relatively busy as Blades front man and former Alex hit man Ashley Ward played like a warrior for the whole ninety minutes. He never, ever gave up and when they were reduced to ten men he carried the attack admirably. Andy Parkinson was extremely nippy just behind Ward in a withdrawn role, but our two centre-halves are incredible when together and on form. Foz made tackle after tackle, block after block for the home side and it was just disheartening that Adie was forced off at half time. As far as the first half was concerned, we kept them at an arms length.

David Wright was his usual exemplary self, he is sure to be playing top flight football this time next year. It’s a good job we have an even more promising replacement in Billy, who replaced Adie at the break.

Higgy showed some good touches, but he was obviously not up to full match fitness after months of bench warming at Leicester. Time will show how well he copes. He used some of the tricks he’s picked up over the last decade to win a host of free-kicks – leaving the leg trailing, not so much diving, but making sure the referee had to give a foul.

When veteran defender Mick Whitlow was adjudged to have brought Higgy down in the 27^th minute, he was shown a straight red. Only moments earlier he had done the same and escaped with a caution. Neil Warnock’s reaction just goes to prove what a complete arsehole this man really is. The referee had no alternative but to send him off because he was the LAST MAN! He was continually sniping at the fourth official, linesman, his assistant manager, Dario, the referee, his own players; our players…..even the Main Stand! The same goes for the penalty. Jonah was toppled in what can only be described as a cynical, professional foul by Michael Tonge.

The momentum swung in the home side’s favour after the sending-off, but lardarse goalie Paddy Kenny had very little to do prior to half time. As much as Kenny pissed the home fans off with his Warnock-esque antics following the penalty, you have to credit him for three class saves, one which defied gravity - I mean with his obvious weight (approximately half a ton?) he got down to shots very well. Seriously though, I was impressed with him.

You felt that the Alex had to take their chances when they came along because Warnock has instilled a never-say-die attitude into the Blades – they simply don’t know how to give in! You can say what you like about the guy – he talks out of his arse, acts like an arrogant, childish tosser and complains like no manager I have ever come across in my life, but you have to respect him for transforming a mediocre mid-table side into one of the league’s top forces. I just wish that our lads would show some of the resilience and hardiness that United’s players show.

Our players are as good if not better than theirs, but mentally heads drop far too early and easily. Take Deano’s penalty – on his day he would bury one hundred out of one hundred of them, but ‘his day’ surfaces far too rarely. He possesses ten times the talent and skill of Ashley Ward, Andy Parkinson and Peter Ndlovu put together, but he just hasn’t got their mental strength whatsoever. When his obvious skill shines through, nothing can stop him, it is so frustrating.

The penalty miss turned out to be the major turning point, as Sheffield saw a window of opportunity, and our lads' head's just dropped. I realise they are young and are on a learning curve, but they seem to give in too soon. It was like "Oh, well we've given them a good game, but things look to be going against us, so we'll just stop playing like we know we can."

This is a major problem with our young side - our kids will give anyvody a good game, but when backs are to the wall and the going gets tough, one or two players just lose interest and the flowing football we are so good at just seems to ebb away. After the penalty, play became scrappy - we cannot afford to do this against experienced, resilient sides such as United - they will take advantage. Take Watford, Telford, Millwall and Bradford as examples of this - rubbish sides who are not a patch on Crewe yet have this in built determination - losing just wasn't an option when these sides have played (and subsequently beaten) us.

None of the lads played badly, they just lacked this 'X-Factor' and ultimately paid the price. We arguably deserved a point from the game, but Montgomery's late winner doesn't fill me with much confidence ahead of Saturday's 'derby' with Stoke City. It is looking ever more likely that my pre-season prediction of 17th will come true with frustrating performances like this one.