Time is running out for Sheffield United and the clock seemed to stand still for some players in embarrassing spells at Prenton Park last night. Their failure to win away for the first time in five months means that Sheffield United must resume the search for the two points that should ensure a place in the play-offs at Crewe Alexandra tomorrow, or failing that at Stockport County on Sunday, the fourth game for United in eight demanding days.
A goal behind after only 10 minutes, they grabbed a vital equaliser only seconds from the end when Paul Devlin finally beat the Tranmere defence. Dog has bitten lumps out of dog in Division One for most of the season. Even Manchester City, one of the bottom dogs, beat Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough before the two teams became involved in the photo-finish for promotion.
Tranmere have bitten themselves for much of the season, only recently climbing free of the relegation zone with five points from the last three games. Their manager John Aldridge urged a fighting finish to the season in this match and against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday, when Aldridge threatens to make one final appearance. That would put the former Republic of Ireland striker, at 39 and seven months ahead of George Payne in longevity.
Aldridge would have enjoyed being in the thick of the confusion in the United goalmouth after 10 minutes. Simon Tracey, replacing the injured Alan Kelly, lost control of a high cross by Dariusz Kubicki and Liam O'Brien prodded the mud-embedded ball home to claim only his third League goal in 39 games.
John Morrissey scooped a miskick by Tracey wide from long range before the goalkeeper at last got things right saving neatly from Andy Parkinson. Such an early setback was a challenge to United's resolve to make a back-door entry into the Premier League via the play-offs.
The goal was especially painful to United as it came only seconds after Steve Simonsen had blocked a header and then saved a shot the central defender Dave Holdsworth, up for a corner.
It was not a match of textbook defending, United at least having an anxiety complex as their excuse, and Dean Saunders was left unmarked to meet a centre by Graham Stuart and head United back into contention with a pricious point.
