Match ends, Crawley Town 0, Sheffield United 2.
CrawleyCrawley Town0Sheff UtdSheffield United2
Sheffield United edged closer to the play-offs after a Conor Coady double gave them a comfortable win at Crawley.
Coady opened his account in the first half when Jamie Murphy's cross reached him and he fired home.
The hosts had their chances but both Mark Connolly and Andy Drury failed to find the back of the net.
The Blades made sure of the win when Murphy again found Coady from his delivery and the on-loan Liverpool midfielder slotted in at the back post.
Nigel Clough's side are seven points off sixth-placed Peterborough with games in hand on the teams around them.
Crawley Town boss John Gregory told BBC Surrey:
"There were a lot of positives from the game, which I will keep, in terms of we kept the ball. I was disappointed in the final third of the pitch, everything before that was excellent and I can't fault anyone or there effort, we just lacked that spark.
"Their goalkeeper has made some brilliant saves so we kept him busy but we should've have been more clinical.
"There is not too much for me to complain about because there was an incredible effort and the result flattered Sheffield.
"We have an incredible next five matches, with four of them away from home and I suppose we are suffering from the bad weather we had in January and we seem to do things the hard way."
Line-ups
Crawley
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Jones
- 3Sadler
- 7Clarke
- 10Drury
- 4Connolly
- 5McFadzeanBooked at 79mins
- 8TorresSubstituted forProctorat 66'minutes
- 12Walsh
- 21Jones
- 18TubbsSubstituted forFallonat 80'minutes
- 15Bulman
Substitutes
- 9Fallon
- 14Proctor
- 16Kaikai
- 17Boateng
- 25Maddison
- 28Dicker
- 29Connolly
Sheff Utd
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Howard
- 4Brayford
- 28FreemanBooked at 52mins
- 8Doyle
- 5MaguireBooked at 90mins
- 15Collins
- 14McGinn
- 17Coady
- 9PorterSubstituted forPaynterat 81'minutes
- 23MurphySubstituted forKhanat 90+5'minutes
- 22DaviesSubstituted forDimaioat 90+4'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Flynn
- 11Baxter
- 18Paynter
- 21Scougall
- 25Long
- 29Khan
- 42Dimaio
- Referee:
- Graham Horwood
- Attendance:
- 3,622
Match Stats
Home TeamCrawleyAway TeamSheff Utd
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away3
- Corners
- Home4
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crawley Town 0, Sheffield United 2.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Otis Khan replaces Jamie Murphy.
Booking
Harry Maguire (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Michael Jones (Crawley Town).
Post update
(Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Connor Dimaio replaces Ben Davies.
Post update
Attempt saved. Matthew Sadler (Crawley Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Kyle McFadzean (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Billy Paynter (Sheffield United).
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamie Murphy (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Mark Connolly.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Billy Paynter replaces Chris Porter.
Post update
Attempt missed. Stephen McGinn (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Rory Fallon replaces Matt Tubbs.
Post update
Foul by Kyle McFadzean (Crawley Town).
Post update
Jamie Murphy (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Kyle McFadzean (Crawley Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Michael Jones (Crawley Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John Brayford (Sheffield United).
