Sheffield United 1-0 Port Vale

Sheffield United ended a run of five games without a win as they beat Port Vale courtesy of a first-half penalty from Jose Baxter.

Victory keeps the Blades fifth and was much needed as they kept sixth-placed Peterborough two points behind them.

The penalty came when Vale's Michael O'Connor fouled Jamie Murphy inside the area, with Baxter smashing home.

Vale's day got worse when ex-Blade Michael Brown was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Sheffield:

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Clough on Sheffield United v Port Vale

"It wasn't a brilliant game but it's a good clean sheet and probably the most important three points we have won this season.

"I thought we started well. We got the goal, then they got back in to it, and the defence dealt with how direct they played.

"There was a few tackles flying in but I don't think anything was too bad, the worst tackle was when we should have had a penalty.

"We probably should have scored more but we will take the win."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Sheff Utd

• 1Howard
• 26Freeman
• 5Brayford
• 6BashamBooked at 44mins
• 3Harris
• 14DoneSubstituted forFlynnat 66'minutes
• 18CouttsBooked at 37mins
• 35HoltSubstituted forAlcockat 90+2'minutes
• 9Murphy
• 11BaxterSubstituted forDoyleat 80'minutes
• 32DaviesBooked at 87mins

Substitutes

• 2Alcock
• 7Flynn
• 8Doyle
• 12McNulty
• 16Davies
• 24Turner
• 29Adams

Port Vale

• 1Neal
• 2Yates
• 4Robertson
• 21VeseliBooked at 87mins
• 5McGivernBooked at 82mins
• 19MooreSubstituted forDanielat 45'minutes
• 17BrownBooked at 90mins
• 15O'Connor
• 20Marshall
• 8DoddsSubstituted forCampionat 68'minutes
• 9WilliamsonSubstituted forPopeat 45'minutes

Substitutes

• 6Duffy
• 7Birchall
• 11Pope
• 12Johnson
• 14Daniel
• 18O'Sullivan
• 28Campion

Referee:

Jeremy Simpson

Attendance:

18,729

Match Stats

Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamPort Vale

Possession

Home50%

Away50%

Shots

Home12

Away11

Shots on Target

Home6

Away3

Corners

Home2

Away6

Fouls

Home12

Away17

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Port Vale 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Port Vale 0.

Posted at 90'+4'

Steve Davies (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Ryan McGivern (Port Vale).

Posted at 90'+4'

Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Tom Pope (Port Vale).

Posted at 90'+3'

Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Frederic Veseli (Port Vale).

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Craig Alcock replaces Jason Holt.

Dismissal

Posted at 90'+1'

Second yellow card to Michael Brown (Port Vale).

Posted at 90'+1'

Ryan Flynn (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Michael Brown (Port Vale).

Posted at 90'

Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Tom Pope (Port Vale).

Posted at 88'

Foul by Robert Harris (Sheffield United).

Posted at 88'

Tom Pope (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 87'

Frederic Veseli (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card.

Booking

Posted at 87'

Steve Davies (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 85'

Attempt saved. Jamie Murphy (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 83'

Jason Holt (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Michael O'Connor (Port Vale).

Posted at 83'

Attempt blocked. Steve Davies (Sheffield United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Booking

Posted at 82'

Ryan McGivern (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 82'

Steve Davies (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 82'

Foul by Ryan McGivern (Port Vale).

Substitution

Posted at 80'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Michael Doyle replaces Jose Baxter.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Steve Davies (Sheffield United).

Posted at 79'

Frederic Veseli (Port Vale) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 79'

Attempt missed. Colin Daniel (Port Vale) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Achille Campion (Port Vale) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Posted at 75'

Attempt blocked. Michael Brown (Port Vale) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Robert Harris.

Posted at 70'

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Frederic Veseli.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, Port Vale. Achille Campion replaces Louis Dodds.

Substitution

Posted at 66'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Ryan Flynn replaces Matt Done.

Posted at 64'

Attempt saved. Steve Davies (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.

Posted at 64'

Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Chris Basham.

Posted at 62'

Attempt missed. Tom Pope (Port Vale) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

Posted at 60'

Steve Davies (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 60'

Foul by Chris Robertson (Port Vale).

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