Colchester United 1-2 Sheffield United

Sheffield United moved to within a point of the League One play-off places as they edged out struggling Colchester thanks to Chris Basham's late winner.

The Blades went in front when Billy Sharp's low shot squeezed past Jake Kean after Matt Briggs failed to clear.

Colchester equalised just before the hour when Tom Eastman glanced in a header from Marvin Sordell's cross.

The U's pushed for a winner, but it was United who snatched victory as Edgar turned in a corner from close range.

Colchester have not won in the league since 20 October - a run of 13 games - and are now five points from safety.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Colchester

• 32Kean
• 24BrindleySubstituted forBonneat 90+4'minutes
• 5Wynter
• 18Eastman
• 3Briggs
• 11MasseySubstituted forAmbroseat 85'minutes
• 8Gilbey
• 2Garvan
• 10Moncur
• 45Sordell
• 9Porter

Substitutes

• 4Edwards
• 7Wright
• 15Kent
• 19Bonne
• 22Vincent-Young
• 28Ambrose
• 33Parish

Sheff Utd

• 25Long
• 5Brayford
• 15Collins
• 34Edgar
• 19McEveley
• 17Woolford
• 6Basham
• 35Hammond
• 8CouttsSubstituted forFlynnat 71'minutes
• 14DoneSubstituted forBaxterat 64'minutes
• 10SharpSubstituted forSammonat 90+4'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Howard
• 7Flynn
• 11Baxter
• 18Sammon
• 20Campbell-Ryce
• 22Reed
• 29Adams

Referee:

Brendan Malone

Attendance:

4,322

Match Stats

Home TeamColchesterAway TeamSheff Utd

Possession

Home53%

Away47%

Shots

Home12

Away7

Shots on Target

Home6

Away4

Corners

Home7

Away4

Fouls

Home5

Away8

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Colchester United 1, Sheffield United 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Colchester United 1, Sheffield United 2.

Posted at 90'+4'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Chris Basham.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+4'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Conor Sammon replaces Billy Sharp.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+4'

Substitution, Colchester United. Macauley Bonne replaces Richard Brindley.

Goal!

Posted at 90'+1'

Goal! Colchester United 1, Sheffield United 2. Chris Basham (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Martyn Woolford following a set piece situation.

Posted at 90'+1'

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Owen Garvan.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Alex Gilbey (Colchester United).

Posted at 90'+1'

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

Posted at 89'

Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Alex Gilbey.

Posted at 89'

Attempt saved. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 86'

Foul by Tom Eastman (Colchester United).

Posted at 86'

Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 86'

Attempt saved. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Substitution

Posted at 85'

Substitution, Colchester United. Darren Ambrose replaces Gavin Massey.

Posted at 85'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by John Brayford.

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Jose Baxter (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 83'

Attempt saved. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

Posted at 80'

Attempt blocked. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 79'

Marvin Sordell (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 79'

Foul by Dean Hammond (Sheffield United).

Posted at 78'

Alex Gilbey (Colchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Dean Hammond (Sheffield United).

Posted at 76'

Attempt missed. George Moncur (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 73'

Richard Brindley (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Martyn Woolford (Sheffield United).

Posted at 72'

Attempt missed. Owen Garvan (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.

Posted at 72'

Attempt blocked. Owen Garvan (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Substitution

Posted at 71'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Ryan Flynn replaces Paul Coutts.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Marvin Sordell (Colchester United).

Posted at 66'

Paul Coutts (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 66'

Gavin Massey (Colchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 66'

Foul by Jay McEveley (Sheffield United).

Substitution

Posted at 64'

Substitution, Sheffield United. Jose Baxter replaces Matt Done.

Posted at 63'

Foul by Marvin Sordell (Colchester United).

Posted at 63'

Paul Coutts (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 61'

Attempt saved. Marvin Sordell (Colchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Goal!

Posted at 59'

Goal! Colchester United 1, Sheffield United 1. Tom Eastman (Colchester United) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marvin Sordell.

Posted at 58'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by Neill Collins.

Posted at 55'

Corner, Colchester United. Conceded by George Long.

Show more updates