Round-Up: United rule tale of two Cities

The shift in football power in one of the country's major cities has been much in the news this week, and certainly Sheffield United are in a much stronger position now than their steel-town neighbours Sheffield Wednesday.

As they await a two-legged Worthington Cup semi-final against Liverpool, the Blades' Nationwide First Division position looks very healthy, too, after a 1-0 defeat of Preston at Bramall Lane kept them settled in the play-off zone. The only goal came just before the hour when Graham Alexander powered a spectacular diving header into his own net. Preston's Mark Rankine, protesting too vociferously about a penalty not given, was sent off. "It's great to win when you don't play so well," the Blades manager, Neil Warnock, said.

But bottom club Wednesday endured a grim prelude to Christmas, losing 2-0 at fellow strugglers Grimsby. The Owls, without an away win in the League all season, dominated the goalless first-half but seven minutes into the second half they were 2-0 down. The former Blades defender George Santos headed his first goal for the Mariners, and soon after Darren Mansaram scored from close range. "A major blow," manager Chris Turner said. "Six minutes of madness cost us the game."

Still on the relegation theme, Stoke City's encouraging form against Ports-mouth last Saturday contin- ued. They came back from a goal down at Wimbledon after David Connolly's 13th goal in 11 games to earn a 1-1 draw thanks to Chris Iwelumo's headed leveller.

The Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington, who has extended his contract to 2006, gave special mention to his goalkeeper, Robert Green, after the Canaries beat Walsall 2-1 at Carrow Road. "It's not the first time he's dug us out of a hole, although I was delighted with the character we showed after going a goal behind," he said after seeing Clint Easton divert the ball into his own net five minutes into the second half to give the Saddlers the lead. Malky Mackay equalised five minutes later, Phil Mulryne scored the winner on the hour and Walsall substitute Gareth Ainsworth was sent off two minutes after coming on.

Burnley, mauled 6-2 at home by Rotherham last week, lost 4-2 at Gillingham though their manager, Stan Ternent, made referee Grant Hegley rather than his defenders, the villain. "People travel 300 miles to watch the game and I thought he ruined it by shambolic refereeing," he said. It was 1-1 when two Paul Smith goals at the end of the first-half put the Gills on top. Marlon King added the fourth and Robbie Blake's penalty made it 4-2 before Dean West and Gareth Taylor were sent off and the Clarets ended with nine men.

Watford beat Bradford 1-0 thanks to an injury-time Neil Cox penalty. "I didn't think it was a penalty at all," the Hornets' manager, Ray Lewington, said, adding that two others should have been awarded.

The Second Division leaders, Wigan, beat Huddersfield 1-0, while at the bottom Mansfield hauled themselves into survival contention with a rare win, 1-0 at Barnsley.

At the top of the Third, Hartlepool's wobble since Chris Turner's departure continues. They were held to a 2-2 draw by Scunthorpe. In the demotion scrap, Richard Logan scored twice as Boston United moved off the bottom by thrashing Shrewsbury 6-0.