Team news

Morgan absence adds to Blackwell`s woes Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell will be forced to match and make do for his side's home clash with Blackpool.

Blackwell is once again struggling to name an 18-man squad due to injuries and suspensions, with skipper Chris Morgan the latest player sidelined.

Morgan sits out a two-game ban after reaching 10 bookings for the season, while Toni Kallio has returned to parent club Fulham due to a calf injury and Kyle Bartley, on loan from Arsenal, is suffering from the after effects of food poisoning.

Nyron Nosworthy, on loan from Sunderland, may switch to centre-half alongside Marcel Seip in Morgan's absence. Fellow defenders Gary Naysmith and Ryan France (both knee) and Derek Geary (ankle) are long-term absentees.

Midfielder Lee Williamson is still doubtful due to the hamstring injury that kept him out of Saturday's 1-1 draw with QPR, and Jamie Ward (hamstring) and Ched Evans (collarbone) also remain sidelined.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway again looks set to be without a trio of players.

Defenders Ian Evatt and Stephen Crainey are still struggling with ankle and knee injuries respectively and winger Hameur Bouazza is nursing a groin problem.

Algeria international Bouazza has been dogged by the complaint since the African Nations Cup and will be rested for the remainder of the month.

He requires an operation but that is likely to be postponed until after the World Cup in the summer.

Holloway has no other major concerns as his side seek to bounce back from Saturday's 3-2 defeat at West Brom.

The Seasiders are two points outside the play-off places with 10 matches remaining.

Sheff Utd 3-0 Blackpool

Last modified 12:41 20/04/10

Cresswell`s double sinks Seasiders A brace from Richard Cresswell inspired Sheffield United to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Blackpool and gave their Coca-Cola Championship play-off bid a much-needed shot in the arm.

Going into the game without a win in three, the Blades made the perfect start when they went ahead after just 42 seconds as Cresswell netted at the far post.

A first league goal since December 2005 for skipper Nick Montgomery doubled United's lead just before the break and the easiest of tap-ins for Cresswell in the second period gave him his 10th of the season and the hosts the three points.

The win extended their unbeaten record at Bramall Lane to 11 games, but Cardiff's late winner against Coventry meant they remained three points off the play-off places.

Blackpool lacked a cutting edge throughout, with Keith Southern's first-half shot their only real chance, and their own promotion aspirations seem to be fading away after back-to-back defeats.

Sheffield United's play-off designs have been recently undermined by wretched away form - they have lost their last seven on the road - but Kevin Blackwell's men are a different proposition on their own soil and took the lead within a minute.

After Alex Baptiste conceded a needless corner, Blackpool failed to clear a wicked delivery from Mark Yeates and Cresswell was on hand to poke home at the far post.

The hosts, buoyed by their early strike, continued on the front foot and could have had a second after 20 minutes, but Matthew Gilks made a flying save with his body after a loose ball had fallen to Stephen Quinn, who should have scored.

Blackpool came close to levelling just after the half hour when Mark Bunn's weak punch fell to Southern, but the midfielder could only send his drive from 16 yards wide.

But United reasserted their authority and made a vital second breakthrough two minutes before half-time.

Some good build-up play down the left saw Cresswell feed Camara and the Senegalese striker coolly rolled the ball back for Montgomery, who drilled the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

United were determined not to let the lead slip through their grasp, as they had done in Saturday's draw with QPR, and they were reliant on debutant Paul Connolly to clear off the line after Jason Euell had poked the ball past the onrushing Bunn.

And United put the game to bed in the 66th minute when they went further ahead.

Quinn fed Darius Henderson down the left and the striker got to the byline before firing across goal where Cresswell was left with the simplest of tap-ins.

The result could have been even more clear-cut as the rampant Blades threatened to run riot in the closing stages in an attacking display that was a far cry from their dismal showing at rock-bottom Peterborough a week ago.