Sheffield United 4-0 Reading: Gary Madine scores a brace to compound misery on struggling Reading

Sheffield United cruised back into the top two with a major demonstration of their firepower – after Chris Wilder rested leading marksmen Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick.

Reading were ripped apart and, although the strugglers contributed to their own destruction, there was something ominous about how easy it was for the Blades. 

With Leeds not playing, they set about reclaiming second place with a goal after only 38 seconds. 

John Fleck’s deflected shot made it 4-0 to the home side and compounded misery on Reading

The goal came just after the break and Fleck celebrated the goal with his Blades team-mates

Kieran Freeman’s strike straight from kick-off was followed by a brace from Gary Madine, his first for the club, for a 3-0 half-time lead. 

The former Sheffield Wednesday striker, whose signing divided United fans, snatched the chance presented by his first start – alongside fellow January loan signing Scott Hogan, making his debut on loan from Aston Villa.

Madine left the field to an ovation – and the man of the match award after completely turning around critics in the crowd. This was a big game at both ends of the Championship. 

And much as the focus was on the Blades’ tilt for the Premier League, there was no less urgency in Reading’s attempt to escape dropping into League One.

The Christmas appointment of Portuguese manager Jose Manuel Gomes has taken time to have an effect – but the Royals arrived on the back of a four match unbeaten run after the late midweek victory over Blackburn. 

Gary Madine smashes home after the Royals failed to clear a cross into the box at Bramall Lane

Madine celebrated scoring his second of the game and his side’s third of the day

Simultaneously, United were squeezing past Middlesbrough to maintain strong form showing only one defeat in ten matches. With Leeds not in action – and Wilder’s side boasting a better goal difference than both the top two – this was a big chance to move back into the automatic promotion places. 

It was evidence of United’s strength that Wilder left 34 goals on the bench, electing to rest both Sharp and McGoldrick. The recalled Mark Duffy also wasted no time reasserting his importance as he broke down the left to cross low for Freeman, also back in the starting line-up, to poke home. 

The second was down to Reading keeper Emiliano Martinez whose poor kick fell for Madine to rifle into the roof of the net. After Martinez had partially redeemed himself with saves from Duffy and John Fleck, Reading fell apart again before the break. 

Marvin Johnson’s low cross should have been dealt with at the near post and Madine again hammered high into the net. John Fleck piled on the punishment after the break, although his 25 yard strike – teed up by Madine – took a big deflection past Martinez. 

The Reading keeper made a series of saves to limit the damage. Johnson and Oliver Norwood were both denied – and foiled, too, twice, was Hogan, seeking a debut goal. Madine, whose signing on loan from Cardiff, angered many Blades fans, left the field to a well deserved standing ovation when substituted near the end. 

Emiliano Martinez played the ball out to Kelly, who was not ready and the attacker nipped in

The ball fell to Gary Madine who smashed home to double Sheffield’s advantage on Saturday

Mark Duffy delivered a low cross and Kieron Freeman slid in an easy tap-in to make it 1-0

Andy Yiadom was caught out for the Sheffield goal – he allowed Duffy time and space to cross