LONG, HARD WINTER FOR BLACKWELL

CLOCKS have gone back, the nights are drawing in and Kevin Blackwell faces a long, hard winter.

His Sheffield United team were sunk by modest hat-trick hero Peter Whittingham, who now has 11 goals this season.

And it was a thriller of a game that did little for any manager's peace of mind, featuring FOUR goals in FOUR frantic minutes at the end of the first half.

Cardiff boss Dave Jones, whose team are now second, said of Whittingham: "Whits is sitting down in the dressing room and is very quiet. You wouldn't know he has just scored a hat-trick."

Thirteeen points out of 15 have rocketed the Bluebirds into an automatic promotion spot.

But how times have changed for Blackwell and United. Five months ago, they were within 90 minutes of the Premier League.

Now they are sliding down the table after only one win in eight games and three defeats in a week.

Boss Blackwell admitted: "It's a tough time at the moment and it will be tough until we get our experienced players back.

"It was a good performance and on another day it would have been good enough to get a result. We deserved more than we got out of the game."

Blackwell has almost a whole team on the injury list and was forced to bring in keeper Ian Bennett who had played only 10 games in the last three seasons. It did not help when Andy Taylor limped off after only half an hour.

And Cardiff gave Bennett an early warning of why they are the division's leading scorers when Jay Bothroyd headed in a free-kick only for the "goal" to be ruled out for an infringement.

But a goal-less first half was looming until that spectacular last five few minutes.

First, Blades' captain Chris Morgan's attempted clearance bounced off the back of team-mate Kyle Walker and into the path of Boothroyd who fired into the net.

United struck back immediately when Darius Henderson shot home.

Rag doll

Then Cardiff were awarded a disputed penalty after Darius Henderson collided with Boothroyd in challenging for a long throw and Whittingham converted from the spot.

Blackwell complained: "Boothroyd is a big, strong striker and he fell to the floor like a rag doll."

But there was still time for United to draw level before the break. Keith Treacy's first effort was parried by Cardiff keeper David Marshall to Henderson who looped in a header.

Cardiff regained the lead on the hour, thanks to another long throw. Adam Matthews' delivery was flicked on by Mark Hudson and Whittingham raced in at the far post.

And he completed his treble five minutes from time, finishing off a slick four-man passing move.

United pulled one back in injury time when James Harper poked the ball home from close range.

And they gave Cardiff a scare when, with almost the last kick of the match, Walker's shot was pushed out by Marshall for Stephen Quinn to turn the loose ball into the net. But his celebrations were cut short by an assistant referee flagging for offside.

Despite the victory and second place, Jones was far from satisifed.

He said: "The first half was a bit crazy. We scored, then they went straight back down the other end and scored, then we scored again and then they come back and score.

"Kevin will be as disappointed with their defending as much as us. We contributed to their goals.

"I've told the players we can get away with defending like that once but not again. It's strange, really, because our defending this season so far has been our strength.

"It was a tough game, a hard fought game. I was pleased because we looked like scoring all the time. The fourth goal was about passing and movement and you won't see a better goal this season."

Whittingham's 11 goals from midfield put him level with striker Michael Chopra. Jones said: "People think he's lazy but it's his demeanour. He puts in the yardage around the field and is up there with Joe Ledley."

And Jones was quick to play down talk of promotion. He said: "We'll just keep chipping away and try and get as many points on the table as early as possible. Our fans travel in large numbers and they want good football and results."

Meanwhile, Sheffield United look to regroup after conceding 21 goals in the eight games.

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