Town conceded four second-half goals on their way to suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat away at Sheffield United earlier today.
Darnell Furlong nearly gave the Robins a dream start at Bramall Lane, but his shot was somehow kept out by Simon Moore in the home goal.
Sheffield United had chances of their own to take the lead but they were kept at bay thanks to a combination of some brilliant defending and a couple of smart saves by Lawrence Vigouroux.
However, the home side ran riot after the break and scored four unanswered goals to inflict a heavy defeat on Town.
Jon Obika returned to the fold to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation after being rested in midweek, as did the likes of Lawrence Vigouroux and Michael Doughty.
Town got off to the better start and were unlucky not to be celebrating an early lead with less than five minutes on the clock.
Anton Rodgers clipped an inviting ball into the area from a free-kick and Darnell Furlong was there to meet it, but the defender’s powerful effort was superbly parried away by Simon Moore.
It was then the home side’s turn to threaten as they hit their guests on the break but Matt Done could only fire a shot straight at Vigouroux.
It was a frantic start to proceedings with both sides pouring forward at will but neither team were unable to deliver the final blow.
Chris Basham sent a header over the crossbar before the game calmed down somewhat, with both teams unable to make the most of a string of corners.
Sheffield United began to enjoy a spell of pressure as Paul Coutts’ drive from outside the area forced Vigouroux into action, before they carved out their best opportunity of the first-half.
Mark Duffy picked out Billy Sharp in acres of space and the striker chipped the ball over the head of Vigouroux only for Raphael Rossi-Branco to head off the line, before Vigouroux somehow got back into position to deny Daniel Lafferty on the follow-up with a brilliant stop.
Town opted to make a change at the break with Jermaine Hylton coming on to replace Michael Doughty.
However, it was the Blades who flew out of the traps in the second-half but their finishing let them down again as Sharp could only curl an effort past the post from close-range.
But the Reds failed to heed that warning and found themselves two goals down following a nightmare few minutes.
Mark Duffy’s effort looked to have been dealt with by Vigouroux but the keeper was unable to prevent it from squirming over the line.
And the Blades added to their lead moments later courtesy of Paul Coutts who hammered home into the bottom corner.
Sheffield United did have the ball in the back of the net again but Sharp’s joy was cut short by the offside flag, although that didn’t matter as Duffy was in the right place at the right time to nod home a third for the hosts just shy of the hour mark.
Town then made a change in a bid to try and put a stop to the Blades’ dominance with Nathan Delfouneso replacing Jon Obika.
Vigouroux had to be alert to block Done’s venomous shot with his feet, but the keeper was unable to prevent the Blades from adding a fourth after substitute Caolan Lavery swept home from Ethan Ebanks-Landell’s corner.
Lavery then went close to notching another goal but his effort was tipped over by Vigouroux while Delfouneso flashed a shot wide at the other end, which signalled the end of the game with the Blades running out convincing winners.
TEAMS AND STATS:
SCORERS - Mark Duffy (51, 58), Paul Coutts (53), Caolan Lavery (76).
SHEFFIELD UNITED - Moore; Basham, O’Connell, Ebanks-Landell; Lafferty, Fleck, Coutts, Duffy (Stefan Scougall 83), Freeman; Done (Caolan Lavery 67), Sharp (C) (Leon Clarke 78).
Subs Not Used - Ramsdale, Hussey, Wright, Brown.
TOWN - Vigouroux; Furlong, Rossi-Branco, Jones, Ormonde-Ottewill; Rodgers, Thomas; Goddard (Tom Smith 66), Doughty (Jermaine Hylton 45), Norris; Obika (C) (Nathan Delfouneso 60).
Subs Not Used - Henry, Evans, Sharpe, Murray.
Referee - Gavin Ward
BOOKINGS:
SHEFFIELD UNITED - Kieron Freeman, Paul Coutts.
TOWN - Conor Thomas, Lawrence Vigouroux, Raphael Rossi-Branco.
ATTENDANCE - 19,196 (420).
