PL2 United 0 Reading 2

This capitulation against Reading leaves United in serious danger of relegation from Premier League 2.  Once again, the Reds were outplayed by rivals who were hard-working and well-organised but otherwise unspectacular, to extend a dismal run of home form that now leaves them dangerously close to the two relegation places.

In the season-long absence of a genuine forward, this time it was Callum Gribbin who led the attack.  Gribbin is a talented prospect but his failure to capitalise on two chances in the first half illustrated a familiar problem for United.  First, he neglected to shoot when presented with a sight of goal, allowing the Reading defence to get back into position and then, finding himself through with only the keeper to beat, he once again failed to get a shot away.

Aside from these chances, Reading very much had the upper hand and it was no surprise when they took the lead, Osho rising to head home convincingly.  But for a fine save from O'Hara, it might easily have been two before half-time, but Reading eventually added to their lead in the second half.  Once again a failure to deal with an aerial ball following a corner that allowed Smith to rise and head well beyond O'Hara's reach.

The nature of the goals conceded show that United's problem at this level isn't solely due to the lack of an established front man.  With Poole and Williams unavailable, a defence that kept the Reds safe in mid-table for much of the season now looks consistently vulnerable.  Axel Tuanzebe, while undoubtedly a fine prospect, now appears far less secure with midfielder Scott forced to take up defensive duties alongside him.

Yet the lack of that forward presence is undoubtedly a large part of the reason why United now stare the unthinkable possibility of relegation in the face.  Late in the game, Harrop floated a fine delivery into the box only for no team mate to gamble and attack the ball.   By now Gribbin was back in his more familiar midfield position and the move brought a greater balance to the team in the later stages but by then, of course, it was too late.

PL2 Derby County 5 United 3

A disappointing season for United's Under 23s continued with this loss at bottom side Derby County.  Although a minor fightback reduced the margin of defeat, the Reds remain in unfamiliar territory in the table.  Having been champions in three of the last four years, the Reds go into the run-in with relegation still an unthinkable possibility.

It was the Reds who took the lead when Gribbin's expertly placed free kick, awarded after Mitchell had been felled following a surge down the left, beat the keeper at his near post.  For a spell it looked most likely that United would increase their lead but Babos's superb strike from the edge of the area drew Derby level and, before half-time, Elsnick rose to meet Bennett's cross from the left and put the Rams ahead.

Although United had chances, Derby approached the second half like a team determined to add to their lead and the breakthrough came when Elsnick grabbed his second thanks to a wicked deflection off Tuanzebe that saw the ball loop over O'Hara to give the keeper no chance.   

It got worse moments later when Gordon pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the area to drill the ball under O'Hara for Derby's fourth goal.  A fifth came when Elsnick capitalised on increasingly gaping holes in the United defence to lay on a simple ball for Jakobsen to score after the same player had blasted over only minutes earlier.  

The Reds made the scoreline look a little more respectable when Redmond latched onto a cross from Olosunde to strike the post before following up to score from the rebound.  With three minutes left Kehinde scored United's third after he was put through by Gribbin, whose increasing maturity on the ball was one of the few positives Nicky Butt can take out of this match.

Other than that, however, it was a pretty grim night for the Reds.  The result takes Derby off the foot of the table and leaves United only three points clear of the Premier League 2 relegation places with six games remaining.