Jan-Michael on trial with Ferencvárosi TC. Here is the match report:
Ferencvaros 2-3 Blades - match report
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The Blades needed just 75 seconds to get amongst the goals as the pre-season campaign kicked off in Budapest on Monday evening.
Danny Webber, who missed half of last season through injury, netted twice in the opening ten minutes and Billy Sharp was also on target as the Blades held on for a narrow victory.
The game against sister club Ferencvaros in Hungary in front of around 4,000 fans marked the start of United's pre-season campaign which will take in games in Belgium and Holland before the team return to Sheffield at the weekend.
Paddy Kenny, after a summer knee operation, played a full 90 minutes, as did Lee Hendrie as boss Kevin Blackwell used 18 of his 22-man squad. Greg Halford made his debut as a second half substitute but Sun Jihai was not used and is expected to feature later in the week in either Belgium or Holland.
Ferencvaros boss Bobby Davison used the game to run the rule over a number of his charges as he prepares his team for another season in the Hungarian second team. He has players from England, Ivory Coast, United States, Jamaica and Trinidad, which include trialist goalkeeper Jan Michael-Williams, a former Blades target.
Despite the 18,000-capacity stadium being relatively empty, due in no small part to thunder, lightning and rain before kick-off, the small pocket of United fans and their Fradi counterparts made a substantial amount of noise early in the game and there was soon a goal to celebrate for the travelling contingent.
With less than two minutes gone, Geary's through ball received a fortuitous touch from the referee and WEBBER benefited by rounding goalkeeper Michael-Williams before slotting through the legs of Souare.
On ten minutes, the home side were picking the ball out of the net again when a mix-up between Souare and Csiszar presented WEBBER with another chance and he beat the goalkeeper with the aid of the crossbar.
The Fradi defence lacked early cohesion and another mistake almost let in Stead, whilst the home side's first effort fell to Abdi, but his shot, after cutting in from the left, was straight at Kenny.
The passionate home fans, however, were celebrating soon after when they reduced the arrears. From Szkukalek's curling free-kick, CSISZAR rose highest and powered a bullet header past Kenny from close range.
Naysmith got a foot in to prevent Shaw getting a clear sight of goal as Ferencvaros came more into the game as the half wore on and Ashmore and Bamba tried their luck from long range.
Six minutes before half-time Kenny was forced to push away from Shaw and then Morgan deflected another Abdi attempt over the crossbar as the home side began to dominate.
The Blades - sporting shirts promoting the Chinese Earthquake Appeal - held on to the lead at the break but Fradi boss Davison introduced a fresh 11 players for the second half. Blackwell, meanwhile, made a total of six changes, including handing a debut to Halford.
The first chance of the second period fell to United but Stead, despite being in the clear, fired across goal and wide, whilst the visitors were fortunate that Kenny made it difficult for Bartholomew moments later.
Halford used his long throw as a weapon on a number of occasions and also provided a cross for Sharp to head just wide on 73 minutes.
The second half substitute, however, did add his name to the scoresheet on 80 minutes. Stead's lay-off resulted in Hendrie's side-footed effort being parried by goalkeeper Holczer and SHARP was ideally placed to tuck in the rebound.
United's two-goal cushion, though, lasted less than 60 seconds. There was little anyone could do about LAMINE's speculative long-range effort that cannoned in off Kenny's right post.
The dangerous Bartholomew came close to grabbing an equaliser on 85 minutes but Kenny tipped over the crossbar and from the resulting corner, Montgomery headed off the line as Lamine looked for second.
Ferencvaros piled on the pressure in the closing stages but the Blades kept out a Lipcsei free-kick and a corner in injury-time.
Ferencvaros: Michael-Williams, Fulop, Szkukalek, Shaw, Fitos, Csiszar, Souare, Ashmore, Abdi, Bamba, Diaz.
Subs (all used): Holczer, Dragoner, Baranyai, Nagy, Bartha, Downing, Lipcsei, Bartholomew, Toth, Wolfe, Lamine.
Blades: Kenny, Naysmith (Armstrong 45), Morgan, Stead, Webber (Sharp 45), Hendrie, Speed (Quinn 45), Tonge (Montgomery 45), Gillespie (Naughton 68), Geary (Halford 45), Ehiogu (Kilgallon 45).
Unused: Bennett, Hulse, Sun, Carney.
