Ward owes Evans favour

Jamie Ward has thanked strike partner Ched Evans for giving him the chance to score against his hometown club Aston Villa in Saturday's FA Cup defeat. The Blades lost 3-1 at Bramall Lane to exit at the third round stage, but Ward gained some consolation after usual penalty taker Evans allowed him to convert a spot kick early in the second half against Villa, with whom he started his career. Ward said: "It was a nice feeling to score against Villa and it was a bit better because it was my first of the season, but I perhaps should have scored in the first-half too." The 24-year-old added: "Ched wasn't going to get the ball off me for the penalty, but I thank him for letting me take it because he knows how much it means to me to score against my boyhood club - unfortunately I didn't get chance to celebrate a win."

Source: PA