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Ndlovu played 154 games for the Blades after joining early in 2001 Stoke manager Tony Pulis has offered striker Peter Ndvlovu a contract. The 31-year-old Zimbabwean forward has been on the lookout for a new club following his release by Sheffield United at the end of last season.
Ndlovu linked up with the Potters squad for pre-season training this week and he has already impressed Pulis. "Peter has been here, we have had talks and we have made him an offer. Now he has gone away to think about it," he told the club's official website.
27 MARCH 2004
A second-half John Robinson strike saw the Bluebirds to a comeback win against the high-flying Blades.
Peter Ndlovu opened the scoring from a corner, Tony Vidmar's clearing header falling to the striker who hit a right foot volley through the crowded area. On the stroke of half-time, Richard Langley's long-range free kick bobbled under Blades keeper Paddy Kenny. Then in the 62nd minute a Sheffield clearance header fell to Robinson who hit a left-footed volley home. The visitors almost opened the scoring on six minutes after Michael Tonge had beaten Langley on the right wing.
Peter Ndlovu got the opener He pulled the ball back for Jack Lester, but the Blades' top scorer side-footed into the side-netting from six yards. A long period of Bluebirds pressure followed, Alan Lee getting the ball into the net in the 14th minute from Gareth Whalley's corner, but the referee ruling that the striker had used his hand. Then on 25 minutes Tonge's right-wing corner was headed clear by Tony Vidmar to Ndlovu, who was unmarked on the edge of the box.
The Blades' striker, who scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture, unleashed an unstoppable shot past Martyn Margetson for his first league goal since late September. Sheffield were cruising, but on the stroke of half-time Kenny's shocking mistake left the scores equal. That gave Cardiff renewed hope for the second half, and in the 62nd minute Rob Earnshaw broke down the right to feed Gary Croft. His cross was headed weakly away, falling to Robinson who fired home his first goal for the club to give them the lead.
Paddy Kenny badly fumbled Langley's free-kick A great chance was then created for Earnshaw, given a clear run onto a ball into the box, but the Bluebirds' leading scorer stumbled allowing Kenny to mop up. A well-worked Sheffield free kick led to a good right-footed strike from Simon Francis, but City keeper Margetson was up to the task. Kenny fumbled at another Robinson effort, but moments later redeemed himself as he spectacularly tipped a Langley drive over the bar. It was not enough to save his side, though, as the Bluebirds ran out the clock in front of a joyous Ninian Park crowd.
Cardiff: Margetson, Vidmar, Gabbidon, Collins, Croft, Langley, Whalley, Boland, Robinson, Lee, Earnshaw. Subs: Campbell, Gordon, Bullock, Barker, Alexander.
Sheff Utd: Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Page, Francis, Phil Jagielka, McCall, Tonge, Ndlovu, Lester, Gray. Subs: Rankine, Allison, McLeod, Shaw, Wright. Referee: A Leake (Lancashire).
26 FEB 2004
Nick Montgomery was the hero for 10-man Sheffield United as his goal ended a run of four straight league defeats. It could have been a very different story had Alex striker Dean Ashton scored from the penalty spot after Carl Robinson had brought down Steve Jones.
The 10-goal forward blazed his spot-kick high and wide to extend Crewe's winless run to five games. United had Mike Whitlow sent off in the 28th minute after he was deemed to have clipped the heels of Craig Hignett.
The visitors made a lively start and came close to breaking the deadlock after four minutes as Phil Jagielka's cross was headed inches wide by Montgomery. Goalkeeper Clayton Ince, whose howler gifted Bradford the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Valley Parade, pulled off a fine save to deny youngster Jonathan Forte shortly afterwards.
The Railwaymen hit back as David Vaughan tested Paddy Kenny with a 20-yard shot, but the Blades were dominating, and Ince was called into action again to keep out a fierce drive from Michael Tonge.
United were dealt a blow as Whitlow was shown a straight red despite having earlier been booked for a late challenge on Ashton, but the Blades reorganised and looked the side more likely as the half drew to a close. The visitors continued to push forward at the start of the second half, with Forte again causing problems for the Alex defence.
Ashley Ward was then denied the opener as his header was hacked off the line by Hignett. Tonge and Parkinson both tried their luck from distance before Ashton missed from the penalty spot. They were made to pay with five minutes remaining as Neil Warnock's battlers snatched victory.
Substitute Peter Ndlovu raced down the right and cut the ball back for Forte. His shot was blocked by Ince but the ball bounced up kindly for Montgomery to loop a header over Kenny Lunt on the line.
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Crewe: Ince, Wright, Moses, Foster, Tonkin, Steve Jones, Sorvel, Cochrane, Vaughan, Hignett, Ashton. Subs: Lunt, Rix, Edwards, Tomlinson, Billy Jones.
Sheff Utd: Kenny, Phil Jagielka, Page, Whitlow, Kozluk, Parkinson, Montgomery, Robinson, Tonge, Forte, Ward. Subs: Allison, Ndlovu, Shaw, Peschisolido, Cryan.
Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).
