SHEFF UTD: Bunn, Walker, Morgan, Seip, Taylor, Williamson (Ward 70), Montgomery, Harper, Quinn, Evans (Camara 70), Cresswell (Henderson 89). Subs Not Used: Bennett, Stewart, Geary, Fortune.
BORO: Coyne, McMahon, Riggott, Wheater, Hoyte, Flood (Franks 75), Osbourne, O'Neil, Robson, Killen, Aliadiere (Johnson 63). Subs Not Used: Steele, Bent, Arca, Bennett, Luke Williams.
Boro have now lost six of their last seven matches, and Strachan has only two victories to his name in the 12 games he has taken charge of since Gareth Southgate's sacking in October.
The hope of the players raising their game with the appointment of a new manager (which usually happens) didn't happen ... and the former Celtic boss has struggled from the day he walked into the Riverside.
Players have gone ... and the worst thing about it ... there are more still WANTING to go!
Richard Cresswell's second-half strike enhanced Sheffield United's play-offs hopes and heaped more misery on ours.
Striker Cresswell headed his fifth goal for the Blades since his move from Stoke to give Kevin Blackwell's side their third consecutive home win in the league and extend their impressive run to just one defeat in 12 matches in all competitions.
New signings Barry Robson, Willo Flood and Chris Killen were all included in Boro's starting line-up, while Matt Kilgallon was a notable absentee from the Blades' team.
Neither side looked like candidates for promotion in a dire first half and it took until the half-hour mark for Boro midfielder Isaiah Osbourne to register the first shot on target.
The on-loan midfielder burst into the penalty area, but his scuffed strike was never going to trouble Mark Bunn.
Scotland international Robson was showing some nice touches and he swung in a free-kick from the right which Chris Riggott rose highest to meet but Bunn again made a regulation save eight minutes before the break.
United were booed off at half-time after a poor first-half showing, in which they failed to test Boro keeper Danny Coyne.
The Blades were no better at the start of the second half, but they took the lead from out of the blue nine minutes after the break.
Andy Taylor swung in an inviting cross from the left which Cresswell headed home from six yards out after shrugging off David Wheater.
Boro were unfortunate to be behind and they felt aggrieved not to be awarded a penalty when Jeremie Aliadiere went down under a challenge from Chris Morgan, but referee Andy D'Urso waved away the protests.
Strachan introduced Adam Johnson with just over half an hour remaining and he showed his obvious class when he picked out Justin Hoyte with a clever pass and the full-back crossed for Robson, who fired over under pressure from two defenders.
Boro strived for an equaliser late on, but United held on for three precious points.
2009/10 BORO RESULTS
MACCLESFIELD 0 BORO 3 (Arca pen, Emnes, Franks)
(1st half) Coyne, Hoyte, Huth, Williams, Grounds, Yeates, Walker, Digard, Cronesberry, Aliadiere, Martin. (2nd half) Coyne, McMahon, Bates, Hines, Johnson, Smallwood, O'Neil, Arca, Porritt, Emnes, Franks.
DUMBARTON 0 BORO 5 (O'Neil, Dunlop og, Aliadiere pen, Adam Johnson, Williams)
Jones (Coyne 46), Hoyte (McMahon 72), Bates (Wheater 72), Huth (Hines 72), Grounds (Taylor 72), O'Neil (J Johnson 72), Arca (Capt) (Williams 72), Digard (Walker 29), Yeates (A Johnson 65), Aliadiere (Franks 46), Emnes (Porritt 63).
CARLISLE 0 BORO 2 (Adam Johnson, Williams)
Jones (Coyne 60),McMahon,Taylor (Williams 72),Bates(Walker 24),Huth,Wheater (Hines 60),O'Neil,Arca(Hoyte 60) 60),Franks,Yeates (Porritt 72),A Johnson (Martin 84)
OLDHAM 2 BORO 2 (Williams, Huth)
Coyne; Williams, Wheater (Huth 64), Hines, A Taylor; Hoyte (McMahon 64), Walker (Yeates 54), Arca (Smallwood 79), A Johnson (Martin78); Aliadiere(J Johnson 78) Franks (Porritt 78) Substitutes (not used): Ripley
MILLWALL 1 BORO 1 (Williams)
Coyne (Jones 46), Hoyte (McMahon, 61), Huth, Wheater, Ground, Yeates, Arca (O'Neill 46), Digard (Williams, 61), Johnson, Aliadiere, Emnes (Franks, 81) Subs not used: Adan Smith, Seb Hines , Andrew Taylor, Josh Walker, Nathan Porritt Goals: Wheater OG 27mins, Williams 78m.
BORO 0 SHEFF UTD 0
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Grounds, Yeates,Williams, Digard (O'Neil 42), Adam Johnson, Aliadiere,Emnes (Lita 65).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Taylor, Arca, Franks.
SWANSEA 0 BORO 3 (Adam Johnson, Emnes, Tuncay)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Williams, Grounds, Yeates (Arca 85), O'Neil, Adam Johnson, Lita (Franks 79), Emnes (Sanli 67).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Taylor, Hines.
SCUNTHORPE 0 BORO 2 (Adam Johnson 2, 1 pen)
Coyne, McMahon, Williams, Huth, Grounds, Yeates (Arca 84), O'Neil, Wheater, Adam Johnson (Hoyte 90), Lita (Sanli 74), Emnes.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hines, Franks, Steele.
BORO 2 DONCASTER 0 (Tuncay, Lita)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Huth, Grounds,Yeates (Aliadiere 72), Williams, Arca, Adam Johnson, Lita (Taylor 84), Emnes (Sanli 16).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.
NOTTINGHAM FOR 2 BORO 1 (Adam Johnson) Carling Cup AET
Coyne, Hoyte, Wheater, Huth, Taylor, Yeates,Williams, Arca (Bennett 106), Adam Johnson, Aliadiere (McMahon 83), Emnes (Lita 65).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Grounds, Hines, Franks.
BRISTOL CITY 2 BORO 1 (Adam Johnson pen)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Grounds, Taylor, Adam Johnson, Arca, Williams, Yeates, Lita, Emnes (Aliadiere 71).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Hoyte, Walker, Hines, Bennett, Franks.
BORO 3 IPSWICH TOWN 1 (O'Neil, Aliadiere 2)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Hines,Taylor (Grounds 41), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 77), Adam Johnson, Emnes, Lita (Aliadiere 61).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Bennett, Franks.
SHEFF WED 1 BORO 3 (Purse og, Aliadiere, Adam Johnson)
Coyne, McMahon (St. Ledger 82), Grounds, Wheater, Hines, Williams, Adam Johnson, Arca, O'Neil (Hoyte 90), Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 71).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Yeates, Bennett, Franks.
BORO 0 WEST BROM 5
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Grounds,Yeates, Williams, Arca (Digard 57), Adam Johnson,Emnes (Lita 67), Aliadiere (Folan 32).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Hoyte, Hines, Bennett.
COVENTRY 2 BORO 2 (St. Ledger, Williams)
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger,Bennett (Grounds 64), O'Neil, Williams, Arca,Johnson (Yeates 74), Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 53).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Folan, Hines, McMahon.
BORO 0 LEICESTER CITY 1
Jones, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger,Bennett (Digard 86), O'Neil, Williams, Arca (Yeates 62),Johnson, Aliadiere, Emnes (Lita 62).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Grounds, Hines, Franks.
READING 0 BORO 2 (St. Ledger, Lita)
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Bennett,Yeates (Arca 70), O'Neil, Williams, Johnson, Lita (Emnes 88),Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Digard, Grounds, Hines.
BORO 0 WATFORD 1
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Bennett (Hoyte 55), Yeates (Arca 74), O'Neil, Digard, Johnson, Lita, Aliadiere.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Emnes, Grounds, Williams.
PRESTON 2 BORO 2 (O'Neil, Johnson)
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Bennett,O'Neil, Williams, Digard, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Franks 90).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Pogatetz, Yeates, Arca, Grounds, McMahon
BORO 0 PLYMOUTH 1
Jones, Hoyte, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz (Grounds 53), Arca (Yeates 87), O'Neil, Williams, Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Bent 46).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Digard, Franks, McMahon.
CRYSTAL PALACE 1 BORO 0
Jones, Hoyte (Arca 69), St. Ledger, Wheater, Grounds, O'Neil, Williams, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita (Franks 77), Bent.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Yeates, Emnes, Bennett, McMahon.
BORO 1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 (Lita)
Jones, Williams, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Arca (Digard 66), O'Neil, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita (Franks 76), Kitson (Bent 57).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Yeates, McMahon.
PETERBOROUGH 2 BORO 2 (Kitson 2)
Jones, McMahon, St. Ledger, Wheater, Pogatetz,Yeates (Hoyte 75), Arca, Osbourne, Johnson, Lita, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Riggott, Digard, Emnes, Bent.
QPR 1 BORO 5 (Kitson, Lita 2 (1 pen), O'Neill, Yeates)
Jones, Rhys Williams, St. Ledger, Wheater, Pogatetz, O'Neil (Digard 79), Arca, Yeates, Osbourne, Kitson,Lita.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Emnes, McMahon, Luke Williams.
BORO 0 BLACKPOOL 3
Jones, Rhys Williams (McMahon 46), Wheater,St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Arca (Digard 80), O'Neil (Yeates 62),Osbourne, Johnson, Lita, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Emnes, Luke Williams.
BORO 0 CARDIFF CITY 1
Jones, McMahon, Wheater, St. Ledger, Pogatetz, Johnson (Emnes 68), Rhys Williams, Osbourne, Yeates, Bent,Kitson (Lita 62).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Hoyte, Arca, Hines, Luke Williams.
NEWCASTLE 2 BORO 0
Jones, McMahon, Wheater, Pogatetz, Hoyte,O'Neil, Rhys Williams, Osbourne, Arca (Yeates 66),Lita (Franks 83), Kitson (Bent 46).
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Taylor, Riggott, Luke Williams.
BORO 3 SCUNTHORPE 0 (Johnson pen, Rhys Williams, Aliadiere)
Coyne, McMahon, Wheater, Pogatetz (Riggott 83), Hoyte, O'Neil, Rhys Williams, Osbourne, Johnson (Yeates 70),Aliadiere (Bent 64), Lita.
Subs Not Used: Steele, Taylor, Arca, Luke Williams.
BARNSLEY 2 BORO 1 (Hoyte)
Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Wheater, McMahon, Rhys Williams, O'Neil, Arca, Johnson, Bent, Franks (Luke Williams 73).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Taylor, Yeates, Emnes, Grounds, Bennett.
FA CUP: BORO 0 MAN CITY 1
Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Wheater, McMahon, O'Neil,Rhys Williams, Arca (Luke Williams 70), Johnson (Emnes 32),Bent, Franks, Emnes (Yeates 57).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Shawky, Grounds, Bennett.
SHEFF UTD 1 BORO 0
Coyne, McMahon, Riggott, Wheater, Hoyte,Flood (Franks 75), Osbourne, O'Neil, Robson, Killen,Aliadiere (Johnson 63).
Subs Not Used: Steele, Bent, Arca, Bennett, Luke Williams.