That pace that he has is very important in modern international football He has a lot of it and that is a big thing. Growing up in Bedford, Johnson was rejected by his local side Luton Town, for being too small and in August 2002 was sold by Birmingham City to Crystal Palace just a month after he had helped them gain promotion to the Premiership.Recognition has come more quickly for Downing, 20, whose form has declined after a hugely promising start to the season. The Manchester City winger has pressed his case for a start since his brilliantly taken debut goal against Ukraine in August, and with a three-man midfield, Eriksson could still accommodate David Beckham with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.The England captain bruised his shoulder during Real Madrid's 4-0 victory over Espanyol on Saturday but travelled to England yesterday and will join up this morning with the squad that includes Crystal Palace's Andy Johnson and Stewart Downing, of Middlesbrough, for the first time.Although Eriksson has his first-choice front six, he will have to make changes in central defence. Fortunately for these FA Cup specialists, their next game is a fourth round replay against West Ham United, with Arsenal awaiting the winners. "Knowing us, we'll probably end up getting to the final and that will continue to distract us in the League," Neil Warnock, the Sheffield United manager, said.Goals: Unsworth (20) 0-1; Kuqi (61) 0-2.Sheffield United (3-4-1-2): Kenny; Bromby, Cullip, Morgan; Geary (Quinn, 67), Montgomery (Liddell, 67), Jagielka, Harley; Tonge; Gray, Cadamarteri (Ward, 75). Substitutes not used: Kuszaczak (gk), Chaplow, Kanu, Gaardsoe.Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).Booked: West Bromwich: Scimeca, Clement, Greening.Man of the match: Francis.Attendance: 24,292..

Sven Goran Eriksson hinted yesterday that he will adapt his favoured 4-4-2 formation against the Netherlands on Wednesday, which means that Shaun Wright-Phillips could finally get his first international start as part of a three-man attack with Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney. The notoriously conservative Swede said he "was ready to try something a little bit new tactically" before the World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland on 26 March. Substitutes not used: Warner (gk), Bullock, Fleetwood.Referee: K Stroud (Dorset).Booked: Cardiff City: Gabbidon.Man of the match: Gabbidon.Attendance: 23,716.. Substitutes not used: Walker (gk), Brevett, McClenahan Cardiff City 4-4-2: Alexander; Weston (Vidmar, 79), Collins, Gabbidon, Barker; McAnuff, Kavanagh, Inamoto (Ledley, 88), Langley; Thorne, Lee. He had seen his lightweight Hammers not win at home in the League since New Year's Day and had Lee taken two further chances that came his way in the last 18 minutes that damning statistic would have endured.Instead, Fletcher's goal made sure that life took on a rosier complexion for the Hammers as, despite the doom and gloom around the club, they climbed within one position and one point shy of the play-off places.Goal: Fletcher (89) 1-0.West Ham United (4-4-2): Bywater; Mullins, Ferdinand, Mackay, Powell; Harewood, Fletcher, Reo-Coker, Noble (Rebrov, 86); Sheringham, Zamora (Chadwick, 62). With three wins in their last five League games and just two defeats in eight, that is form that Pardew would die for.

Teddy Sheringham, with his back to goal, controlled the ball deftly for Fletcher but James Collins, outstanding in central defence alongside Danny Gabbidon, stuck his foot out for a vital block.Cardiff's attitude was surprising given they were the side on song. We had to grind away given our recent run and it was a bit tense. The one quality moment produced the goal."For his part, Cardiff's Lennie Lawrence bemoaned this defeat as like "a dagger through the heart," and blamed bad finishing, with Alan Lee the main culprit.Lee's first attempt five minutes before the interval was the cue for the Hammers to respond although they failed to test Neil Alexander in the Bluebirds goal. The midfielder was signed by Pardew in August and that was as good a way as any of paying him back.The manager said his match-winner had had a quiet game, but called this result: "A vital, massive win. With 20 minutes left, Alan Pardew was, once again, having to suffer chants of "We want Pardew out," and "You're getting sacked in the morning." The only difference between this and most other weeks of late at Upton Park was that the singing came from the visiting fans. Stoke: Simonsen, Buxton, Taggart, Hall, Asaba.Man of the match: Taggart.Attendance: 9,938..