30th September Sheffield United 2 Middlesbrough 1 (Attendance: 27,483)
Blades Line-up: Kenny, Bromby, Jagielka, Davis, Armstrong, Gillespie (Nade 89), Leigertwood, Tonge, Alan Quinn (Kabba 77), Kazim-Richards (Webber 77), Hulse.
Subs Not Used: Morgan, Kozluk.
Booked: Bromby 7.

Scorers: Hulse 35, Jagielka 90.

Man of the Match: Phil Jagielka.

Middlesbrough Line-up: Schwarzer, Davies, Woodgate, Pogatetz, Taylor, Morrison (Mendieta 71), Cattermole, Rochemback, Downing, Viduka, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Parnaby, Maccarone, Bates.

Booked: Woodgate 43, Cattermole 48, Rochemback 90.

Scorer: Yakubu 49.

A stunning injury-time strike from Phil Jagielka against Middlesbrough gave United their first win of the Premiership season. Neil Warnock made four changes after the loss at Arsenal. Paddy Kenny returned from a thigh strain to take his place in goal, Leigh Bromby came of the bench to start, as did Alan Quinn, and Michael Tonge returned to the line-up. Gareth Southgate kept faith with his goalkeeper and the back four, but replaced Gaizka Mendieta, Stuart Parnaby and the injured Jason Euell with Stewart Downing, Lee Cattermole and Mark Viduka. After a patchy start in which neither side created a worthwhile opening, Boro were awarded a free-kick a few yards up from the right-hand edge of the United penalty area. Fabio Rochemback brought a save from Kenny with a powerfully struck shot as Aiyegbeni Yakubu was flagged offside. United hit back but a weak effort from Rob Hulse on the edge of the box was easily scooped up by a grateful Mark Schwarzer. On the 10-minute mark, the Boro goalkeeper was back in action again, this time clutching Chris Armstrong's cross from the by-line out of the air and away from the head of Hulse.
Lee Cattermole tried a low cross after the first was easily cleared and the second was also cut out by Claude Davis with Mark Viduka waiting just behind the central defender. After 18 minutes, Alan Quinn stormed forward through the middle to the edge of the 18 yard box. He side-stepped Jason Woodgate and the ball rolled to Colin Kazim-Richards, but the striker's shot was comfortably saved by Schwarzer. James Morrison set Yakubu away deep inside the Blades half. The Nigerian was left with Kenny to beat and took his time before rounding the goalkeeper. He seemed to delay his shot into an empty net from seven yards and when he did deliver; his low shot thudded back off Kenny's left-hand post, off Jagielka and out for a corner. Less than a minute later Middlesbrough had a golden opportunity when from a corner, Woodgate was left amazingly unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. He stepped back to make contact and incredibly side-footed his effort just wide of the right post. After 25 minutes, Hulse powered through the heart of the Boro defence, but a last-ditch tackle on the edge of his box by left-back Andrew Taylor denied the frontman a goalscoring chance. Then a Quinn cross from the left saw Davis climb high for a header but the ball sailed out for a goal-kick. And then, on 32 minutes, Lee Bromby's right-wing cross was diverted away from Quinn and Hulse by the head of Woodgate. After 35 minutes United finally took the lead. The Blades surged forward with Kazim-Richards launching into a 25-yard run which took him to the edge of the 18 yard box. He found Hulse, and the Blades striker lifted a left-foot shot over goalkeeper Schwarzer and into the net. Four minutes into the second half and Boro were back level. And it was route one stuff, as Emanuel Pogatetz played a long ball forward, United's back line were caught square and paid a costly price as Yakubu, left with Kenny to beat, made no mistake as he hit a low right-footed shot across the keeper. United flew straight back at Boro with a gritty determination to find their first win. Blades were marauding down both flanks and were now backed by a deafening Shoreham Kop. And with Leigertwood breaking up play in midfield and feeding Kazim-Richards bursting down the left and Gillespie on the right Boro were under siege from all sides. Gillespie produced a great cross which just evaded Hulse and went out for a goal kick. The strength of Hulse up front was causing real problems in the Boro's defence as the frontman's from 20 yards was deflected off Woodgate's head and over. After 65 minutes, Quinn picked out Gillespie on the overlap and, from 20 yards on the angle; the winger hit a low drive which was turned around the post by Schwarzer. From the corner, the ball came out to Quinn on the edge of the box but his stinging strike was blocked as Boro tried to hang on. United forced another corner on 68 minutes as they continued the intense pressure. Gillespie's delivery almost dropped kindly for Hulse six yards out, but the striker's over-head kick attempt was ended by a desperate Woodgate’s challenge. Boro boss Gareth Southgate sensing the worst, made the first change of the match when Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta replaced James Morrison on 71 minutes. After 77 minutes, Steven Kabba and Danny Webber replaced Kazim-Richards and Quinn. Three minutes later, Webber's pace had Boro forced back as he beat Woodgate before turning inside and curling a right foot effort inches wide of the target with Schwarzer beaten. Just when it looked as though Boro had dug deep enough to take a share of the spoils, United scored with a goal worthy on winning any game. With seconds remaining Blades captain Jagielka, with few options available, despatched a thunderous drive from 25 yards which flew past Schwarzer into his right-hand corner to send the Lane crowd into rapturous celebrations.

29th September Rob Hulse insists his team-mates are still confident in their ability to beat the Premiership drop. The Blades are bottom of the table ahead of Saturday's clash with Middlesbrough, after collecting just two points from six matches. More worryingly United have struggled to find the back of the net, with two-goal Hulse the only player to find his way on to the scoresheet for the Blades. Despite the early season setbacks, Hulse claims there is no despondency setting in at Bramall Lane, even if the 2.2 million pound signing concedes his side's fortunes must take a turn for the better sooner rather than later. "The mood has been positive this week and we're all upbeat, bubbly and ready to go," said Hulse. "We might be bottom, but there's nothing to be depressed about at the moment. It's still early days, we're still finding our feet. "Clearly we're going to have to do that soon because games come thick and fast, but we're not down. We believe things will turn round and come good. "Obviously there's pressure, and the sooner we can get a win then it's going to be better for us. "But we've played some difficult teams - Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs and Blackburn who were all in the top six last season. "If the wins don't come then sooner or later it will catch up with you, but we are in a place that has a good manager and a good set of lads. "If you have that core of people around you then you are set well, and we believe in ourselves. We're confident in what we are doing. "Obviously the first win would give us a lift and set the wheels in motion and we could just charge on from there. "We just have to keep learning our lessons. It's hard because we are new to this, so we have to learn and adapt as quick as we can." One explanation offered for the lack of goals has been Warnock's decision to deploy just one striker, with willing frontrunner Hulse being asked to plough a lone furrow on occasion. "I just go with what the gaffer says. It's not a problem," added Hulse. "If he thinks that's the way to go, I don't argue. I just get out there and do my best. "I admit the role is difficult at times. You have to do more of the donkey work, more running, but I'm used to it now."

24th September Boss Neil Warnock wants to bring down the curtain on his managerial career by the age of 60. Warnock's current deal at Bramall Lane expires at the end of the season and he wants two more years with the Blades. The-58-year-old told the Sunday Mirror: "I'm not looking to be a manager beyond 60, no chance. "Ideally, I would like to finish my managerial career here, have two years in the Premiership with this club, and then call it a day." The Blades are currently propping up the Premiership but Warnock is confident the Sheffield United board can retain their faith in him. Warnock added: "That's when it will be all about results and it will be down to the chairman to decide whether a new manager would change the prospects of the club. "But I think you only have to look at how United's board have been with me over the seven years I've had in charge here. "On two or three occasions it would have been easy for them to change the manager. "But they have always stuck by me because I always think that if you are considering changing your manager, you have got to ask 'Will I get anyone better?'" Indeed, Warnock has continued to enjoy the backing of United's Plc chairman Kevin McCabe and football board chairman Terry Robinson. The Blades boss said: "Of course I'm disappointed about where we are in the table but I honestly don't feel I could have done much more from a managerial point of view in the games we've had so far."

24th September On his 1,000th match as a manager, the Blades boss tried to remain positive, despite another defeat. "The players gave me everything and I could not have asked for more," Warnock said. "Whether or not it is your 1,000th game, all a manager can ask for is that. "In the end, the difference was their quality. "Henry said to me when we were coming off, 'it was a very hard game and your boys have done very well' - and I think that was true." Warnock added: "The ref did not give a free-kick when Alan Wright gets kicked in the head, yet he gives one when Leigertwood whacks that one in. "It would also have been interesting if Hulse's effort had gone in to make it 2-1 with 20 minutes left. "But overall I cannot complain - they were better than us, but they will also be better than most of the teams who come here." The Blades boss reflected: "It is difficult but there are teams who have spent millions more than ourselves and are still struggling. "We did not expect our first win to come here today - to be honest nobody did. "But people also expected it to be easier for Arsenal than it was. "There are some different types of games coming up for us, which we can set out to win."

23rd September Arsenal 3 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance: 59,912)
Blades Line-up: Bennett, Sommeil (Alan Quinn 78), Jagielka, Davis, Geary (Kozluk 78), Gillespie, Leigertwood, Armstrong, Wright, Kazim-Richards (Kabba 89), Hulse.
Subs Not Used: Bromby, Akinbiyi.
Booked: Hulse 48.

Man of the Match: Ian Bennett.

Arsenal Line-up: Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Gallas, Ljungberg (Julio Baptista 78), Fabregas, Silva, Rosicky (Hleb 71), Adebayor (Van Persie 71), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Almunia, Flamini.

Booked: Fabregas 30, Eboue 62.

Scorers: Gallas 65, Jagielka 69 og, Henry 80.

Three second half goals finally broke Sheffield United’s resistance in a hard fought match at the Emirates Stadium. A second-half strike from William Gallas, an own goal by Phil Jagielka and a header from Thierry Henry gave the Londoners victory against an under-strength Blades side who have yet to earn an away point this season. United had in form Ian Bennett in goal for the injured Paddy Kenny. There were other changes with Claude Davis, Keith Gillespie, Alan Wright, Derek Geary, Steven Kabba and Colin Kazim-Richards all coming into the squad. Arsenal had Emmanuel Adebayor. Alex Hleb dropped to the bench. Robin van Persie was fit after a hip injury but joined the Belarusian as a substitute. It started as a scrappy and bad-tempered affair. The Blades were weakened by injuries but held their own comfortably in the opening hour. They rarely threatened to score, but Arsenal had few clear chances either. In the fourth minute, Gallas swapped passes with Tomas Rosicky on the left but, from inside the area, the Frenchman fired wide. Soon afterwards Freddie Ljungberg sent keeper Bennett sprawling with a low shot from just outside the area. Then Jagielka deflected a pass from Cesc Fabregas to Adebayor on the right of the area. The Togolese striker’s dangerous cross was cut out at the near post. From the right, Kolo Toure curled a tempting cross to the far post. It was an invitation to score for the prowling Henry. His leap was high and his downward header was firm but Bennett somehow got a touch to divert the ball just wide. Arsenal forced a succession of corners. From one, Bennett desperately tipped Ljungberg’s header on to the bar. The Swede then sent another shot into the arms of the Blades keeper. From a corner Mikele Leigertwood had actually hit the back of the Arsenal net, but referee Alan Wiley had already blown for a foul by Hulse on Toure for high-kicking. United's first chance of the second half came when Geary supplied Hulse and the Blades striker held off defenders but his shot was off target. Gallas opened the scoring in the 65th minute after Fabregas had obligingly controlled a chipped pass from Henry, allowing the defender to smash a volley past Bennett from 7 yards out. Within four minutes, the unfortunate Jagielka got a thigh to Henry's left wing cross and inadvertently diverted it past Bennett to make it 2-0 for the Gunners. After 80 minutes, Henry finally got on the scoresheet with a simple goal, heading home unmarked from close range after a good run and cross from the right by Emmanuel Eboue. United had their first decent opportunity in the closing minutes, when substitutes Rob Kozluk and Kabba combined, and Kabba headed downwards from 8 yards forcing Lehmann into a reaction save. No goals or points on the road again and precious little luck either. It appears the Blades best chances this season are going to be at home, and now we need to start winning them if United are going to climb up the table.

19th September Sheffield United 1 Bury 0 (Attendance: 6,273)
Blades Line-up: Bennett, Davis, Kozluk, Short (Lucketti 45), Wright (Stephen Quinn 45), Alan Quinn, Tie, Law , Akinbiyi (Marrison 75), Kazim-Richards, Nade.
Subs Not Used: Annerson, Ashmore.
Booked: Kazim-Richards 88.

Scorer: Christian Nade 16.

Man of the Match: Ian Bennett.

Bury Line-up: Fettis (Grundy 42), Scott, Kennedy, Fitzgerald, Challinor, Mattis, Baker, Adams (Goodfellow 83), Buchanan (Pugh 65), Bishop, Taylor.
Subs Not Used: Woodthorpe, Barry-Murphy.

Christian Nade scored a stunning 16th-minute winner to send the Blades into the third round of the League Cup. Starting his first game for United, Nade delivered a rasping 20-yard strike after cutting onto his right foot, with Li Tie creator on his debut. The duo were among nine changes to the side beaten 2-1 by Reading on Saturday, with former Everton midfielder Li making his first senior appearance since January 2004 due to a series of horrific injuries. Claude Davis was another debutant, with the centre-back fit again after sustaining a knee injury in pre-season. After breaking the deadlock, a Blades defence that also included Craig Short making his first appearance of the campaign, only gave up one chance in the opening 45 minutes. It was a defensive error that allowed Nicky Adams to deliver a low ball into the area where a sliding Andy Bishop stabbed goalwards from five yards, only to be denied by a full-stretch Ian Bennett. Just after the half hour, United should have taken the lead after a goal-line pull-back from Rob Kozluk found Colin Kazim-Richards 10 yards from goal, but he shaved the crossbar with a rising right-foot shot. After the break Bennett came into his own, making two outstanding saves in the space of three minutes to frustrate the League Two side. In the 51st, Bennett was at a full stretch in tipping away a left-foot curled shot from 15 yards from Daryl Taylor that was arrowed towards the top right-hand corner. Then three minutes later he produced his best save of the game. Bennett showed superb reflexes in smothering a near-post, point-blank flick from Bishop in meeting a perfect left-wing cross from Tom Kennedy. Warnock, who handed debuts to Stephen Quinn and Colin Marrison in the second half, saw the Blades struggle after the break. Aaron Grundy, making only his third appearance for Bury after Alan Fettis was forced off just before the break through injury, was never tested.

United's sole effort came in the 72nd minute with Kozluk spooning a 12-yard shot over the bar as the Blades limped towards the final whistle.

16th September Sheffield United 1 Reading 2 (Attendance: 25,011)
Blades Line-up: Bennett, Sommeil, Morgan, Bromby (Nade 88), Unsworth (Gillespie 46), Ifill (Alan Quinn 46), Jagielka, Leigertwood, Armstrong, Akinbiyi, Hulse.
Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Kazim-Richards.
Booked: Unsworth 38, Sommeil 91.

Scorer: Rob Hulse 61.

Man of the Match: Rob Hulse.

Reading Line-up: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon (Gunnarsson 67), Sidwell, Harper, Convey (Hunt 72), Lita (Little 66), Doyle.
Subs Not Used: Stack, Long.
Booked: Little 74.
Scorers: Doyle 1, Ki-Hyeon 25.

United suffered another setback in their disappointing start to the season. This time losing out 1-2 to Reading at Bramall Lane. With United kicking towards the Shoreham Kop in the first half; the ball was briefly in the Reading half. Then Bobby Convey lofted one towards Kevin Doyle. He collected and left Chris Morgan behind to score beyond United goalkeeper Ian Bennett, to score after just 17 seconds. James Harper hit the post for Reading after 17 minutes following some neat interplay with Leroy Lita and Steve Sidwell, before Seol Ki-Hyeon made it two. Left-back Nicky Shorey slipped it to Lita. He fed it across the penalty area to the South Korean who hit a superb strike to Bennett’s right giving his no chance. The Blades had been dire in the first 25 minutes, they looked nervy and Lane crowd had moved from a restlessness to deep irritation. United have the players to put a team like Reading to the sword, but they were just not performing. David Unsworth delivered a precise ball outside of the box to a waiting Phil Jagielka. But his effort went into orbit. When Unsworth took the United's next corner it went straight out and proved the last kick of the half. Warnock was surely preparing a rollicking at half time after United's reluctance to compete. And at the start of the second half Paul Ifill and Unsworth were replaced by Alan Quinn and Keith Gillespie. The change worked and Reading's composure crumbled. Balls were now hacked away and easy clearances, as with Ibrahima Sonko's air-shot, missed. They paid, ultimately, with Hulse's and United's second of the season, a neat finish from a tight angle, and a frantic last half hour as United piled on the pressure with the Lane crowd now right behind them. In added time Christian Nade should have grabbed a draw but his free header was straight at Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal. United were poor in the first half, but deserved a draw for their second half efforts.

15th September Neil Warnock admits he could allow Rob Kozluk to join Derby on loan, but not just yet.
The defender is keen on a return to the Rams, and Warnock said: "There was talk about him going before deadline and if it had happened I would probably have agreed because Rob has pestered me with it being Derby. "But he has told me he loves it here and he wouldn't want to go anywhere else but Derby. "They didn't come in permanently before the deadline and I'm not prepared to let him go until I know I have got myself covered on the three lads who are coming back from injury. "We have a League Cup game next Tuesday and Arsenal away next weekend so we have a tough week ahead. "If everything is the same then I will possibly let Rob get some games."

14th September Manager Neil Warnock has revealed the arrival of new coach Brian Kidd has given everyone a boost at Bramall Lane. The former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United signed a season-long contract with the Blades on Monday and he has already made his presence felt on the training ground. "I think when you get a new player or a new member of staff you just get that lift," Warnock said. "Obviously with Brian's reputation - seen it all, done it all - the players want to listen to him and I think it has given everyone around the place a lift, including Stuart McCall and myself. "He is at his happiest and most contented when he is on the pitch at training - it is getting him off the pitch which is the difficulty because he will talk all day to the players. "He just wants to improve individuals and it is great to take a lot of weight off mine and Stuart's shoulders. To have someone like Brian is as good as you will get."

9th September Sheffield United 0 Blackburn Rovers 0 (Attendance: 29,876)
Blades Line-up: Kenny, Armstrong, Leigertwood, Morgan, Unsworth, Tonge (Alan Quinn 82), Jagielka, Sommeil, Ifill (Kazim-Richards 64), Hulse, Webber (Nade 17).
Subs Not Used: Akinbiyi, Kozluk.

Booked: Hulse 75, Tonge 80.

Man of the Match: Paddy Kenny

Blackburn Line-up: Friedel, Emerton, Khizanishvili, Ooijer, Neill, Bentley, Tugay, Savage, Pedersen, Jeffers, McCarthy (Nonda 72).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Mokoena, Gallagher, Peter.
Booked: Khizanishvili 75, Savage 90.

Brad Friedel saved two penalties and Paddy Kenny saved one as United and Blackburn fought out an exciting 0-0 draw at the Lane. Kenny stepped into the spotlight first, saving from Lucas Neill, before Friedel outperformed his opposite number by denying both David Unsworth and Rob Hulse from the spot. And it means both clubs are still searching for their first Premiership win of the season. At the start there was little fluidity in Blackburn’s forward movement, stifled by the Blades who constantly pinned the Lancashire side in their own half. That said, Blackburn still looked composed defending as they absorbed the frantic United pressure. Blackburn had carved out the opening chance of the match after just 25 seconds after a poor clearance from Kenny, and for all united’s pressing; just one other opportunity followed in the first half. Kenny's mistake allowed David Bentley to deliver a right-wing cross into the area for Francis Jeffers. The chance was an awkward one, with Jeffers stooping to meet the ball and ultimately planting his header wide of the angle of bar and post. Rovers other opportunity came seven minutes from the break, with captain Neill playing himself in courtesy of touches off striker Benni McCarthy and Jeffers, but curling his right-foot shot wide. In the 16th minute, Hulse was handed the kind of opportunity you don't often get in the Premiership - and blew it. Picked out by a 30-yard pass from the left by Chris Armstrong, the Blades striker advanced into a huge space vacated by Blackburn centre-back Zurab Khizanishvili before volleying wide from 10 yards out with only Freidel to beat. That miss was enough to awaken both sides from their opening stupor. Michael Tonge tested Freidel's reflexes with a cheeky free-kick towards the near post while Morten Gamst Pedersen and Lucas Neill wasted a header and an opportunity from 15 yards out respectively for Blackburn. The biggest talking point of the first period arrived in the 34th minute when Hulse strode into the Blackburn area only to go to ground under a heavy tackle by Robbie Savage. But no penalty said Wirral referee Mike Dean. Two minutes from the break Khizanishvili was guilty of misreading a high ball on the edge of the box. Fortunately the opportunity fell again to Hulse and again the chance went begging. After 57 minutes it was Tonge's turn to spurn a clear opportunity. Armstrong's pinpoint cross from the left found the midfielder unmarked and just six yards from goal. Unfortunately for United, Tonge's forte isn't heading the ball and his poor effort ending up in the Shoreham Kop. With Blackburn creating little up front - Gamst Pedersen's wayward close-range volley excepted - Warnock decided to throw caution to the wind by bringing on new signing Colin Kazim-Richards for a below par Paul Ifill. Moments later, Blackburn went straight up the other end on a rare attack and won a penalty, Unsworth being adjudged to have pushed Brett Emerton as the Australian rose to meet Gamst Pedersen's cross. Lucas Neill stepped up to take the kick only to see his effort well blocked by Kenny. Nine minutes later it was United's turn to miss from the spot. This time the usually reliable Unsworth missed his chance, choosing to place rather than blast his effort after Khizanishvili had fouled Hulse - not the kind of thing to do against Freidel, who saved to his right. But in the dying stages of an exciting and entertaining match; United had a golden opportunity to make amends when Dean awarded United another penalty with seven minutes remaining, following a clear hand ball by Neill. After a large protest by the Rovers players, Hulse took the kick only to see his powerful shot saved again by Freidel, this time to the keeper's left.

7th September United midfielder Nick Montgomery faces up to six weeks out after an operation to rectify a long-standing ankle problem. Montgomery, 24, first picked up the injury in a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool in January 2003. "It's been giving him some trouble and it just hasn't improved," said Blades boss Neil Warnock. It was originally decided not to operate but a recent kick to the angle aggravated the problem. Warnock added: "It stems originally from when he was carried off at Anfield in the semi-final three years ago. "He had an X-ray at the time which revealed a bit of flaky bone, but the problem calmed down and it didn't require surgery. "However, it flared up again recently following a kick and despite being able rest during the international break, the surgeon decided to remove the bone and stop the problem permanently."

7th September Manager Neil Warnock still hopes to bring new faces to Bramall Lane after only making one signing on transfer deadline day. The Blades' capture of Brighton's Colin Kazim-Richards was their only deadline day deal. But Warnock said: "The legislation allows us to sign those who are not attached to other clubs. "We're always looking, and we'll never stop looking. That's something we do as you never know who is out there." Warnock recently looked at Senegal international Khalilou Fadiga, who is still searching for a club after being released by Bolton at the end of last season. The 31-year-old, though, has not been taken on by the Blades as he is understood to be short of fitness due to a lack of a pre-season training programme. But Warnock is continuing to scour the market for out-of-contract players who can still be signed by clubs. Meanwhile, centre-back Claude Davis has an outside chance of making his debut for United in Saturday's match with Blackburn, as the club-record signing from Preston is back in training following a knee cartilage injury.