December 2006

Blades Line-up: Kenny (Tonge 61), Kozluk, Morgan, Jagielka, Armstrong, Gillespie, Montgomery, Leigertwood (Davis 27), Alan Quinn, Nade (Hulse 70), Kazim-Richards.

Man of the Match: Phil Jagielka.

Arsenal Line-up: Lehmann, Hoyte (Fabregas 64), Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Julio Baptista, Silva, Rosicky (Denilson 83), Flamini, Van Persie, Aliadiere.

Christian Nade and Phil Jagielka were the heroes as Sheffield United beat Arsenal 1-0 at Bramall Lane.

Nade scored the winner five minutes from the break - his first Premiership goal for the Blades. Jagielka then stepped into the limelight by playing the final 30 minutes in goal, after Paddy Kenny was forced off with a groin injury. It was Jagielka's third position of the match - because he started out at centre-half, then switched to midfield when Mikele Leigertwood was injured before eventually stepping between the posts. But it was not just Jagielka who produced a heroic performance - every single Blades player covered themselves in glory. The victory was United's first over Arsenal in the league for 33 years and 14 matches, ending the Gunners six-game unbeaten run coming into this clash. Neil Warnock made six changes, leaving four of his key players on the bench in Claude Davis, Rob Hulse, Michael Tonge and Danny Webber.

In attack, Warnock had Nade and Colin Kazim-Richards. Arsene Wenger made four changes of his own because of injury and illness. The Gunners were swiftly out of the blocks, dominating the opening exchanges. In the fifth minute Kenny was forced into a flying save to turn aside a delightful 18-yard effort from Tomas Rosicky with the outside of his right boot. Captain Gilberto then planted a free header into the ground from inside the six-yard box in meeting a Robin van Persie corner, the ball bouncing over the bar. The Blades weathered the early storm, though, and steadily grew in confidence and composure as the half wore on. They rattled Arsenal with their physical aggression and, other than another Kenny save from Jeremie Aliadiere, were rarely troubled. United should have taken the lead midway through the half when an unmarked Alan Quinn gave Jens Lehmann a comfortable save with a side-foot effort from 14 yards. But the Blades did take the one chance that mattered five minutes from the break, and in some style. Davis, who had replaced Leigertwood in the 26th minute after the midfielder had been fouled by a crunching yellow-card tackle from Rosicky, combined with Quinn to set up Nade. But several yards in from the left-hand touchline and with his back to goal, the Blades striker still had a lot of work to do. However, he showed superb strength to shrug off Kolo Toure before curling a superb shot past Lehmann who had advanced to the edge of the area. It then became a goalkeeping tale as 12 minutes into the second half Kenny appeared to sustain a groin injury in taking a goal-kick as he pulled up sharply in pain. Despite lengthy treatment and a heavy strapping, it was obvious the Republic of Ireland international could not continue. With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, it led to Tonge replacing Kenny on the hour, and Jagielka taking over the gloves, not for the first time in his career. What followed was an astonishingly resilient 30 minutes as United defended to a man, doing anything and everything to protect Jagielka. Their efforts were not in vain either, because Jagielka was barely tested - while every catch and fisted clearance was cheered to the rafters by a boisterous lane crowd. He made just one save, in the 85th minute tipping over the bar a bouncing shot into the turf from van Persie which appeared to be going high anyway. Despite five minutes of injury time, and with Warnock whipping up the Lane crowd into frenzy, Jagielka and United held on to give United a famous victory over the Londoners. It was a match which will live long in the memory of those of us who were at the Lane today.

Neil Warnock insists his players' belief has not wavered despite a far from happy Christmas.

United suffered two defeats in four days over the festive period, resulting in Boxing Day's 1-0 loss to Manchester City at Bramall Lane. The Blades have now slipped to 17th in the Premiership table, just two points above the relegation zone, with their season again back in the balance. Warnock will not be too perturbed by the Gunners - as he felt they were against Stuart Pearce's side. "Arsenal will come to win, while City just came not to lose," said Warnock. "They've gone away with the points thinking all their Christmases have come at once, and how we've not got anything out of the game, I don't know. They are very, very fortunate. United were certainly the more positive side against a City team that went into the game with seven defeats from their previous nine away matches. Paddy Kenny was given little to do other than pick the ball out of the net in the 78th minute when Stephen Ireland scored his first goal for the club. Piling on the criticism of City's defensive approach, Warnock said: "The result makes you think it is the right way to go about things. "If anything, it has given us a massive lift to play the way we have against another team down there, and that we've nothing to fear. "Apart from the big four, I don't think there's anything to be too concerned about. "You'd do well to get anything from them but, other than that, I don't see any reason why we can't get something from other games when you look around at what there is."

Neil Warnock was incensed by the half-time intervention of TV media that he believes added to the pressure on referee Mark Clattenburg. It is understood Clattenburg was shown or informed of a handball incident he missed in the opening 45 minutes at Bramall Lane on Tuesday. If he had spotted the infringement it would have led to a penalty to Manchester City and the dismissal of full-back Rob Kozluk.

Replays showed Kozluk palming a Micah Richards header off the line with his left hand, a situation Clattenburg was unaware of until the interval. "I'm disappointed with the TV people because they told the referee about a penalty incident involving Kozluk," complained Warnock.

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Morgan, Davis (Bromby 68), Geary (Armstrong 26), Gillespie, Jagielka, Tonge, Stephen Quinn, Webber (Nade 76), Hulse.

Man of the Match: Kieth Gillespie.

Man City Line-up: Weaver, Richards, Dunne, Onuoha (Jordan 85), Distin, Trabelsi, Barton, Dabo, Ireland, Vassell (Miller 90), Corradi (Samaras 46).

Manchester City picked up a rare away win after Stephen Ireland's 78th-minute strike earned them a 1-0 win over United at Bramall Lane. Ireland drove home a left footed volley to hand the Blades a second loss in four days over the Christmas period. The opening 10 minutes at the Lane was hectic without incident, before a bizarre period of football ensued. It started in the 11th minute, with Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny crouching down to scoop up a 30-yard drive from Ousmane Dabo. On the second bounce, the ball reared up and hit Kenny in the face, forcing him to give chase with City striker Bernardo Corradi for the rebound. Kenny just managed to kick the ball away via an outstretched leg, taking the Italian with him as United survived. Then five minutes later came the first of two handball appeals, both of which should have been given. The first of those arose after City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver had turned aside a 20-yard drive from Stephen Quinn, resulting in a corner from Keith Gillespie. The outswinging delivery eventually fell to Claude Davis who teed himself up for a drive that was blocked with both hands by Micah Richards. Despite strong protests from Davis, Quinn and Michael Tonge, Clattenburg claimed the ball had come off Richards' hip. After 27 minutes, Rob Kozluk was fortunate after another handball incident. A Barton corner to the far post was headed back by Richards across the goal-line where right-back Kozluk flicked the ball away from the Kop goal-line with his left hand in front of Vassell. A number of City players voiced their protests, yet Clattenburg remained unmoved, and play continued. Aside from one Kenny save, diving to his left to push away a 20-yard curled effort from midfielder Ireland, the remainder of the half petered out in front of a season-high crowd of 32,591. Fortunately for Clattenburg, there were no further penalty appeals to deal with in a second half that was initially dominated by the Blades. Despite intense pressure from United at one stage, Weaver was never troubled other than by a 20-yard drive from Chris Armstrong, who had replaced the injured Derek Geary in the 26th minute. While Quinn also hooked a close-range effort over the crossbar, it should have been City who broke the deadlock just before the hour. A mistake from Davis in attempting to deal with a long throw from Sylvain Distin left Georgios Samaras with only Kenny to beat from the edge of the six-yard box. But the half-time substitute for Corradi woefully sliced his shot so far wide it resulted in a throw to United. The City goal then survived another onslaught in the 73rd minute, with Hulse and Jagielka headers cleared, the latter from a redeeming Samaras in front of goal as the Kop roared the Blades forward. It proved crucial as City netted the winner 12 minutes from time, with Ireland personally off the mark for the club. A long ball from Hatem Trabelsi from inside his own half was chested down by Samaras on the edge of the area for Ireland to drive a left-foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner beyond Kenny. Another rally followed from United in the dying stages as they tried to put the City goal under siege, but City defended resolutely, led by captain Richard Dunne, while Weaver made another stop to deny 76th-minute substitute Christian Nade.

Blades manager Neil Warnock was upset with referee Graham Poll following his side's 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth. The Blades let slip a 1-0 half time lead courtesy of a fourth-minute header from Rob Hulse to leave Fratton Park with nothing. Warnock was unhappy with Poll for Sol Campbell's 54th minute header, which handed Pompey a 2-1 lead. "We were disappointed with two things - that a corner was given when it clearly came off the attacker," said Warnock. "Then we were disappointed he didn't spot the block on Morgan which resulted in Campbell having a free header." Pompey levelled two minutes into the second half when Benjani Mwaruwari's cross was sent in by Rob Kozluk before Campbell headed the hosts ahead and Noe Pamarot extended the lead with another header in the 68th minute. Warnock wanted to speak to Poll after the game and now wants clarification from referees' chief Keith Hackett about when he can speak to officials. He added: "I've been to see him but he rushed off. We'll have to speak to Keith Hackett see about the possibility of a time they can stay because we are told (to wait) 30 minutes after the game - so we do a few cameras and go back and he's gone." Warnock was encouraged by his side's first half performance as Danny Webber could have added to the tally when he seized on a mistake by Davis but fired wide when he ran through on goal. "I thought we played very well and could have been a couple up at half time - their best move in the first half was a one-two with Mr Poll which nearly resulted in a goal," Warnock added.

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Davis, Morgan, Geary, Gillespie, Tonge (Montgomery 72), Jagielka, Stephen Quinn, Hulse (Nade 72), Webber (Kazim-Richards 75).

Portsmouth Line-up: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamarot, O'Neil (Kranjcar 90), Davis, Pedro Mendes (Fernandes 87), Taylor, Benjani, Kanu (Cole 84).

Wigan Line-up: Kirkland, Boyce (Wright 65), De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Kilbane (Todorov 79), Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch, Camara (Cotterill 46), Heskey.

Villa Line-up: Taylor, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma (Hughes 67), Agbonlahor, McCann, Petrov, Davis (Osbourne 75), Sutton (Angel 83), Baros.

Charlton Line-up: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Traore, Rommedahl (Marcus Bent 67), Holland, Faye (Sam 90), Reid, Ambrose (Kishishev 79), Darren Bent.

Man of the Match: Paddy Kenny.

Portsmouth Line-up: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Pamarot, O'Neil (Kranjcar 90), Davis, Pedro Mendes (Fernandes 87), Taylor, Benjani, Kanu (Cole 84).

United went down 3-1 to Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Rob Hulse had given the Blades an early lead, but Pompey turned the game around with some help from Referee Graham Poll in the second half. Hulse opened the scoring for United in the fourth minute with a simple header, planting his close-range effort past James for his sixth of the season, in front of Portsmouth’s biggest crowd of the season. Derek Geary was given plenty of time on the left and curled a cross that dipped over defender Sol Campbell and onto the head of Hulse. Neil Warnock has been promised funds to bolster his squad in the January transfer window, but the players currently at his disposal showed a determination to keep their place in the side. Strikers Hulse and Danny Webber in particular chased every lost cause and never gave Pompey's defence a chance to settle on the ball. Warnock had resisted the temptation to pack his midfield and his bravery had resulted in a four-match unbeaten run before the trip to the south coast, three of which were wins. The Blades refused to sit on their lead, pushing the hosts and searching for another, but failing to take their chances and that ultimately cost them. Webber seized on a mistake by Sean Davis and latched onto a long clearance from defence, only to flash wide of the post. Stephen Quinn also wasted an opportunity from a promising position - his effort somewhere between shooting and crossing - and had a volley saved by James in the final moments of the first half. Pompey, by contrast, had looked off the pace initially. Falling behind forced them to attack, but Benjani Mwaruwari and Nwankwo Kanu failed to test Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny early on. Nigerian international Kanu did have a penalty shout in the 13th minute when he was challenged by Hulse when Davis' free-kick sliced into the Nigerian's path. Slack passing and a lack of understanding between their players was illustrated by Glen Johnson's stray pass to an empty flank when team-mates were in the penalty area. Kenny did well to claim a cross from Matt Taylor but the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper was not truly tested until he parried away a drive from Gary O'Neil. The rebound was wasted but Benjani had strayed offside anyway. Pompey turned the match around within 10 minutes of the restart. They were level two minutes into the second period when Benjani's cross from the right was deflected off Phil Jagielka's heel and Rob Kozluk could not keep the ball out on the line. And Pompey went ahead in the 54th minute when they were wrongly awarded a corner, the ball clearly coming off the attacker. Matthew Taylor delivered the corner, and Campbell appeared to illegally block Chris Morgan, from which he rose to head Pompey in to the lead. Both incidents had been missed by the Referee and the Linesmen. Portsmouth significantly picked up the pace, as Portsmouth applied pressure on United, who refused to take it lying down despite two attempts from Taylor in close succession that were sent wide. Kenny punched away from more danger imposed in the 70th minute as the Blades tried to make a path through at the other end with Keith Gillespie trying to create down the right channel. Morgan nodded away the danger from Portsmouth but just seconds later Frenchman Nol Pamarot headed in the third from a Pedro Mendes corner to firmly cement his side's lead. Taylor fired over the crossbar as The Blades looked as though they may grab a consolation in the 83rd minute with several attempts on goal but as the game closed out they could not quite make the mark as Portsmouth came away with maximum points.

Michael Tonge believes his loyalty to Sheffield United is finally being rewarded as he lives out his dream with the Blades. There have been many occasions over the past few seasons when Tonge has been linked with a move away from Bramall Lane. But the midfielder, who started as a trainee with United, opted to turn his back on football's bright lights and big pay cheques. Believing his education would be best served in Sheffield, Tonge has remained devoted to the club, to such an extent the thought of leaving is almost now unthinkable. "At the end of the day I'm definitely glad I stayed," said Tonge. "Sometimes as a younger player it's not always beneficial to move because wherever you go you might not play. "When you are young, the best thing is to play as much football as possible and give yourself experience. "Who wants to go to a bigger team and play in the reserves? You might be at a bigger club, but it might not necessarily work in your favour. "You have to appreciate with a little bit of patience you will get there, and you will be in a better position to do yourself justice when you do get to the Premiership. "I always felt it would be more beneficial for me to stay here at United and play as many games as possible. "I always believed the club would get promoted, so for me it was not a problem." Tonge is one of those players who appears to have been around for much longer than he has, yet he is still only 23. Since his debut 10 days after his 18th birthday in April 2001, Tonge has made 223 appearances for United in all competitions. Asked how long he might remain at the club, Tonge replied: "As long as possible if we keep going the way we are. "The club is progressing all the time, and hopefully things will continue to improve. "When you've been here since you were so young, it's strange to think about leaving." If United remain in the Premiership this season, that will merely strengthen Tonge's bond with the club where he is realising his ambitions. "To be playing for United in the Premiership is fantastic," added Tonge. "Before we finally won promotion last season we were always close, and that was really disappointing. We couldn't quite get there. "But there was a massive effort from everyone last season, and to be here now playing against the top teams in top stadiums, it's where we want to be, and so far we've done well. "If at the start of the season somebody had offered us 20 points at this stage, we would have taken it. "It shows if you put a few results together then you will shoot up the league. It's been fantastic so far, but we've a lot of hard work to do." United visit Portsmouth on a high after taking 10 points from their last four matches, with Tonge feeling the team is much different now compared to two months ago when he picked up an ankle injury. "We were doing okay, but we were still finding our feet," recalled Tonge, who returned after a seven-week absence for last Saturday's 1-0 win at Wigan. "It does take time, but the lads have adjusted to it, and I can tell there's more confidence about the team. "We're playing as a team, and everybody knows their job."

United will hope to find some top talent after entering talks over a proposed exclusive partnership with Brazilian giants Sao Paulo. Preliminary negotiations are due to start early next year with Sao Paulo, who have produced a number of star names over the years. If the talks are successful, the Blades would have the opportunity of bringing over several rising young players from Brazil. "Sao Paulo are renowned for producing some of the best players in the world," said director Simon McCabe, son of plc chairman Kevin. "Cafu, Kaka and Denilson have all come from there, and we'll be seeing how both of us can benefit from having a connection. "They are very keen to have an affiliation with a Premiership club and these talks are exclusive. They aren't speaking to anybody else. "The whole idea is to try and form some kind of link with them to make it possible for their young up-and-coming players to come here." McCabe added in the Sheffield Star: "Providing everything goes well we could send people out there to formalise everything by the end of January or the beginning of February." United have recently branched out into overseas markets as they bought China League side Chengdu Blades last year, while earlier this year a delegation headed to west Africa on a fact-finding mission.

United boss Neil Warnock was full of praise for his players after they grinded out a 1-0 win at Wigan. Rob Hulse scored the only goal on the stroke of half-time as The Blades opened up a six-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone. Warnock feels his side were deserving of the three points against a never-say-die Wigan team. "I can't praise them enough, we've got lads playing out of their skins really and it's lovely as a manager to see people like that, unsung heroes really," Warnock told Sky Sports . "They're enjoying it like me, just loving the Premiership. "It's not easy to come to Wigan, they're a very strong side and you can see how they've improved over the years. "I thought we deserved it but you know you're going to come up against a never-say-die attitude because I think Paul's very similar to me. But I couldn't ask for anymore today." United's lead could have been extended when they appeared to have been awarded a penalty, only for Peter Walton to change his decision after consultation with his assistant. Warnock believes the officials did right in discussing the decision with one another. He said: "Obviously you can't see from where we are but if it's not a penalty then he did right, I think that's the best thing to do, go over and make sure you've got the right decision, the linesman saw it clearly because he's probably got the best position of the lot. "If it had been 1-1 I'd probably have given you a different answer!"

Aston Villa's Juan Pablo Angel will not face Football Association disciplinary action over his alleged elbow on United's Chris Morgan. Blades boss Neil Warnock accused Angel of a deliberate elbow during Monday's 2-2 draw between the two teams. But referee Mark Halsey said in his FA report he did see the incident and that he chose not to discipline Angel. As a result, under Fifa regulations, the FA is unable to take any retrospective action. Angel is thought to have objected to a push from Morgan and reacted by elbowing the Blades captain. Morgan ran down the tunnel after Angel upon the final whistle and was closely followed by United's assistant manager Stuart McCall.

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Davis, Morgan, Geary, Gillespie, Tonge (Montgomery 70), Jagielka, Stephen Quinn (Armstrong 70), Hulse, Webber (Bromby 88).

Man of the Match: Rob Hulse.

Wigan Line-up: Kirkland, Boyce (Wright 65), De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Kilbane (Todorov 79), Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch, Camara (Cotterill 46), Heskey.

Rob Hulse scored his fifth goal of the season to give United a 1-0 success at Wigan Athletic and maintain the climb up the Premiership table. Hulse's strike in first-half injury-time was all that separated United and The Latics, and with 10 points from their last 12, the Blades are now up to 14th place. Henri Camara was looking like Wigan's most dangerous player but he could not force Kenny into action with two poor attempts early on. The most dangerous moment in the first 15 minutes came when a Chris Morgan clearance ricocheted of two Wigan players and wide of United's goal. Danny Webber's near post header at the other end did not trouble Chris Kirkland either, as it went high over the England keeper's crossbar. The Blades were beginning to come more into the game as an attacking force but Hulse's header had no power behind it and Danny Webber's long range effort rolled off target. With the game looking like being 0-0 at the break, out of nowhere Hulse popped up to finish past Kirkland. Keith Gillespie's ball from the right was kept alive by Stephen Quinn who pulled the ball back across goal where Hulse was waiting to divert the ball over Kirkland and into the back of the net from six yards out. Paul Jewell introduced David Cotterill at half-time in the hope of an improvement going forward in the second half. Wigan began to take control of the game and Denny Landzaat forced a smart stop out of Kenny five minutes into the second 45. Leighton Baines then went close with a right-foot shot from the edge of the area that had Kenny worried but went just past the Irishman's post. Neil Warnock was left fuming mid-way through the second half when The Blades looked to have been awarded a penalty. Referee Peter Walton initially adjudged Arjan De Zeeuw to have handled in his own area and pointed straight to the spot. However, after consultation with his assistant, Walton overturned the decision to the delight of De Zeeuw who had strongly protested his innocence. Kirkland had to be alert to deny United their second on the break as he pulled off two saves in quick succession. First, Gillespie got free down the right to fire a powerful effort towards goal that Kirkland could not hold. Webber looked like following up and tapping home from close range but the keeper got across to keep him out. McCulloch's header was well kept out. Hulse had the chance to put the game out of Wigan's reach with ten minutes remaining when he found space in the area but Baines' last-gasp challenge diverted the ball away from danger. At the other end David Wright should have done better than head wide at the back post after sneaking in unmarked. McCulloch saw a long-range effort deflected over in the dying seconds and from the resulting corner Derek Geary cleared off the line to keep the lead intact. There was further controversy in the five minutes of added-on time, when Morgan was thumped in the face by McCulloch as they challenged for a corner, with the centre-back emerging after treatment with a cut underneath a swollen right eye.

Neil Warnock was left ruing mistakes by his side following their 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. After going behind less than two minutes in to a Stilian Petrov strike, The Blades battled back in the second period and went ahead thanks to goals from Stephen Quinn and Danny Webber. However, within 60 seconds - Milan Baros had levelled matters. "For a manager it is a bit of a nightmare, we just give other teams massive lifts," Warnock told Sky Sports . "Before the game I said about the first two or three minutes, then we crawl our way back into it and we are celebrating and we win the ball back and then a sloppy pass from Webbs [Danny Webber] on the halfway line and they end up scoring a goal." Warnock was ready to substitute Webber as he scored, and he joked that he wished he had taken him off straight away - as he gave away possession for Villa to level. "I wish I had taken him off and being brave enough because he gave the blinking ball away when we had won it back which cost us the goal, but it will not do him any harm scoring the girl," he quipped. "I think it is has been a great game and it is another point on the board but I am disappointed." Warnock was, though, furious with Juan Pablo Angel's elbow on Chris Morgan. "I saw the Angel elbow in the box and not a word is said to him, and we get bookings for nothing, the referee has seen it - he is stood in a good position," he said. "I know it is a tough game, but I am just glad we have a few days off." Warnock was delighted with the impact of young Stephen Quinn. "He is a cocky little lad," he said. "I loaned him out to Rotherham and MK Dons just to give him a bit of experience because he looks like a little choir boy, but he has grown up - he is very confident and cocky in training, too much at times, but he does work hard and he has got ability."

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Kozluk, Bromby, Morgan, Geary, Gillespie, Jagielka, Montgomery, Stephen Quinn, Hulse, Webber (Nade 68).

Man of the Match: Stephen Quinn.

Villa Line-up: Taylor, Mellberg, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma (Hughes 67), Agbonlahor, McCann, Petrov, Davis (Osbourne 75), Sutton (Angel 83), Baros.

Stephen Quinn and Danny Webber hit back for the Blades in a rousing second half at Bramall Lane, as United grabed a valuable draw at home to Aston Villa. Villa were in front after little more than a minute but a stirring fight back from the Blades turned the match on its head in the second half and, but for a lapse in concentration that allowed Villa an immediate equaliser, Neil Warnock's side might have been celebrating a third successive win. Even so, it was Villa who were the more relieved to hear the final whistle after the goalkeeper Stuart Taylor had been given a severe examination. Taylor's saves from Rob Hulse and Stephen Quinn might have been the major talking point but for an altercation in the closing seconds between the United captain Chris Morgan and Villa's Juan Pablo Angel in which the Colombian appeared to strike out with an elbow as the two challenged for the ball inside the United penalty area. The incident so infuriated Morgan that Stuart McCall, the United assistant manager, had to intervene in the players' tunnel. United conceded a goal within 76 seconds of the start when Chris Sutton's attempt to set up Milan Baros was blocked and the ball ran kindly for Stiliyan Petrov, whose shot zipped past Paddy Kenny into the bottom corner. The Bulgarian's first goal in 16 appearances for Villa set the standard for a contest between teams who matched each other for positive intent. Before half an hour had elapsed, Sutton had seen a diagonal header hit the bar and Kenny had pulled off a double save to keep out Gary Cahill. By half-time, Villa were being increasingly threatened and, four minutes after the restart, the Blades were rewarded with an equaliser. Stephen Quinn, making only his second Premiership appearance, volleyed home when Rob Kozluk's long throw-in was weakly headed away by Liam Ridgewell. On 64 minutes United took the lead, Chris Morgan out-jumping Gavin McCann to Keith Gillespie's cross with Danny Webber on hand to hook the ball past Taylor. It was a moment of elation that faded almost instantly as Villa swept back upfield to get back on level terms, Baros lashing home his first goal of the season. Hulse tested Taylor with another superb header but the goalkeeper was equal to it and, with the help of Aaron Hughes, kept out Hulse's follow-up as well as efforts from United substitute Christian Nade before another leap denied Quinn his second goal.

Blades Line-up: Kenny, Geary, Bromby, Morgan, Kozluk, Gillespie, Montgomery, Jagielka, Stephen Quinn (Kazim-Richards 76), Hulse, Nade (Webber 71).

Man of the Match: Keith Gillespie.

Charlton Line-up: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Traore, Rommedahl (Marcus Bent 67), Holland, Faye (Sam 90), Reid, Ambrose (Kishishev 79), Darren Bent.

Winger Keith Gillespie gave manager Neil Warnock a belated birthday present scoring the winner, in a 2-1 win over Charlton at Bramall Lane. The Blades wasted countless chances, before captain Chris Morgan conjured up a 64th-minute equaliser and Gillespie volleyed home an 88th-minute stunner. United had Rob Hulse up front alongside Christian Nade, who made his full home debut while there, was also a full debut for Stephen Quinn. Danny Webber, whose controversial winner at Watford in midweek lifted United four points clear of Charlton, was on the bench where Warnock again opted against naming a second goalkeeper. The ginger-topped Quinn almost made a sensational impact inside 50 seconds when firing in a sweet left foot volley from the edge of the box that was matched by a fine diving stop from Scott Carson. Nade then veered in from the right before curling wide as the hosts started quickly and they spurned a glorious chance in the 11th minute. Defender Leigh Bromby hurled in a long throw from the right and skipper Chris Morgan got up well to flick on for Hulse who could only direct his header wide when he ought to have done better. Having weathered the early storm, the Addicks broke clinically to take the lead on 17 minutes as Andy Reid claimed his second goal in as many matches. The Irishman showed strength and power to surge through from halfway and then poise to pick out an unmarked Darren Ambrose in the box on the right. The winger initially struggled to get the ball under control but eventually got in a shot that goalkeeper Paddy Kenny finger-tipped away. But Reid had followed up and took a touch before bundling the ball over the line from close in. The goal stunned the Lane, but United almost replied in the 21st minute as Morgan rose to meet a Gillespie corner from the right and his header was set for the bottom left corner before Carson plunged across brilliantly to save. Phil Jagielka volleyed high into the stands after a cross from Rob Kozluk was half-headed clear and then Carson had to back-track to tip a 31st minute effort from Hulse over the bar after the striker had spun dangerously in the box. Gillespie headed a Quinn cross over on the far side and the visitors missed another great chance ten minutes before the break. The Addicks were caught dozing at a quick free-kick and Jagielka clipped a dangerous diagonal ball into the box where Hulse had escaped the visiting backline but the striker was again off target with his header when ideally placed. Luke Young was booked for a challenge on Derek Geary on 40 minutes, while Ambrose was clattered by keeper Kenny as he failed to get contact on a Matt Holland centre. Jagielka fired wide from 30 yards after Talal El Karkouri produced one crucial defensive header and then defender Djimi Traore blocked off Hulse as the striker spun and shot from close in. Charlton right-back Young flung himself in front of a Quinn cross shot after the ball had sat up nicely on the edge of the box to further emphasise the Addicks' commitment. Aside from the goal little had been seen of the visitors as an attacking force but they forged forward with real promise in the last minute of the half. Winger Dennis Rommedahl led the charge through the middle and picked out Ambrose, again in space on the left. But again the midfielder's shot lacked real potency allowing Kenny to save smartly for United. Over elaboration at the back then almost cost Charlton dear in the dying seconds of the half as the ball was presented back to the Blades and dangerman Hulse spun to fire another opening just wide. United immediately picked up where they had left off at the end of the first half, with a header from defender Morgan, following another Bromby throwing two minutes after the restart. The second period had started the same way most of the first as the Blades assumed command and Carson made another spectacular stop six minutes in, diving to his left to prevent an own goal. Kozluk again made good ground on the right and his cross hit the unwitting Talal El Karkouri and was heading into the bottom corner before Carson intervened in fine fashion. Hulse then conspired to miss another gilt-edged opening, somehow heading a fine Gillespie centre back across goal when it looked easier to score at the far post. United were now putting the Charlton goal under siege. Reid showed his defensive capabilities to get his leg to another Morgan effort at a corner and such was United's luck in the final third that a well-struck volley from Jagielka hit his own man, Nade, before he fired the return ball wide. But, sooner or later Charlton's luck looked set to run out, and it did in the 65th minute as United finally drew level. It came as no surprise that the goal emanated from a set-piece with Gillespie delivering the ball from the right, and Morgan rose amid a cluster of players to head home. Charlton quickly sent on Marcus Bent for Rommedahl. Warnock introduced Danny Webber and Colin Kazim-Richards ahead of the closing 15 minutes, before Ambrose made way for Radostin Kishishev 11 minutes from time for the Addicks. Bent's 30 yard effort was optimistic at best, as Kenny saved comfortably while Nick Montgomery fired high into the stands at the other end with little over five minutes left. A draw looked likely at this stage, but United have 'a never say die' attitude and snatched the lead two minutes from time. A throw from the right was headed out to the edge of the box by Traore, but Gillespie was loitering with menacing intent and proceeded to crash a superb volley past the diving Addick’s keeper. It was a valuable win for United, which moves them onto 16 points and away from the relegation zone.