29th October Sheffield United 1 Portsmouth 0 (Attendance: 18,946)

Blades Line-up: Long, Hill, McMahon, Collins, Maguire, McDonald, Williams (Cresswell 90), Flynn, Doyle, Porter, Blackman (Miller 90).

Unused: Willis, Westlake, McAllister, Cofie, Ironside.

Scorer: Blackman (Pen) 60.

Man Of The Match: Tony McMahon.

Portsmouth Line-up: Andersen, Dumbuya, Harley (Harris 74), Williamson, McLeod, Dickinson, Gyepes, Buzsaky, Ertl (Rodgers 78), Michalik, Allan.

Unused: Thompson, Walker, Compton, Eastwood, Webster.

Booked: Dickinson 60.

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).

Nick Blackman's penalty gave Sheffield United a 1-0 home victory over Portsmouth to move second in League One. The hosts nearly got off to a great start when Blackman threatened early on, firing in a shot which was saved by Mikkel Andersen. Portsmouth then went close to scoring when a superb long-range effort from Akos Buzsaky struck the woodwork and Scott Allan also had a shot blocked. United's Neill Collins headed over and Chris Porter put a header wide. But it was the visitors who looked the more likely scorers in the first half with Allan shooting wide after a strong run into the area and Buzsaky's drive going just over. Harry Maguire put a shot off-target before Blackman scored from the spot in the 66th minute after Lubomir Michalik's reckless sliding tackle on Porter.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Portsmouth: Long 7, Hill 7, McMahon 7, Collins 6, Maguire 6, McDonald 6, Williams 6, Flynn 7, Doyle 7, Porter 7, Blackman 6, Miller -, Cresswell -

23rd October Sheffield United 1 Walsall 0 (Attendance: 15,744)

Blades Line-up: Long, McMahon, Williams, Maguire, Hill, Doyle, McDonald, McAllister (Cofie 55), Flynn, Blackman (Miller 68), Kitson (Porter 80).

Unused: Willis, Westlake, Collins, Cresswell.

Booked: Kitson 76.

Scorer: Blackman (Pen) 14.

Man Of The Match: Marcus Williams.

Walsall Line-up: Darlow, Taundry, Butler, Holden, Featherstone, Chambers, Cuvelier, Grigg (Bowerman 77), Paterson (Hemmings 65), Baxendale (Downing 15), Taylor.
Unused: Grof, Brandy, Purkiss, Jones.

Sent-Off: Holden 13.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne).

Nick Blackman's 14th-minute penalty was enough to give Sheffield United victory as they beat Walsall 1-0 at Bramall Lane. Blackman's strike maintained United's unbeaten run in League One this season. James Baxendale's weak back-pass let in Dave Kitson, who was through on goal before being hauled down by Dean Holden.Referee Geoff Eltringham sent-off Holden and awarded a penalty, which was converted by Blackman. United keeper George Long was off his line smartly to block Will Grigg as he looked to try and capitalise on a defensive lapse.Long thwarted Grigg again towards the end of the half, making a superb save to keep out the striker's close-range shot following a low cross from Florent Cuvelier. Blades pair Tony McMahon and Kevin McDonald both tried long-range efforts, the first going just over and the other being saved by Karl Darlow. In a rare Walsall attack, Cuvelier shot early after finding some space, sending the ball wide. As the Blades continued to hold the upper hand, Ryan Flynn saw his shot deflected wide and Shaun Miller had an effort saved.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Walsall: Long 8, McMahon 6, Williams 8, Maguire 6, Hill 7, Doyle 6, McDonald 6, McAllister 6, Cofie 6, Flynn 6, Blackman 6, Miller 6, Kitson 7, Porter 6.

20th October Preston North End 0 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 11,536)

Blades Line-up: Long, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, Blackman (Miller 84), McDonald, Kitson (Porter 45), McAllister (Collins 76), McMahon, Williams.

Unused: Willis, Westlake, Cresswell, Cofie.

Booked: Hill 90+3.

Scorer: Kitson 43.

Man Of The Match: Matt Hill.

Preston Line-up: Stuckmann, Keane, Laird, Robertson, Wroe (Sodje 72), Monakana, Welsh, Beardsley (Amoo 64), King, Wright (Huntington 57), Beavon.
Unused: Simonsen, Cummins, Byrom, Procter.

Booked: Robertson 85.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Dave Kitson grabbed his third goal of the season to maintain Sheffield United's unbeaten run with a 1-0 victory over Preston. The Blades striker produced a cute finish to beat goalkeeper Thorsten Stuckmann two minutes before the break. Preston's Paul Huntington saw a stoppage-time header superbly saved by 18-year-old goalkeeper George Long as United made it 13 games unbeaten in the league. Preston should have taken the lead midway through the first half when Chris Beardsley found himself in space at the back post, but he could only direct his header over the Blades crossbar. However it was United who were ahead at the interval after Kitson ran onto Tony McMahon's through ball to lift his shot over the onrushing Stuckmann. Huntington then diverted a cross onto his own post before Long denied the defender at the right end with a fine save.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Preston: Long 7, Maguire 7, Hill 8, Flynn 6, Doyle 7, Blackman 6, Miller -, McDonald 6, Kitson 7, Porter 6, McAllister 6, Collins 6, McMahon 6, Williams 7.

17th October Notts County 1 Sheffield United 4 (Attendance: 2,082)

Blades Line-up: Long, Westlake, Williams, Hill, Maguire, Flynn, Doyle, Harriott, Chapell (Jean-Francois 76), Porter (Ironside 89), Miller (Philliskirk 81).
Unused: Willis, Tonne.

Booked: Harriott 59.

Scorers: Miller 24, 52, Maguire 45+2, 54.

Man Of The Match: Shaun Miller.

Notts County Line-up: Bialkowski, Stewart, Bencherif, Sheehan, Liddle, Mahon (Campbell-Ryce 45), J Hughes, Boucaud, Showunmi (L. Hughes 45), Zoko, Arquin (Nangle 75).
Unused: Pilkington, Dixon.

Booked: Mahon 40, L. Hughes 90+5.

Scorer: Stewart 75.

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Sheffield United hammered League One rivals Notts County 4-1 at Meadow Lane to reach the Johnstone's Paint Trophy area quarter-finals (round of 16). The Blades went ahead on 24 minutes when Chris Porter nodded a long ball on to an unmarked Shaun Miller, who fired home sweetly on the volley. In first-half stoppage time, a well-struck shot at the back post by Ryan Flynn was kept out by Magpies stopper Bartosz Bialkowski but, from the resulting corner, the Blades doubled their lead as Harry Maguire forced home Flynn's set-piece. United quickly put themselves out of sight in the second half with two goals in quick succession to leave County dazed. They added their third on 52 minutes when a Flynn corner was again fired home with aplomb on the half-volley by Miller, before an attempted cross by centre-back Maguire dipped over Bialkowski two minutes later to make it 4-0. Jordan Stewart curled home a consolation on 75 minutes for the hosts with his first goal for the club, but the game had been over as a contest long before.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Notts County: Long 8, Westlake 6, Williams 6, Hill 7, Maguire 8, Flynn 7, Doyle 7, Harriott 7, Chapell 7, Jean-Francois 6, Porter 7, Ironside 6, Miller 8, Philliskirk 6.

13th October Sheffield United 1 Oldham Athletic 1 (Attendance: 18,188)

Blades Line-up: Long, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, Blackman, McDonald, Kitson, Cofie (Cresswell 70), McMahon, Williams.
Unused: Willis, Westlake, Porter, Miller, McAllister, Chapell.

Booked: McDonald 34, McMahon 45+2, Blackman 68, Hill 74.

Scorer: Blackman (Pen) 52.

Man Of The Match: Nick Blackman.

Oldham Line-up: Allsop, McSweeney, Sawyer, Chorley, Cox, Griffith, Lisbie (Brunt 78), Smith (Symes 45), Clarke, Cook, Rowlands (James 82).
Unused: Cisak, Brown, Tarkowski, M'changama, Winchester, Sutherland

Booked: Croft 40, Yves Mvoto 68, Simpson 74, Baxter 90.

Scorer: Smith 90 +7.

Referee: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).

Oldham substitute Matt Smith struck seven minutes into injury time to rescue a point for his side in a 1-1 draw at unbeaten Sheffield United.

Smith side-footed past Blades teenage goalkeeper George Long right at the death after Nick Blackman had put the home side ahead from the penalty spot early in the second half. Oldham full-back Jonathan Grounds thought he had fired Oldham in front after 19 minutes but the former Middlesbrough man's follow-up to Robbie Simpson's parried shot was ruled out for offside.

United came out fired up for the second half and after captain Michael Doyle unleashed a rasping effort, which was tipped around the post by Oldham goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, Blackman coolly stroked in his sixth goal of the season from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after Jean-Yves M'voto was adjudged to have tugged Dave Kitson's shirt. Striker Matt Derbyshire was denied an equaliser by Long after 65 minutes before Blades winger Ryan Flynn wasted the opportunity to seal the game when he slotted wide when through on goal three minutes from the end. Danny Wilson's side were then made to pay when striker Smith slotted in Jose Baxter's inswinging cross.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Oldham: Long 7, Maguire 6, Hill 6, Flynn 6, Doyle 6, Blackman 7, McDonald 6, Kitson 6, Cofie 5, Cresswell 6, McMahon 5, Williams 5.

6th October Leyton Orient 0 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 4,882)

Blades Line-up: Howard (Long 11), Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, Blackman (Cresswell 84), McDonald, Kitson (Porter 84), Gallagher, McMahon, Williams.
Unused: Westlake, Miller, McAllister, McFadzean.

Booked: Williams 74.

Scorer: Blackman 59.

Man Of The Match: Matt Hill.

Leyton Orient Line-up: Allsop, McSweeney, Sawyer, Chorley, Cox, Griffith, Lisbie (Brunt 78), Smith (Symes 45), Clarke, Cook, Rowlands (James 82).
Unused: Baudry, Laird, Odubajo, Mooney.

Booked: Sawyer 67, Chorley 76, Cook 89.

Referee: Dave Phillips (West Sussex).

A goal from Nick Blackman ensured United extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 win at Leyton Orient. It took a sublime finish on 59 minutes from Blackman to break the deadlock. The striker collected a pass 25 yards from goal, brought the ball onto his left foot and curled his shot past the right-hand of O's keeper Ryan Allsop. The Blades would have been happier with a stalemate at half-time having been forced to replace goalkeeper Mark Howard in the 12th after he slipped taking a goal-kick and was stretchered off to be replaced by George Long. Following Blackman's goal, United dictated matters although they were indebted to 18-year-old Long for an outstanding save on 70 minutes to maintain their advantage after the hosts had mounted their only serious attempt of the afternoon. Lee Cook delivered a cross into the box where Kevin Lisbie headed the ball powerfully towards goal but Long produced a brilliant save from point-blank range.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Leyton Orient: Howard -, Long 7, Maguire 8, Hill 8, Flynn 6, Doyle 6, Blackman 7, Cresswell -, McDonald 7, Kitson 7, Porter -, Gallagher 6, McMahon 7, Williams 7.

3rd October Danny Wilson was full of praise for his side's sterling rearguard action as they won 2-1 at Hartlepool in League One.

On a wet and windy North-East night on Tuesday, the Blades maintained their unbeaten league record and moved into the top six in the process thanks to a committed display that repelled constant home pressure. The Blades needed an 88th-minute winner from on-loan Leicester forward Paul Gallagher to secure victory. Wilson, who managed Pools from 2006-2008, said: "It was determined and dogged, very dogged. Conditions made it a very confrontational game and the swirling wind saw balls played long holding up, which caused problems for centre-backs and strikers alike at times. "The referee sometimes doesn't see what's going on which frustrates fans and players alike, but it's a hard-earned three points for us and one we are pleased with. "I said to the boys afterwards that our best football was played after they scored their equaliser. That pleased me because we didn't change our ideas and get involved in a one-directional game and we scored a very good goal for it.".

2nd October Hartlepool United 1 Sheffield United 2 (Attendance:4,027)

Blades Line-up: M.Howard, McMahon, Hill, N.Collins, Maguire, Flynn, Doyle, McDonald, Kitson (Cresswell 81), Gallagher, Blackman (Cofie 62).
Unused: Westlake, Porter, McAllister, Long, Williams.

Booked: Maguire 20, Gallagher 78, Doyle 80, McMahon 83.

Scorers: Kitson 51.

Man Of The Match: Mark Howard.

Hartlepool Line-up: Flinders, Austin, Baldwin, Hartley, Holden, Franks, Murray, Sweeney, Monkhouse, Poole (James 73), S.Howard.
Unused: Humphreys, S.Collins, Horwood, Richards, Lynch, McHugh.

Scorer: Hughes 76.

Referee: Mark Heywood (Cheshire).

Sheffield United stole a 2-1 victory at Hartlepool on Tuesday night as Paul Gallagher swept in an 88th-minute winner. The Blades had to be dogged and determined throughout to keep the dominant home side at bay, but Dave Kitson's second goal in as many games gave the Blades a 27th-minute lead. Tony McMahon crossed deep from the right and the striker gobbled up the chance with a firm header from six yards. The hosts hit the crossbar through Antony Sweeney, while Andy Monkhouse sliced into the side-netting as Pools searched for a leveller.

At the start of the second half, Hartlepool pressed with Sweeney twice and James Poole going close as they continued to press and the deserved equaliser came in the 77th minute. Steve Howard blasted a low ball across the face of goal that evaded everyone. Jon Franks picked up the ball wide and Howard powered in his first goal of the season at the far post, but when Ryan Flynn crossed late on, the ball fell for Gallagher and he grabbed a decisive winner from 12 yards.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Hartlepool: M.Howard 7, McMahon 6, Hill 6, N.Collins 7, Maguire 7, Flynn 6, Doyle 6, McDonald 6, Gallagher 7, Kitson 7, Cresswell 6, Blackman 6, Cofie 6.