Any opening day hangover was quickly eradicated with a fine victory in the first match at the Lane. Like United, Chesterfield had faulted in the Play-Offs last term (losing out to Preston North End) but under the reign of Dean Saunders they looked a shadow of their former self’s as United ran rampant with Che Adams netting both goals without reply.
United followed up that victory with wins at Peterborough United (on a traditional Tuesday night) and at home to Blackpool - all wins coming with a two goal cushion. Conor Sammon had netted his first goals for his new club at London Road, netting twice and against Blackpool should have added a third but somehow missed at the far post. Luckily for him Sharp and McNulty were on target to win the game.
A succession of three wins for the opening four matches were enough to push United up the table as they sprinted into fourth place. Though the month of August was not over yet as they still had a fixture at Fulham (in the League Cup) and at Swindon Town to complete...
Sheffield United 2-0 Chesterfield
Saturday, 15th August 2015 - League One
Sheffield United bounced back from their opening day defeat at Gillingham with Che Adams scoring both goals in a 2-0 win at home to Chesterfield. Adams opened the scoring after only three minutes when he pounced on the rebound and fired into the net after Conor Sammon's shot was parried by goalkeeper Tommy Lee.
During a good spell for the visitors, Ian Evatt's ball across the face of goal forced an important clearance from David Edgar. Dan Gardner also threatened on a couple of occasions, putting a long-range effort off target and then having a shot deflected wide. Chesterfield continued to press with Jay O'Shea's shot deflected wide and Sam Morsy putting a 25-yard effort straight at keeper Mark Howard, who also had to get down low to his right to save a shot from debutant Lee Novak.
United went further ahead soon after the re-start when Adams slotted the ball past Lee after finding himself in space inside the area. Chesterfield went close to pulling a goal back when Sam Hird's header was touched onto the crossbar by Howard.
Picture: Chesterfield's Sam Morsy (right) and Sheffield United's Che Adams battle for the ball.
Peterborough United 1-3 Sheffield United
Tuesday, 18th August 2015 - League One
Striker Conor Sammon opened his Sheffield United account with a brace as they recorded a 3-1 success at Peterborough. The Irish frontman, who is on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side Derby, struck twice as the Blades triumphed at London Road. Sammon broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when collecting a pass from strike partner Billy Sharp and rifling a fierce shot past Posh goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.
However, substitute Souleymane Coulibaly jumped off the bench to grab his first goal in English football as the hosts hit back just before the hour. The Ivorian striker tricked his way past a defender and guided a fine finish into the far corner in the 59th minute - only five minutes after he had been introduced.
But it was the Blades who finished strongly to secure victory and underline their status as title favourites. Sammon restored the advantage when steering a Che Adams cut-back past Alnwick with 18 minutes to go and Jose Baxter sealed victory five minutes from time when thundering in a shot after being picked out by substitute James Wallace's pass.
Sheffield United 2-0 Blackpool
Saturday, 22nd August 2015 - League One
Second-half goals from Billy Sharp and Marc McNulty earned Sheffield United a 2-0 win over Blackpool at Bramall Lane. United made the better start, with Sharp failing to get a shot away from the edge of the penalty area. The visitors went close minutes later after Jose Baxter's attempts to shield the ball out of play were interrupted by a fast-approaching Mark Cullen, with the ball eventually falling for a corner.
Conor Sammon had the best chance of the half with his shot from six yards deflecting off Tom Aldred. The Blades drew first blood on the hour when Jay McEveley drove his corner into the path of a waiting Sharp, who struck low and hard from inside the box. It was 2-0 within 12 minutes after Sharp threaded the ball through to substitute McNulty, who rifled home from the edge of the area. United could not find a third but comfortably secured all three points to leave relegated Blackpool still without a win this season!