Recent wins for Sheffield United over Bradford City and Yeovil Town (both 2-0) have been overshaddowed by the release of former favourite Ched Evans from prison. However the results which tied with the Blades 2-2 home draw with Leyton Orient has seen the S2 club claim 7 points from a maximum of 9 and rise to 6th (three points behind second placed Peterborough United) in the League One table.
Marc McNulty and Jamie Murphy struck goals in either half to fire Sheffield United to a 2-0 home victory over Yeovil. Nigel Clough's side were well worth their win after dominating for long periods, but were made to wait until the 67th minute before making the game safe against dogged but limited opponents. McNulty opened the scoring during the early skirmishes with his fifth strike in seven outings, but Murphy's effort, following a superb pass from the excellent Louis Reed, was the evening's most impressive moment.
McNulty, a summer signing from Livingston, underlined his growing reputation by firing United into a deserved 15th-minute lead. The Scot showed good bravery and awareness to bundle home from close range after Artur Krysiak had failed to hold teenager Reed's shot. With McNulty and his compatriot Stefan Scougall, who seized on Joel Grant's woefully short back pass, both wasting further chances, United should have enjoyed a much more commanding lead by the half-time break.
But Yeovil, who beat the Blades in the 2013 League One play-off semi-finals, enjoyed some brief glimpses of goal themselves. James Hayter blazed over the crossbar from close range after a moment of hesitation in the United defence before a superb last-ditch tackle from Bob Harris stopped Jordy Hiwula from bearing down goalkeeper Mark Howard. But Reed, 17, sent Murphy scampering through in the 67th minute to make the points safe.
After missing the prevuious two games through a groin injury midfielder James Wallace is expected to return to the Blades side - replacing Louis Reed who was involved in both goals against the Glovers. Meanwhile Jay McEverley (shoulder) remains doubtful and Belgian midfielder Florent Cuvelier (ligaments) has return to training.
Relegation battlers Crewe Alexandra have yet to hit the ground running this season and poor results in the league has seen them spend the majority of this season bottom of the table but the Railway Men moved off the bottom of the Sky Bet League One table with a 1-0 win over second-placed Peterborough, who were forced to play with 10 men for more than an hour and ended the contest with nine men. Posh were left with an uphill battle after Michael Bostwick was red carded for holding back Adam Dugdale at a corner and Jack Baldwin also received his marching orders in stoppage time.
Marcus Haber converted the 31st-minute spot kick for the Railwaymen - awarded for Bostwick's foul - and the Canadian striker almost doubled the Railwaymen's advantage before the break. Posh had started promisingly, but Darren Ferguson's men failed to make the most of some surging runs from Marcus Maddison. Goalkeeper Ben Alnwick kept them on terms moments before Crewe's penalty with a diving save to keep out George Ray's set-piece header.
But Bostwick's rush of blood to the head proved costly and Peterborough could have fallen further behind before half-time with both Brad Inman and Haber spurning chances inside the box. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors were camped in the Crewe half for long periods. Joe Newell saw an effort diverted just past the post and keeper Ben Garratt turned around Conor Washington's angled drive. Crewe were dangerous on the break with Haber always a threat and Inman should have added a second after some close control by substitute George Cooper set him up inside the box, but he pulled his shot across the face of goal. Posh's miserable night was complete when Baldwin was ordered off after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Ollie Turton.
Alexander boss Steve Davis will be without Ryan Colclough (hernia) and Liam Nolan (ankle) through injury but must decide of whether to recall 17-year-old George Cooper to the side to face the Blades after he starred in their victory over the Posh on Tuesday night. Meanwhile Febian Brady (on loan from Rotherham United) will be looking to hurt his former employers.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Crewe Alexandra 1 Sheffield United 3