Kyle Naughton's clinical curler nestled into the net in the opening 7 minutes and then United doubled their lead 14 minutes when Darius Henderson leapt high above the defenders to head past Bywater. After the interval, Derby gained a goal when former Blade Rob Hulse converted from close-range. Darius Henderson soon scored his second of the game when he sweetly turned the defender to poke the ball into the base of the goal. The Rams' new signing Barry Bannan drilled past Kenny to make it 3:2. But in stoppage time, recent on loan recruit Craig Beattie put the icing on the cake when he looped the ball down low into the net.
Kevin Blackwell made three changes to the side which drew 2:2 with Blackpool in midweek. Nick Montgomery, Danny Webber and Greg Halford were all dropped due to injuries but the latter did make the bench. John-Joe O'Toole, Jamie Ward and Leigh Bromby replaced the trio.
Derby came out of the traps the quickest and piled pressure on the Blades' backline but nothing arose for the bottom-half of the table team. Jamie Ward attempted to get straight into the thick of things when he was sent through on goal by Gary Naysmith but the linesman's flag stopped his progress.
United's opener came from good work from O'Toole. He won a battle with a Rams midfielder and threaded the ball through to Cotterill who halted to pick out the correct pass, he drilled the ball out to the right to the advancing Naughton who curled the ball deliciously into the bottom corner with his left peg.
John Eustace got the first caution of the game just 10 minutes in when he clipped Quinn. Hulse's flick-on in front of the Kop found Barazite at the back post who looped the ball high back across goal but the ball dipped onto the roof of the net.
O'Toole's pitch-perfect touch nearly sent Henderson on a surging run but it wasn't to be. But then, David Cotterill who has been in top notch form lately picked out Darius Henderson in the box and swung in a peach of a ball to the target-man. He rose above the defender to nod past the stranded Bywater.
Cotterill's free-kick shortly after curled yards wide, although the Welshman did slip in the process. Robbie Savage chipped the ball in from a soft free-kick which Hulse got on to but Kenny collected.
Half-time approached where Nigel Clough made a substitution. Eustace was replaced by new signing Barry Bannan. Davies had the first shot at goal in the second period but he blasted high and wide. Henderson also did the same at the other end but with his head.
Bannan's effort was touched off the line by Naysmith but the ball fell to Rob Hulse a few yards out from goal who pounced and blasted the ball into the net to pull a goal back for the Rams.
Todd was booked for a foul on Cotterill - albeit a late caution. Ward saw Quinn on the left-hand side and passed the ball out to him. The ginger midfielder drilled the ball in fairly low which Henderson got his leg to, he turned the defender and poked the ball into the bottom corner from 5 yards out to make it 3:1 to the Blades.
Hulse joined a number of his fellow team mates in the referee's book when he was cautioned for dissent. Naughton's speedy cross was destined for Henderson's forehead but Todd flicked away at the vital moment.
Davies out paced Bromby and turned inside on the bar line, he threaded the ball through to Bannan who blasted past Kenny from close-range. The 3,000 Derby fans jammed into the away end saw light at the end of the tunnel but the home contingent rallied their team on and kept the faith. Meanwhile Halford soon replaced Bromby.
Ward who was offside put the ball into the net shortly after the Blades' kick-off. Henderson who was searching for his first United hat-trick hammered the ball at the goalkeeper's legs. The ball was launched up field by Bywater where Hulse's nod towards goal was saved by Kenny.
Hulse and Henderson both had efforts on goal but neither troubled the goalkeeper. Craig Beattie was introduced when Cotterill made way. 4 minutes added time was shown by the fourth official which meant it was a nail biting closure for the Unitedites with the score line currently standing at 3:2.
Beattie shot wide 2 minutes into injury time. Jamie Ward who is blessed with pace nearly sent Henderson through on goal but the defenders prevented. Hulse who had his umpteenth chance blasted well over at the other end.
The last piece of action in the highly anticipating encounter was when Beattie were set free when Greg Halford chipped a hopeful ball to the back stick. After slack defending and sprinted into the area - he drilled the ball into the far-hand bottom corner to secure the points late on. Directly after the goal, United passed time when Jamie Ward made way for Brian Howard. Delight spread all around Bramall Lane in the home stands when the referee blew for full-time just seconds after Derby restarted.
The Blades have smashed another record. Now Beattie has netted, he becomes the 20th United player this season to be on the score sheet, which now beats another club record. So record breaking Sheffield United fly past Derby County in an entertaining encounter. The final score from Bramall Lane is Sheffield United 4:2 Derby County. | 
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