Picture: John 'The Beard' Brayford started the rout which saw the Blades beat Oldham 3-0.
Before the Blades hosted Burton Albion in the two clubs first ever league meeting at Bramall Lane, boss Nigel Adkins dipped into the loan market to make his last acquisition of the season as defender Alex Baptiste joined on loan from Middlesbrough. His debut against the Brewers was quite a shaky affair having spent 8 months out injured but once he got over the nerves proved himself to be quite an shrewd signing.
But the performance put in by the United team against a side who were searching to win the league was rather a 'lazy' display and one which you would expect from pre-season or a lst day fixture with very little to play for. Burton won 1-0 with former boss Nigel Clough returning to the Lane.
It was from that defeat, that the Blades picked themselves up and despite ending March in an unsavoury blow, an unexpected point at Fleetwood Town via a last ditched goal and a convincing victory over Oldham Athletic was enough to give the home faithful a little bit of hope in rescuing their so far failed season.
Sheffield United 0-1 Burton Albion
Tuesday, 1st March 2016 - League One
Burton extended their lead atop Sky Bet League One to four points after Luke Akins second-half goal lifted them to a 1-0 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. Akins netted four minutes after the interval with a cool finish as the Brewers put daylight between themselves and nearest rivals Wigan, who could only draw at Millwall. The visitors were given an early scare, however, when Blades striker Billy Sharp had a header cleared off the line by defender Phil Edwards.
Burton responded almost immediately at the other end with Calum Butcher's powerful drive forcing United goalkeeper George Long into a neat save down to his left. The lively Mark Duffy then found himself through on goal after a neat reverse by Edwards but again Long was equal to the shot, tipping it wide of the post. Long, though, was beaten in the 49th minute when Akins ran on to a defence splitting pass from Damien McCroy and slotted the ball into bottom right corner.
Akins could have doubled the lead following a mix-up between Collins and Long but the Blades custodian recovered and parried away a stinging drive from the goal scorer. Akins went close again but, in a second half of few chances, both sides found themselves bogged down in a midfield battle. United substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed the target with a point blank header late on as Burton held on for all three points.
Fleetwood Town 2-2 Sheffield United
Saturday, 5th March 2016 - League One
A late Che Adams penalty earned Sheffield United a share of the spoils in controversial circumstances as the Blades drew 2-2 in their League One clash at 10-man Fleetwood Town. The Blades struck first, Fleetwood opened up as the ball was move quickly from right to left, Matt Done firing from the flank and slotting low past Chris Maxwell. The lead lasted barely two minutes and the hosts responded when Ash Hunter rose at the back post to nod home Victor Nirennold's inviting curled cross home.
The only other incident of note came just before the break when Fleetwood defender Joe Davis went down following a clash of heads in the box, the centre-half helped off blooded and bandaged after a lengthy delay for treatment. The home side very nearly grabbed the advantage after the break as David Ball drilled the ball in from the left, his cross bouncing back off the bar and dropping for Wes Burns, whose far-post header also rebounded off the woodwork.
Fleetwood - having stood firm in a Sheffield storm - grabbed the lead on the hour. John Brayford felled Ash Hunter wide on the left and Jimmy Ryan's resulting free-kick was flicked in off the post by Marcus Nilsson as the Swede netted his first goal for the club. The game turned when Fleetwood sub Nick Haughton was shown a late red card as he kicked the ball away following Jamille Matt's foul. And when Amari'i Bell clipped Flynn in the second minute of injury time, Adams was able to snatch a point from the penalty spot following another lengthy delay as keeper Chris Maxwell was struck by an object thrown from the crowd.
Sheffield United 3-0 Oldham Athletic
Saturday, 12th March 2016 - League One
Sheffield United got their push for a play-off place back on track with a 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Oldham at Bramall Lane. The hosts ran out comfortable winners after goals from John Brayford, Ryan Flynn and Billy Sharp, with the visitors rarely threatening. Brayford struck the first goal in the 10th minute with a well-timed volley from the edge of the box after the Latics failed to clear their lines.
The Blades doubled their advantage in the 21st minute when Flynn capitalised on a poor pass, burst through the defence and took the ball round Joel Coleman before smashing the ball into the net. Half-time substitute Curtis Main had the visitors' first effort on goal early in the second half but George Long was alert and got down well to keep his clean sheet intact.
Main then powerfully drove a shot at the Blades goal from range and struck the underside of the crossbar, leaving Long helpless in goal. Brayford played a delightful ball down the side of the Oldham defence to set up the third goal in the 77th minute and Sharp finished off well, powering the ball past Coleman at his near post and sealing the win for the Blades.