A goal from Captain Chris Basham was cancelled out by Cameron Stewart's free-kick. Conor Sammon brought the Blades back into the lead before Gary MacKenzie was shown a straight red card, and in the second half former Rovers striker Billy Sharp rounded the keeper before making sure of the victory.
Blades boss Nigel Adkins had made six changes from the side which drew 2-2at Bradford City the previous Sunday. Paul Coutts made his first appearance under the new manager whilst Jay McEverley (pelvis) and Jamal campbell-Ryce (ankle) were side-lined through injury, Alcock and Flynn were handed their first starts of the season.
With such an unrecognisable starting XI, the large contingent of Blades supporters inside Bramall lane could easily have been forgiven if they felt, dazed and confused by the line-up. But despite the confusion it soon seemed clear that the traditional 4-4-2 was still in force.
It was Doncaster who saw the better of the early exchanges, Anderson escaped the grasps of Baxter and after his shot cannoned off Collins, were rewarded with a corner. From the resulting kick Taylor-Sinclair rose highest but his header flew over the bar. This seemed to be Rovers best chance in the opening minutes as the Blades took a strangle hold of the game, Flynn saw two efforts blocked and Baxter scuffed wide.
United were rewarded on 17 minutes through neat play. Alock surged forward down the right flank and his near post cross was mashed home on the volley from six yards by BASHAM. Struggling to create shots in open play, Rovers best opportunities came from set-pieces, and on 27 minutes, that is where the visitors found a leveller. On the edge of the box STEWART caught Howard flat footed as his shot was palmed by the keeper, but was unable to prevent it crossing the line.
Not willing to let heads go down, the hosts responded in a positive manor, and would find themselves soon taking the lead again. Sammon was to have an unlucky day, and could have easily have walked away with the match ball, but despite his efforts was only able to notch one for the afternoon. He latched onto Basham's cross superbly and after holding off his marker, on the by-line, somehow slipped the ball past the keeper, who was relieved to see the ball trickle across goal and out for a goal-kick.
Alcock had turned provider for the Blades opening goal, and he would be involved in the second also, his pace was too good for Doncaster and after finding Coutts out wide, the former Derby man's cross into the box was met by the leaping SAMMON who side footed home.
At the other end Evina's effort was helped over the bar by Howard as Rovers looked to strike back yet again, but the game turned on its head, following a Rovers corner Alcock attempted to clear whilst Mackenzie attempted to win the ball, however referee Heywood, in his eyes, deemed the tackle too dangerous and issued a straight red card. From then on it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the visitors.
Stewart blasted another free-kick into the Kop as very little action occurred between then and the sound of the referee's whistle for half-time. Both Nigel Adkins and Rovers caretaker manager Rob Jones made changes at the break, the hosts introduced Freeman for a shaken up Alcock, mostly likely from the foul by MacKenzie, whilst the visitors saw Keegan make way for Richard Chaplow.
The second half saw United eager to add further damage and extend the score-line, in the first four minutes Sammon was denied twice, his first effort beat Stuckmann in the Rovers goal, his effort curled round before hitting the post, and from the resulting corner his header looked to hit the old onion bag but Coppinger, somehow, cleared off the line.
United continued to attack, Wallace cut in from the left hand side and his shot was saved by the keeper, by time the hour mark had passed, Adkins had used all of his substitutions, Reed and Adams replacing Baxter and Coutts. Both Basham and Adams found themselves in the referee's 'naughty' book, the latter for judging simulation inside the penalty box.
In last weekend's draw at Bradford, a dink ball over the top proved useful, and this was instrumental again, provided by Reed, Sharp collected but was unable to finish, whilst Adams saw his effort deflect wide for a corner, Doncaster were struggling to keep out the Blades attack.
A third goal would have proved decisive and more or less game over for the visitors, with 11 minutes remaining on the clock that is exactly what happened. Wallace's pass to Flynn on the right flank was marshalled by Coppinger, he attempted to play the ball back to his German keeper Stuckmann who, unlike his national team's stopper, Manuel Neuer, proved an ill effective sweeper. As he charged out of goal, Sharp was able to flick the ball around the keeper, and despite the desperate charge of two defenders, the former Rovers striker had the simplest of tasks of netting his sixth consecutive league goal, 3-1.
Sharp almost added a fourth as his shot stung the keeper's palm and Reed was unable to hit the target. In the closing minutes the visitors tested United's defence with some teasing corners but were unable to take home any form of reward.
Sheffield United: Howard, Basham, Flynn, Coutts (Adams 61), Sharp, Baxter (Reed 55), Collins, Sammon, Alcock (Freeman 45), K Wallace, Edgar.
Unused: McNulty, Woolford, Long, McGahey.
Doncaster Rovers: Stuckmann, Evina, Butler, Wellens (Gobern 71), Williams, MacKenzie, Keegan (Chaplow 45), Taylor-Sinclair, Anderson, Coppinger, Stewart (Forrester 55).
Unused: N'Guessan, Mandeville, Marosi, McKay.