Ahead of this game against the club who were languishing bottom of the league, the Blades were boosted by the return of left full-back Bob Harris from injury. Having not featured since last season due to a groin injury the former Blackpool defender was making his first appearance of the season with Blades boss making four changes in total. As well as Harris; Paul Coutts, Ryan Flynn and Jose Baxter returned to the starting line-up with Kieron Freeman, Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Harrison McGahey and Kieran Wallace all dropping to the bench.
It was clear from the outset that both Flynn and Vice-captain Chris Basham were introduced to form part of the defence with Dean Hammon and Coutts playing central in midfield. United looked strong from the start with Matt Done seeing his shot blocked by a double combination of both defender Nugent and keeper Garratt inside the first minute Baxter was unmarked from Harris' free-kick but he failed to turn his header on target as it fizzed across goal.
Sharp and Done combined well with the final chance falling to Adams who scuffed wide as United squandered a number of early chances. With eight minutes played Crewe failed to clear a corner and as Harris sizzled a 35 yard volley on sight of goal, Garratt was able to save. It took ten minutes until the hosts carved out their first opportunity of the match when Haber flashed a shot wide after the ball fell kindly to him after a number of ricochets in the box.
At the other end, the Blades were soon back on the attack as Baxter unleashed a 30 yard effort with Garratt again keeper out any attacks on goal and Collins headed over a Harris corner. After a good start to the game the visitors saw opportunities on goal dry up as the game developed with the home side slowly growing with confidence as they began to create more in the final third. Colclough nabbed the ball off Hammond but shot wide of the mark and Haber headed wide from Guthrie's cross.
With the interval looming Adams was handed two opportunities on goal but both failed to hit the target whilst Done was unable to connect with Flynn's sweet cross into the box.
Basham got in the front of a Saunders shot as the second half begun before referee Graham waved away penalty appeals at both ends. Adams was booked for simulation inside the box, falling under a challenge from Turton whilst Saunders hit the ground after a challenge from Collins. Colclough forced Howard into a save from a corner as the hosts threatened but shots outside the box from Hammond and Baxter both tested the keeper.
Crewe's next attack proved more fruitful and yet proved to be the decisive moment of the match. Basham won the header as the ball was delivered into the box from the right flank but the ball fell loose and landed kindly to the unmarked COLCLOUGH who volleyed home from the edge of the box.
Sammon replaced Scougall as Adkins made changes, but only shortly after Jones curled his free-kick wide of goal. With five minutes remaining Hammond headed wide from Harris cross despite arriving late in the box with the Blades were desperate to level the scores. Flynn half-volleyed over with the clock ticking down and in stoppage time, as balls were pumped into the box, Crewe's back-line held everything at bay as they held on to win the game by a single goal.
Crewe Alexandra: Garratt, Turton, Guthrie, Ray, Nugent, Haber, Inman (Kingsley 82), Saunders (Atkinson 85), King, Jones, Colclough (Dalla Valle 90). Unused: Cooper, Bingham, Wilson, Nizic.
Sheffield United: Howard, Harris, Basham, Flynn, Coutts (Scougall 77), Sharp, Baxter, Done (Sammon 77), Collins, Adams, Hammond. Unused: Freeman, Campbell-Ryce, Long, K Wallace, McGahey.