oakwell - after the snow fell

In traditional manor it was that man again Billy Sharp who scored with thirteen minutes remaining to net his third goal in as many games for the Blades.

It was a dull affair with blustery winds and a downfall of snow making conditions and visibility poor - but maybe the biggest disappointment was the overall attendance, 15,798 crammed into Oakwell (capacity 23,009) with 6,000 travelling from Sheffield - with lots of empty seats visible.

Despite a poor performance from both sides it sent the Tykes into their third League and Cup defeat of the season having failed to beat Coventry City (4-1) and Norwich City (3-2), until the Red and Whites Wizards came along.

The goal came on 77th minute when substitute James Beattie assisted a flick on to Sharp who sprinted to the edge of the area before drilling the ball home past on-loan keeper Luke Steele.

However either side of Sharp's match winner the Blades could have scored when Gary Speed did enough to take on his marker and when one-on-one with the keeper fired past Steele and as the away end got ready to cheer a certain goal the ball bounced off the in-side of the post and shot across goal.

After the former Scunthorpe United striker had taken the lead Beattie almost made it two when Sharp's low cross fell to the ex-Evertonian, but Steele somehow kept him out from four yards away from goal.

The home side too had their chances but United dominated the second half - Paddy Kenny pulled off a great save when he turned round the post a 25 yard effort from Spanish midfielder Diego Leon.

And the 'Super Reds' were left fuming when a penalty decision was turned away by referee Lee Probert when captain Stephen Foster was clearly dragged down in the penalty area following a Brian Howard cross.

Forward Kayode Odejayi (cousin of ex-Sheffield United striker Ade Akinbiyi) headed over the top whilst Martin Devaney firted over the cross bar.

At the other end Rob Hulse blew the Blades best chance of the first half when he headed wide following David Cotterill's cross.

Although a marginal performance by the Blades in what was under very difficult conditions it was a professional result which gave United a league win at Oakwell for the first time since October 1989 and complete the double over the club, the last time they did that was during the 1987-88 campaign.