Fulham striker Barry Hayles was stupidly sent off in the 80th minute to hand
Sheffield United their fourth successive victory under new boss Neil Warnock.
Hayles picked up a second yellow card for a needless deliberate handball in
midfield, and the Blades stole the points with a late double.
First Paul Devlin volleyed in from the edge of the six yard box on 84 minutes
and two minutes later the tricky winger set up Marcus Bent for the winner.
The highflying Cottagers were without a number of key players including
skipper Chris Coleman and striker Geoff Horsfield.
But they started brightly and threatened to take an early lead when Hayles
blasted Steve Finnan's cross over from 15 yards.
And then Finnan again set up Hayles but he failed to properly connect with an
ambitious overhead effort.
United had the ball in the Fulham net with their first attack, but Martin
Smith's effort was ruled out for offside.
The first half petered out into a midfield stalemate and Fulham came closest
to opening the scoring when Simon Morgan found himself unmarked in the box but
could not direct Steve Hayward's free-kick goalwards.
The Blades appeared to have come to terms with their big spending opponents
early in the second half and were beginning to dictate play.
Five minutes into the half Devlin went on a tricky run through midfield and
slipped Bent through, only for Mike Taylor to react quickly and smother.
And four minutes later Taylor did well to keep hold of Wayne Quinn's bobbling
20-yard drive.
In the 65th minute Fulham were presented with a rare opportunity to test Simon
Tracey when Rufus Brevett was fouled on the edge of the box. And Hayward came
close to punishing United, curling his effort inches past the angle.
It was a rare opening in a scrappy period of play where neither side was able
to engineer a clear opening.
The ineffective Smith made way for Belarus striker Petr Katchuro as the Blades
pushed for a winner.
And striker Hayles ensured Fulham's downfall with his stupid 80th minute
dismissal for a second yellow card. Hayles had already been booked for a first
half foul and his hand ball offence gave the referee no option.
The Blades made no mistake with the extra man and went ahead four minutes
later as Devlin superbly volleyed past Taylor from the corner of the six yard
box.
With Fulham rocking Devlin did further damage. The winger found space in the
box and chipped across to the unmarked Bent who volleyed home to seal victory.
Teams
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Kozluk, Quinn, Murphy, Sandford, Derry,
Brown, Hunt (Ford 45), Devlin (Hall 87), Bent,
Smith (Katchouro 73).
Subs Not Used: Gybreches, Hamilton.
Booked: Kozluk.
Goals: Devlin 84, Bent 86.
Fulham: Taylor, Finnan, Brevett, Melville, Morgan, Symons,
Collins, Clark, Hayles, Hayward, Peschisolido.
Subs Not Used: Hahnemann, Trollope, Uhlenbeek, Ball, Brooker.
Sent Off: Hayles (80).
Booked: Hayles, Morgan.
Att: 17,375
Ref: M Fletcher (Warley).
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