Tranmere gained a welcome victory in a stormy encounter at Prenton Park as they inflicted the Blades' first defeat in seven matches.

Neil Warnock's men were unlucky not to earn a point however during a grandstand finish which saw a goal in the fifth minute of injury time ruled out for offside.

Rovers claimed all three points thanks to a spectacular effort by Andy Parkinson in the 11th minute.

The 21-year-old won possession following good work by Steve Yates and his shot from 25 yards sailed over Simon Tracey into the top right-hand corner.

United were rather tentative in the first half and would have been two goals down on 17 minutes but for a good save by Tracey from Jason Koumas.

Michael Brown recorded United's best first-half effort with keeper John Achterberg saving well.

Tranmere came under intense pressure but very nearly struck again from an 80th-minute break-away when Rob Kozluk produced a superb saving tackle on Parkinson.

But then it was all United, with Shaun Murphy heading over and having another header saved by the keeper.

And Achterberg produced a superb effort to keep out a goal-bound header by ex-Rover George Santos in the 86th minute.

Then deep in injury time Santos headed in at the far post following a free-kick but referee Matt Messias consulted a linesman and ruled the effort out for offside.

Teams:

Tranmere Achterberg, Yates, Jobson, Hill, Allen, Parkinson, Koumas (Gill 90), Flynn, Hinds (Hazell 66), Barlow (Scott Taylor 72), Rideout.

Subs Not Used: Murphy, Hume.

Booked: Flynn, Hill, Achterberg, Koumas, Allen.

Goals: Parkinson 11.

Sheff Utd Tracey, Kozluk, Sandford, Murphy, Woodhouse (Montgomery 72), Michael Brown, Santos, Ford, Devlin, Kelly (Suffo 86), Thomas (Quinn 46).

Subs Not Used: Uhlenbeek, D'Jaffo.

Booked: Ford, Thomas, Woodhouse, Montgomery.

Att: 8,474

Ref: M Messias (York).