Billy Sharp fired his third goal in as many games to clinch Sheffield United a fourth straight Coca-Cola Championship win against derby rivals Barnsley at Oakwell.

The Sheffield-born striker and life-long Blades fan finished emphatically with an angled shot to send FA Cup semi-finalists Barnsley spinning closer to relegation trouble in the 77th minute.

Sharp struggled under former United manager Bryan Robson, but new boss Kevin Blackwell has been repaid in kind for giving Sharp a prolonged run in his starting line-up.

After a tedious first 45 minutes Blackwell's resurgent Blades just about deserved their narrow win, but the Tykes were not without their own chances.

Barnsley manager Davey made just one change to his starting line-up, with defender Bobby Hassell returning in place of Marciano Van Homoet, while the Blades were unchanged from the side that began the win last week over Norwich.

As well as the icy temperature, a swirling wind made for an indifferent start to the game, with what little goalmouth action coming at the visitors' end.

But the first noteworthy shot on target did not arrive until the 24th minute when Brian Howard's 25-yard shot was comfortably held by Paddy Kenny.

Moments later the Blades mustered their first chance. Livewire winger Cotterill swung over a fine cross, but Rob Hulse directed his header wide when well-placed in front of goal.

Leon flashed a shot from the edge of the penalty area over the crossbar in the 31st minute and Barnsley's appeals for a penalty when Jon Macken went down under Chris Morgan's challenge were ignored by referee Lee Probert.

Both sides were forced to reshuffle nine minutes before the break.

Barnsley central defender Dennis Souza staggered off following a clash of heads and was replaced by Van Homoet.

On-loan Reading full-back John Halls was sent on for the Blades' Derek Geary.

Blades skipper Morgan came to the visitors' rescue two minutes after the restart when he hacked Kayode Odejayi's effort off the goalline.

Visiting winger David Carney then volleyed spectacularly over the crossbar at the far post as the contest sparked into life early in the second period.

James Beattie replaced Hulse in the 61st minute as snow enveloped the stadium, but chances continued to fall to both sides.

Carney's volley was blocked by Hassell and at the other end Leon's shot deflected off a melee of defenders.

Blackwell sent on Keith Gillespie for Carney in the 70th minute and a minute later Davey responded by replacing Odejayi with Daniel Nardiello.

Michael Tonge's deft throughball sent Gary Speed scurrying clear in the 74th minute and the veteran midfielder almost broke the deadlock, only to see his left-footed drive rebound back off home goalkeeper Lee Steele's right-hand post.

But in the 77th minute Sharp gained possession on the edge of the penalty area and when the ball ricocheted off Foster back into his path, the Blades striker lashed a low shot into the bottom corner to the delight of 6,000 travelling fans.

Sharp almost helped set up a second two minutes later, his fine cross met first time by Beattie, but brilliantly smothered by Steele.

Istvan Ferenczi replaced Leon in Davey's last throw of the dice, but it was Sharp again who went closest to scoring, his right-footed curler in stoppage time brilliantly saved by Steele just before the final whistle.

Teams:

Barnsley Steele, Foster, Nyatanga, Souza (Van Homoet 36),Kozluk, Devaney, Howard, Hassell, Leon (Ferenczi 83), Macken,Odejayi (Nardiello 72).

Subs Not Used: Togwell, Coulson.

Sheff Utd Kenny, Geary (Halls 37), Morgan, Kilgallon,Naysmith, Cotterill, Speed, Tonge, Carney (Gillespie 71),Sharp, Hulse (Beattie 62).

Subs Not Used: Stead, Ehiogu.

Booked: Sharp.

Goals: Sharp 77.

Att: 15,798

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).