Manchester City reject Michael Brown put a major dent in his former side's
promotion hopes at Bramall Lane.
Midfielder Brown volleyed in the only goal five minutes before half-time - his
first goal since joining Sheffield United from City for £450,000 earlier this
month.
It is no more than United deserved as they held on in the dying minutes to
claim the points in front of a bumper crowd of 23,862.
Brown took the plaudits but another Mancunian also impressed against Joe
Royle's side.
On-loan Manchester United starlet Alex Notman was handed a debut up front
alongside Marcus Bent and he made the perfect start to his Blades career against
the Blue half of Manchester.
City could have returned to the top of the table if results had gone their way
but they offered little in a cagey first-half.
Instead it was Neil Warnock's side who took the initiative. After 10 minutes
Notman slipped in Bent down the right and the tricky striker beat two defenders
but was closed down as he lined up his shot.
Eleven minutes later indecision between Richard Jobson and keeper Nick Weaver
almost let Bent in but the young stopper was alert enough to clear.
It took 34 minutes for City to force Blades' keeper Simon Tracey into a save -
as he dived full-length to push Mark Kennedy's deflected cross around the post.
Four minutes later Kevin Horlock fired in a 25-yard free-kick that Tracey
tipped over.
Just as it looked as if City might find an opening, the Blades went ahead.
Full-back Rob Kozluk sent over a right-wing cross that reached Brown 10 yards
out. He swivelled and unleashed a powerful right-foot volley into the bottom
corner.
United made the brighter start to the second half and Bobby Ford went on a
30-yard run before forcing Weaver to save at full-stretch.
Nine minutes later Kozluk's cross fell to Notman in the area and he sent a
looping overhead inches over the bar.
After 64 minutes Royle replaced the ineffective Robert Taylor with the more
mobile Paul Dickov.
The change took immediate effect with a spell of City pressure where United
were unable to clear their lines - but despite their pressure Tracey remained
untested.
Warnock brought on Petr Katchouro for Notman to try and win back the
initiative.
It almost paid immediate dividends as Horlock gave the ball away to Shaun
Derry who brought the ball forward and laid it off for Katchouro in the box. The
Belarus striker had just Weaver to beat but he shot inches wide.
Bent was denied a similar opportunity by the off-side flag before Horlock
tested Tracey with a 25-yard drive at the other end.
The Blades were forced back for the remainder of the game but they held on
with Shaun Murphy exceptional at the heart of the United defence.
Teams
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Devlin (Gysbrechts 89), Kozluk, Murphy,
Quinn, Sandford, Derry (Woodhouse 80), Brown, Ford, Bent,
Notman (Katchouro 68).
Subs Not Used: Smeets, Ribeiro.
Booked: Murphy, Kozluk, Woodhouse.
Goals: Brown 40.
Man City: Weaver, Crooks, Edghill, Horlock, Bishop, Goater,
Jobson, Kennedy, Grant, Tiatto, Taylor (Dickov 64).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Whitley, Pollock, Peacock.
Booked: Taylor, Tiatto.
Att: 23,862
Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).
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