Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock and substitute Keith Gillespie were both sent off as the Blades were beaten 3-1 at Reading in a bad-tempered afternoon when Stephen Hunt was once again in the spotlight.

Within seconds of coming on, Gillespie was dismissed for smashing an arm in the face of the Irishman, the player who fractured the skull of Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech in a clash in October.

Warnock was soon sent to the stands, along with Reading coach Wally Downes, for his part in the melee that followed - an overspill of the bad blood which existed between the two sides from their Coca-Cola Championship clashes last season.

Hunt went on to score his side's third to add to strikes from Shane Long and Ulises de la Cruz, with substitute Christian Nade pulling one back for the Blades.

There had been little quality football before Long showed a predator's instinct in the 44th minute to open the scoring.

The build-up had been a good one with Hunt sending Steve Sidwell cantering into the box down the right but it appeared Blades' veteran defender Chris Lucketti would mop up.

Instead he merely flicked the ball on to Sidwell, allowing Long to pounce on the rebound and slot home from six yards via a post to record his first Premiership goal.

Graeme Murty, back after a groin injury, had come closest before Long's breakthrough with a powerful 25-yarder but the Royals captain rarely scores and fit-again goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was able to dive and keep it out.

Kenny came off second best when Leroy Lita latched on to another rebound but selfishly elected to shoot from a tight angle despite Claude Davis having got back on the line and Long being perfectly positioned for a tap-in.

Just before the half-hour mark Ibrahima Sonko fell so heavily after challenging for a high ball that his right leg appeared to buckle backwards.

Amazingly he was able to return to the fray having hobbled off it but another thudding fall 15 mintues later forced him off to be replaced by Andre Bikey, the rarely-used Cameroon international.

United did have first-half chances with Phil Jagielka heading a free-kick wide from just six yards and striker Rob Hulse seeing a later effort on the turn deflected on to the roof of the net.

The second half began with a remarkable second from de la Cruz, who had only been in the side because regular left-back Nicky Shorey was ill.

The Ecuador international began the move himself with a powerful run from his own half and having given the ball to James Harper, continued his diagonal run forwards.

United appeared oblivious to this and when Harper returned the ball de la Cruz was able to continue unchallenged and slot past Kenny.

The points were now Reading's but the drama was only just beginning as the game lurched into bad-tempered controversy.

Gillespie came on in the 53rd minute but he never touched the ball as he immediately clashed with Hunt as they jostled for a throw-in.

A forearm to the face felled the Reading man and, after referee Halsey had consulted his nearest linesman, a straight red card was shown to the newcomer.

As Warnock applauded Hunt sarcastically from the touchline, Gillespie again had a go at Hunt as he left the pitch - presumably because both felt there had been an earlier foul for which the Irishman went unpunished.

Within seconds a brawl broke out on the touchline as coaching staff and substitutes clashed.

Downes - a self-confessed Warnock loather - sparked it by lunging at the Blades boss and when calm was restored both were sent to the stands.

When play restarted Jagielka was booked for a foul on Lita before Hunt made it 3-0 in the 70th minute, hooking home from close range after Rob Kozluk had stopped a Sidwell shot on the line.

United pulled one back in the 73rd minute when substitute Christian Nade, who had replaced Jon Stead, was able to slot past Marcus Hahnemann after the Reading defence made a complete hash of the offside trap from a free-kick.

Teams

Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko (Bikey 43), Ingimarsson,De la Cruz, Little, Sidwell, Harper, Hunt (Convey 85), Lita,Long (Ki-Hyeon 73).

Subs Not Used: Federici, Oster.

Booked: Sidwell.

Goals: Long 44, De la Cruz 50, Hunt 70.

Sheff Utd Kenny, Kozluk, Davis (Bromby 64), Lucketti,Geary (Gillespie 53), Armstrong, Jagielka, Montgomery,Stephen Quinn, Stead (Nade 72), Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Gerrard, Alan Quinn.

Sent Off: Gillespie (55).

Booked: Jagielka.

Goals: Nade 77.

Att: 23,956

Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).