Sunderland may have cause for concern, they had already played, and lost to Hull City earlier that week.
The only goal of the game was scored 15 minutes from time when after Andy Gray jixed in the box only to see his shot saved by keeper Kelvin Davies nicely fell to Steve Kabba who had a cool tap in to finish off.
The game was mostly quite, all be from one particular incident when a fowl on Julio Arca by Danny Webber caused a 17 man fracas following Gary Breen's decision to take the law into his own hands and man handle Webber by the throat.
Despite the rash challenge Webber was a tricky player and caused the Mackens defence a headache throughout the game whilst transfer-listed Nick Montgomery had no trouble in testing Davies from 30 yards out in the first half.
The visitors new signing from Blackburn was once again given the opportunity to show why he is worth 1.8 million but again, like in previous games Jon Stead just could not find the way to goal despite being handed three clear cut chances to do so.
As for United, they could have and should have gone 1-0 up just after half-time. Paul Ifill, who had just replaced Alan Quinn found space to run on the right-wing where they eventually slipped Michael Tonge through one-on-one could only strike at the keeper.
Stead was given one of his three chances to score but could only fire wide whilst Kabba replaced Webber when the Webber v Arca incident happened, this apparently was from the instruction of the referee (Mr. Howard Webb, South Yorkshire) who on another day may have sent the former Watford man off. Meanwhile Breen was booked for his intervention on Webber.
Kabba had only been on the field less than three minutes before he struck the final blow for Mick McCarthey's team. Substitute Tommy Miller had two chances for the visitors without avail before the final whistle was blown.
Sheffield United: Kenny, Bromby, Harley, Morgan, Jagielka, A. Quinn (Ifill 45), Nalis, Montgomery (Short 63), Tonge, Gray (Shipperley 76), Webber (Kabba 69). Unused: Barnes, Armstrong, Forte, Francis, S. Quinn.
Sunderland: Davis, Wright, Arca (Nosworthy 69), Robinson, Breen, Caldwell, Lawrence (Welsh 53), Whitehead, Stead, Brown (Murphy 65), Woods (Miller 53). Unused: Alnwick, Smith, N. Collins, Christensen.