Season review: September

Blades 1:0 Derby - After a two-week international break, the Blades were on the road nice and early for a 1:00PM kick-off at Derby. In the first-half, Henderson was ruled offside when he tapped into an unguarded net after Jamie Ward's side-footed shot was parried straight to the former Watford man - the decision was marginal. Teale then hit the bar for County, but United nicked it with a Matt Kilgallon header in the 80th minute. Jamie Ward could have doubled the Blades' lead, but he tamely poked the ball straight at Bywater when he was sent through clear on goal.

Coventry 3:2 Blades - It was the game before the Steel City Derby, and Kevin Blackwell's side went cautiously about their business. United were disappointing at the Ricoh, and fell to their first league defeat of the season. Leon Best made the most of a Kyle Walker error to blaze the ball into the net to give Coventry the lead, but Jamie Ward scored a peach to put United back on level terms. Andy Taylor should have scored from close-range, and then City grabbed their second through Clinton Morrison. Martin Cranie saw his header somehow find its way into the top-corner, and then James Harper tucked away a consolation for the Blades. Ched Evans nearly completed an amazing comeback, but his shot came off the crossbar.

Blades 3:2 Sheffield Wednesday - Sheffield United were aiming for revenge over their rivals after the Owls completed the first double over the Blades in 90 odd years in the previous season. The Blades got off the best possible start through Jamie Ward. The pint-sized striker swivelled and dispatched the ball into Lee Grant's net from about four yards. Darius Henderson claimed United's second after Ched Evans's scuffed shot was flicked into the net by the frontman. And just before half-time, the Blades were in dreamland. A David Cotterill cross caused difficulty for Wednesday right-back Lewis Buxton, and the defender inadvertently header into his top-corner to gift United a half-time lead of 3:0! Wednesday came out of the traps in the second-half flying, though. Tudgay volleyed them their first of the night live on Sky, and then Esajas stunned Bramall Lane with a worldly of a free-kick. United hung on, though, for a Steel City Derby victory. There was some bad news to come out of the win, though. Jamie Ward was stretchered off in the first-half and was set too miss out quite a large chunk of the season with a hamstring injury.

Swansea 2:1 Blades - United may have been on a high from their Sheffield Derby success a week ago, but they were brought back to earth with a defeat in South Wales. Lee Trundle converted his penalty after Nick Montgomery fouled him in the area. Harper's ball into the box was cheekily back-heeled into de Vries's goal by Stephen Quinn to make it 1:1. Jordi Lopez received his second yellow of the game and was given his marching orders by referee D Deadman, and then Butler gave Swansea the three points at the Liberty Stadium with a long-range strike. Former Blade Nathan Dyer was also red carded, this time for dissent.

Blades 3:3 Ipswich - Sheffield United were celebrating their 120th anniversary at Bramall Lane. The Bramall Lane big screen was given its first showing too! On the field, Darius Henderson latched on to Richard Wright's spill and headed into the goal, and Walters then back-heeled the ball in off the post to make it all square. Grant Leadbitter put the Tractor Boys into the lead, and then McAuley made it 1:3 with a header in the second-half. Henderson grabbed his second of the clash with a toe-poke into Wright's goal, and then Roy Keane's side were denied their first win of the season when Chris Morgan's injury time effort was deflected in for a creditable 3:3 draw.

The table at the end of September: