The Blades claimed a win at Oakwell with two goals from James Beattie who took his tally to seven Championship goals; he netted his first after sliding in unmarked at the far post following Danny Webber's square ball in the 19th minute.
Following a clash of head butts Ego Ehiogu and Anderson De Silva was handed straight red cards to the pair of them before, with five minutes remaining Rob Kozluk handled in the box which Andy D'Urso awarded a penalty.
Beattie stepped up and slammed home to give a two goal lead - at the other end substitute Keyode Odejayi (87) set up a frantic finish as he headed home at the death.
That straight red card for Ugo Ehiogu means that he will sit out against Reading through suspension, whilst he will also miss the ties against Charlton Athletic (a) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (h).
Following suspension and a clause in his contact midfielder Brian Howard will return to the side to face the Royals; the former Barnsley man has yet to play since that 0-0 draw at Bristol City.
Possible Blades Line-Up: Paddy Kenny, Kyle Naughton, Chris Morgan, Matthew Kilgallon, Sun Jihai, Brian Howard, Gary Speed, Stephan Quinn, Danny Webber, James Beattie, Anthony Stokes.
Reading come into this fixture after an epic 3-0 victory over Derby County at the Madejski Stadium; Noel Hunt (20 minutes) put the home side ahead before Kevin Doyle (68 & 75) finished off the rout.
The Royals have no fresh injury worries but will be without Michael Duberry (calf), Graeme Murty (calf) and Sam Sodje (knee); only former Chelsea and Leeds United defender Duberry could be fit for the clash at Bramall Lane, he has returned to training and has played some reserve action.
Steve Coppell is likely to start former Blade Chris Armstrong; the defender/midfielder was signed by Neil Warnock in a £100,000 deal from Oldham Athletic in July 2003 and sold to the Royals early on this season in a £400,000 profit. Whilst at Bramall Lane he was part of the squad which won promotion in 2006, making 84 starts (+21) and scoring 6 goals along the way.
Possible Royals Line-Up: Marcus Hahnemann, Chris Armstrong, Ivar Ingimarsson, Andre Bikey, Kalifa Cisse, Stephen Hunt, James Harper, Liam Rosenior, Jimmy Kebe, Kevin Doyle, Noel Hunt.