An own goal by Ash Taylor (42 minutes) which bundled into his own net following Tony McMahon's first half drive proved the difference in what was a professional performance from United and a pleasure to see them back to winning ways. The victory allowed the Blades to leapfrogged over Rovers to fifth place and with Doncaster Rovers losing 1-0 at Coventry City it closed the gap to four points with two games in hand.
The Blades chief, Danny Wilson is expected to be without duo Diego DeGirolamo (knee) and Lesinel Jean-François who have both required surgery to aid in there recovery and will not be included in tomorrow's line-ups. Wilson said; "Diego (De Girolamo) had his scan and underwent surgery straight away on a ruptured cruciate ligament. It will keep him sidelined for the long-term; we are certainly looking at a minimum of six months, which will mean he will miss the start of next season.
Carlisle United remained 17th in the League One table following there dramatic 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury Town, though it was the visitors to Brunton Park, Shrewsbury who were more disappointed with the point. Town manager Graham Turner told BBC Radio Shropshire; "I think today is a missed opportunity. I am disappointed about how they were allowed to get at us twice after we had taken the lead. The referee was totally unsighted for the second penalty.
"He didn't have a clear picture of it, so I am not too sure how he can make a decision like that - but our downfall was getting ourselves into those positions so soon after scoring". We have to start scoring from now until the end of the season - today is a point - but it feels like we lost."
With the scores level at half-time, nil apiece all the goal action was left to the second half - the Shrews had taken the lead through Matt Richards (63) 30 yard free-kick but two minutes later Lee Miller (65) had netted from the penalty spot. Tado Mambo (76) gave Town another lead but Miller again (83) scored from the spot; his second goal in four matches.
Boss Gregg Abbott saw keeper Mark Gillespie return to action following a two match ban last Friday and hopes to see striker Mathieu Manset make his first start for the club. However he is without Chris Chantler (ankle) and most probably Matty Robson who left the field as early as nine minutes in there draw with the Shrews, presumably to injury.
The Cumbrians have three former Blades on there books; striker Danny Cadamarteri and midfielders Paul Thirlwell and Jon-Paul McGovern, the trio to face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this Easter weekend.
Veteran striker Danny Cadamarteri, 33 has been much traveled having served Everton, Fulham (loan), Bradford City and Leeds United before joining the Blades in September 2004 in a £50,000 fee under the leadership of Neil Warnock (he had an habit of collecting strikers). He made his debut in a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion and later scored his only United goal in a 3-2 win at Crewe Alesxandra. He was mostly a fridge player behind the formidable Andy Gray and Steve Kabba but managed to make 14 (+8) appearances before joining Bradford City in June 2005.
Thirlwell, 34 signed for United from Sunderland in a free transfer in July 2004 and made his debut in a 1-0 home defeat to Reading and scored his first and only Blades goal in a 3-3 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. In August 2005 he transferred to Derby County having made 28 (+7) appearances and scored just once.
McGovern, 32 signed for the Blades on loan from Glasgow Celtic in August 2002 and remained with United until January 2003. He made his debut in a 1-1 home draw with Portsmouth and scored his first goal four days later against Walsall and before returning to Celtic Park having made 14 (+4) appearances and scored three times. He later played for Livingstone, Sheffield Wednesday, MK Dons and Swindon Town before joining Carlisle United in June 2011.