Ben Davies' 84th minute strike was enough to end the ghost of a bad seasons start by claiming the Blades first league victory of the season. Defeats to Bristol City (1-2) and Coventry City (0-1) saw the anguish only slightly reduced with a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town in the League Cup before this victory at London Road. United stand at 18th in the table.
Sheffield United earned their first points of the season with a 2-1 win over Peterborough at London Road thanks to a late Ben Davies strike. Davies struck in the 84th minute, drilling home from 20 yards after a long throw had not been properly cleared. Jose Baxter had given the Blades a first-half lead with a side-foot finish before Shaun Brisley equalised from a corner nine minutes later.
Posh started well with Jon Taylor striking the post from a tight angle, but it was the Blades who took the lead in the 25th minute. Baxter played a one-two with Davies down the right side of the area before slotting past Ben Alnwick at the far post. The lead was gone in the 34th minute when Taylor's corner from the left was headed powerfully in at the near post by centre-half Brisley. The second half was an open affair with both sides threatening. But Davies' precise finish just before the end gave Nigel Clough's men the points and ended Peterborough's perfect start to the season.
Crawley Town kick started their League One campaign in glorious fashion, disposing of newcomers Barnsley by a single goal at Oakwell before making it two out of two with a win over Swindon Town. But they were defeated by three goals to one at home to Bradford City - a result which leaves them 7th in the table. Only Fleetwood Town has secured maximum points to date.
Bradford produced a super-charged second-half performance to maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 win over previously undefeated Crawley. Bradford's on-loan keeper Jordan Pickford made an important save early on when diving to prevent an own-goal from Gary Liddle following a free-kick by Jimmy Smith. City threatened when Filipe Morais fed fellow midfielder Billy Knott and his goal-bound volley was blocked. Crawley midfielder Bobson Bawling, on his full league debut, should have hit the target when firing over after breaking into the area.
Bradford striker Aaron McLean had a shot blocked from a header by James Hanson before Crawley defender Joe Walsh forced Pickford to save smartly with a shot on the turn. Crawley conceded their first goal in four games five minutes after the break when skipper Stephen Darby crossed from the right and Hanson thumped the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. The Red Devils hit back to equalise only five minutes later through Walsh who powerfully headed in a corner from Ryan Dickson.
Knott struck his first goal for City to restore their advantage on 63 minutes with a volley from 15 yards which went in off the left-hand post. Jason Kennedy struck the bar for City before substitute Mason Bennett sealed the win 13 minutes from time by clipping the ball over Brian Jensen for his first goal for the club from Hanson's flick.
Red Devils boss John Gregory has no new injuries to trouble his team selection this weekend, though Josh Simpson (ankle) remains doubtful. Meanwhile former Blades striker Izale McLeod is likely to face his former club.
Blades-Mad Prediction: Sheffield United 3 Crawley Town 1