It's as fascinating a clash as a mid-table, mid-season Championship game can get. Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock brings his resurgent team to the place he spent over seven years as manager and many more as a fan, and where he is still regarded as legend by many (and pariah by some). Palace have won four and drawn one of their last five in an 11 game unbeaten streak, propelling them from 20th place in the league when Warnock took over to ninth. Sheffield United's inconsistent season under Bryan Robson continued with a hugely disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool on Boxing Day when the Blades played 82 minutes against just ten men.
Robson is forced to make changes with talismanic striker James Beattie sidelined for up to six weeks with knee ligament damage. Rob Hulse makes his first start since breaking his ankle against Chelsea back in the halcyon days of Premiership football. Hulse is joined in attack by Jon Stead as two-million pound striker Billy Sharp makes way. Chris Lucketti takes over injured Chris Morgan's place in central defense, and his captain's armband. Warnock named an unchanged Palace side.
Inside a minute a long-range strike from on-loan defender Phil Bardsley needed a solid save from Speroni in the Palace goal. At the other end an under hit backpass from Armstrong caused in-form Kenny to scurry out of his area to clear.
On six minutes Rob Hulse got his first sight of goal, controlling well in area, before turning in one move but hitting a poor left-footed shot over the bar.
Early United possession involved punting high towards the two forwards, handily dealt with by a Palace defense that had conceded just nine goals away from home all season.
Former Blade Shawn Derry, on loan from Leeds, played in highly-rated 17-year old attacking midfielder Sean Scannell for a clear shot that Kenny parried well. Scannell ballooned over the follow-up as he stumbled.
United responded immediately, but the perennially disappointing Gillespie shot weak, wide, and woeful from 25 yards.
Good build-up work resulted in Stead threading a great ball to put through Hulse whose shot from 12 yards was hit well but keeper Speroni got a leg in the way.
On 20 minutes referee Andy D'Urso booked Shawn Derry as he caught Gillespie in full stride on the right wing. Neither team was able to get an upper hand in the first scrappy 25 minutes.
Chris Armstrong's first positive contribution put Stead clear on the right side of the penalty area, but he fired across the keeper and harmlessly wide.
A long ball into the Blades area put Scannell in behind the defense before Bardsley's superbly timed tackle blocked the first threat. The on-loan Man Utd defender then threw his body in the way of the fierce follow-up shot.
Palace started to apply more pressure, and after some scrappy play Montgomery's poor tackle gave a free-kick on the left side of the area. The cross was whipped in but collected by Kenny.
On 38 minutes Palace broke the deadlock after a needless handball given away by Stead. Ben Watson floated the free-kick into the area that bounces off Kilgallon in the Blades defense. James Scowcroft pounces to hook the loose ball past Kenny and into the corner of the goal.
Soares joins Derry in the referee's book for a trip as Gillespie looked to break.
Confidence looked lacking as Hulse won a good flick, Stead latched on to cross, and the clearance fell to Montgomery who looked to slip in Gillespie as Palace defenders closed down, but his weak cross was cleared.
Montgomery's disappointing ball into the area concluded a frustrating first half of quality chances not taken by the Blades, and they go into the break one-down.
Second half
Neither team makes any changes, and the Blades start brighter. Gillespie's snap shot is high and harmless when a cool head and class was needed.
After just 53 minutes Robson makes a change, taking off the ineffective Gillespie for striker Billy Sharp.
Soares gets free wide on the left and attempts an audacious chip that lands on the roof of Kenny's net.
Sharp causes concern in the Palace defense. Keeper Speroni fails to come for a ball in the area, and the defender is forced to clear for a corner. Palace break from the clearance with Sean Scannell, and in-form striker Clinton Morrison is just hounded out in the area.
The game starts to open up as United switch to a more attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Stead now hugging the left touchline.
From Stead's quality cross Hulse controls well, makes space for a shot, and Speroni saves well from six yards.
The Blades three-man midfield leaves a few spaces for Palace to pounce on loose balls and to plug the gap Robson introduces Lee Hendrie after 62 minutes for Chris Armstrong.
Stead whips another good cross from the left that Sharp just can't reach, and Speroni collects as Hulse waited to pounce.
Hulse wins a free-kick just outside the penalty area. Tonge and Hendre stand over but tee the ball up for Bardsley whose fierce strike hits Speroni in the chest without the keeper moving.
As the Blades dominate possession and chances, Scowcroft - a career thorn in the Blades' side - wins a harmless looking ball. Morrison latches on, but his rushed shot dribbles wide of Kenny's left-hand post.
On 70 minutes Hulse should have leveled after a great cross from Stead. Sharp can't connect and the ball skips across the six-yard area to Hulse at the far post who controls well but fires wide.
Palace make their change, replacing Morrison with midfielder Carl Fletcher.
Ironic Ole's ring out from the Bramall Lane crowd as the Blades string a few passes together, but result in jeers as Montgomery hits an aimless ball out of play.
With 13 minutes to go Sean Scannell is replaced by another 17-year old, Lee Hills, as Warnock looks to shore up his team.
Hendrie goes in late on Speroni, resulting in a few handbags. Referee D'Urso consults his assistant referee and books Hendrie for the foul, and Palace's Butterfield for his reaction.
With 82 minutes gone, the Blades win a corner. Hendrie swings it in and in the scramble Hulse hits an overhead kick that Speroni handles well.
Michael Tonge continues to be harried off the ball in central midfield by Reading target Ben Watson.
After a long ball, Billy Sharp shoots from 20 yards but his dipping volley beats keeper and the crossbar.
The Blades throw everything forward with Kilgallon getting in a good cross from the left, but the scraps don't fall to a red and white shirt.
In injury time Neil Warnock makes his final change with former Blade Paul Ifill coming on for Soares.
Despite the statistics indicating a dominating second half performance from the Blades, the lack of class was apparent all afternoon. In what was possibly a mixed afternoon for Warnock, he steers his new team to an incredible twelfth game unbeaten as Palace leave Sheffield with all three points, and the Blades manage a disgraceful single point from two home games.