Jamie Ward gave the Blades the initiative on the 12th minute mark when he tapped in from close-range after neat work from the useful Keith Treacy. Ched Evans sizzled in a second with just over an hour gone, which was his first for the club. United displayed a resilient performance against a struggling Hornets side, and they were well and truly stung!As promised by Blackwell, he rung the changes after the defeat to Port Vale in midweek, seven changes in total. Out went Bennett, Bromby, France, Reid, Little, Quinn and Sharp, in fact, the latter didn't even appear on the bench. In came Bunn, Walker, Morgan, Montgomery, Treacy, Henderson and Evans. Tommy Smith began the game for Watford - he was a target for the Blades in the close-season of course.
The first league game of 23 at Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane got underway, and United surged immediately. Jamie Ward found space to have a drill at goal, unfortunately for him and the Blades, the ball flew over Loach's crossbar.
Danny Graham, Watford's signing from Carlisle United, smashed the ball way off-target. Ward, who was playing on the right-wing, found his way into the box when Keith Treacy skipped through the Hornets' back-line. The Blackburn loanee put it on a plate for Ward, who could steer in several yards out and score United's first goal of the season.
Skipper Chris Morgan got into a mess, with Jenkins snuck right behind him, but the Watford man hammered the ball wide when in a score-able position. The Blades' £3m acquisition from Manchester City was eager to get on the score-sheet, and almost did when he converted just wide, and then Watford's Willamson intervened to halt Evans in his progress after a lengthy kick from Bunn.
An unfit Darius Henderson nodded over. Watford had a rare chance in United territory, Bunn flapped at the ball with a poor punch, and Jay DeMerit poked towards goal which was thankfully surrounded by a handful of United players - Walker stuck out a leg to send the ball away from goal.
Keith Treacy's free-kick didn't harm the Watford rear-guard. A training ground free-kick nearly led to a Blades goal when Brian Howard swung the ball in with his left-foot towards the back-post, Matt Kilgallon raised and curled his header inches wide.
Half-time arrived. The second-half got off to a flyer, identical to the first-period when Jamie Ward had a pop at goal. The pint-size figure had an opportunity a few minutes in, again, but fluffed the ball straight at the keeper from a good position, which left Ched Evans and Darius Henderson infuriated.
Severin fired over Bunn's crossbar, and then Watford leaked in a second thanks to two new players. Keith Treacy gave his second helping in a goal, he played in Ched Evans, who had his back to goal, he swivelled and smashed past Loach to consolidate United's lead. Ched smashed the corner flag in delight in scoring his first goal for the Red and White Wizards.
Jamie Ward had a gilt-edge chance to net a brace and a Blades' third, but didn't capitalise on a through-ball - he was onside and one-on-one with the goalkeeper but hesitated and Loach had time to touch away.
Left-footed Darius Henderson volleyed over with his right-foot after the Watford goalkeeper made a mess of Walker's ball in. Jamie Ward got a standing ovation for his departure, David Cotterill replaced the former Chesterfield hit-man. Severin's effort was then deflected, but it caused no problems for Bunn in the Blades goal.
Henderson wasted another chance, but the shot did take a deflection. Keith Treacy left the pitch with a song to his name: 'Keithhhhhhhhhhhh'. He deserved his applauses, especially with him getting two assists! Kyel Reid deputised.
United were unlucky not to make it three when Cotterill's lash at goal struck the post. Kevin Blackwell made a capacity of substitutions - goal-scorer Ched Evans made way for Stephen Quinn as full-time was approaching.
In the three added minutes, no goal-mouth action occurred which meant the Blades recorded their first three points of the campaign and sent the 24,000 Unitedites home, buoyant. No goals conceded, two bagged and no losses as yet. Credit to the lads for bouncing back from a disappointing midweek Cup defeat, albeit with seven new faces in the fray today. The final score from Bramall Lane is, Sheffield United 2:0 Watford.
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