It is now 2 home wins and 2 away defeats for the Blades, as they repeated their opening day win against Brentford at the Lane with another 1-0 win against local rivals Barnsley. This was a dominant performance from United who in truth should have won by more than the single goal scored from Billy Sharp. United missed numerous chances to extend the margin in a game where both sides had a man sent off after an altercation between Leon Clarke and Angus McDonald on the stroke of half time. Overall, United will be pleased with a relatively commanding performance where they were the better side for much of the game and protected keeper Jamal Blackman well who had barely a save of note to make all game.

Chris Wilder made two chances with one enforced with Richard Stearman’s injury seeing Jake Wright come in and another tactical change as Mark Duffy came in for Samir Carruthers. Ched Evans and David Brooks were both on the bench and were joined by Burton target John Brayford. Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom kept the same side for the fourth successive side with talk of Chinese investment on the eve of the fixture.

The home side began on the front foot with Duffy heavily involved and the Tykes were forced back. United won three early corners and a free kick deep in Barnsley territory. Stevens sent over a dangerous cross that was cleared before a golden chance came on 6 minutes as Stevens sent another dangerous cross over and Sharp was unmarked on the penalty spot. He hit his first time shot goalward but Davies made a brilliant reaction save. Not long after a lovely interchange saw Coutts, Clarke and then Sharp combine and the latter was upended cynically right on the edge of the box. The free kick was taken by Duffy but his effort was deflected over for a corner.

United had dominated the game and Coutts then nearly fed Clarke before a rare Barnsley attack saw Hammill poke harmlessly wide. United were back on the attack and the opening goal seemed inevitable and it came when another decent move saw the ball switched to the left. O’Connell sent over a lovely cross and on the spot SHARP was able to send the ball into the net despite Davies’ frantic dive to keep the ball out. It was no more than the home side deserved for a dominant display.

United continued to attack and Clarke’s good work nearly led to a chance but he overplayed the ball before Coutts and Duffy combined before the latter just overplayed the ball. Barnsley had struggled to pick up the United runners from deep with Duffy in particular causing real problems. Stevens and Freeman continued to overlap down the flanks and the one-way traffic continued.

Barnsley has a brief spell of the ball but did not really threaten the United rear guard with smart defending from Wright and then Basham clearing up danger. Sharp was booked for a relatively innocuous challenge before McCarthy went in late and was also booked not long after. The game became a bit scrappy for a period with United not quite having the same control they had done but the visitors had offered few opportunities at goal.

Just before half time, there was a flashpoint as a player from either side were sent off. A long ball was chased down from Clarke but as it ran down towards Davies, it seemed McDonald had taken offence to Clarke chasing the ball down. Initially it seemed the defender pushed Clarke, the striker reacted by trying to brush him off but did appear to raise his hand. In reaction McDonald seemed to aim a head towards Clarke. There was no initial reaction from the officials and the referee did not seem to see it. There was no flag from the assistant who was closer to it but the referee decided to have a word with him. He may have had help from the fourth official but after they conferred; he brandished a red card to both player. It may have seemed a bit harsh but by the letter of the law both players probably could not have too many complaints.

Fleck had a shot blocked and United then won a corner and a free kick as Hammill was booked but O’Connell headed wide from the free kick. United ended the half as they began it; firmly on top but the two red cards had certainly added uncertainty to proceedings as the half time whistle came.

At the break, it seemed Heckingbottom has seen enough of a rather limp first half performance and made a double change taking off Moncur and McCarthy for Ugbo and Pinnock. It seemed a more forward-thinking change as Barnsley effectively lined up with a 3-4-1-1 formation to begin the game. United kept the formation as they had with Billy Sharp left up front on his own supported by Duffy.

United began the half on top with Stevens and O’Connell firing over after good patient build up in both moves. Duffy then shot wide after a good move from United and then Potts had another rare effort from Barnsley as he flicked his header over. United came again as a lovely move saw the ball switched from Coutts to Duffy and onto Basham. His cross was measured but Sharp just could not quite get there and on the stretch poked wide at the far post.

Coutts drifted away from two players to feed Stevens whose cross came in but just evaded two United players as the home side looked to get the ***** second goal.

Duffy had played really well but his efforts had taken their toll on him and he was replaced by the youngster Brooks. The substitute was soon into the action and drifted past Pinnock and nearly fed a chance for Sharp before he had another run before being robbed at the last moment.

Barnsley had not really had any attempts of note and Wright made a good interception before Hammill drifted inside but overplayed his pass. United continued to look the better side and were very close to another goal.

Stevens sent over a cross and Brooks got in front of his man and diverted it goalward but Davies saved with his legs; the ball squirmed across goal and agonisingly hit the base of the post before bouncing to safety. O’Connell then had a header tipped over when he maybe should have scored and then the same man had a header blocked.

Evans came on for the tiring Sharp with 15 minutes to go. United had been in complete control but it was inevitable Barnsley would have a late push and they did at least have a spell of possession.

Thiam came on for Bradshaw as Barnsley looked for a spark to get back into a game they had been second best for long periods. Potts shot well wide and then Hammill was also way off target before they finally had an effort on goal as Ugbo’s shot on the turn was saved easily by Blackman. Brooks helped see the ball into the corner as the game entered an additional four minutes but in this time the United defence headed and cleared the ball away and never looked that threatened. The final whistle came to signal another 1-0 win for the Blades at the Lane and signalled a respectable start to the return to the Championship.