Despite losing 4-0 at Sunderland in the FA Premier Academy League on Saturday, United coach Kevin Fogg was keen to draw on the positives from his Mackems counterpart Kevin Ball's post-match assessment.

"Sheffield United made life hard for us and fair credit to them for their performance. I told our players at half-time they needed to buck up their ideas and they did that in the second-half." said Ball.

Terry Kennedy, who recently signed a long-term deal with United, started for the Blades and produced an accomplished performance against the top of the table Black Cats.

The game started in an open manner with Foster having the first chance, before Andrew had to produce a smart save to deny Noble.

Slew and Foster both had efforts on target, only for the hosts to take the lead in the 32nd minute. Adams freed Mitchell on the left, who crossed for NOBLE to finish from close range.

With Kennedy demonstrating realmaturity at the heart of United's backline, the Blades had an early chance to level proceedings at the beginning of the second-half. Slew crossed for Chappell, but his first time effort was excellently saved by Wilson.

The hosts immediately punished the Blades, with MITCHELL making it two with the aid of a deflection on the hour mark. Eight minutes later NOBLE got his second and the Mackems third from the penalty spot.

Although United's youngsters battled on gamely, Sunderland added a fourth in the dying minutes. The Blades were caught on the counter attack and after a run from Noble, FLETCHER fired home from inside the area.

Kevin Fogg insists United will continue to field youthful line-ups to give the players some vital experience ahead of next season:

"Our policy at the Academy is to blood the youngsters and see how they fair. We will continue to put our trust in them and are confident that they will perform admirably."

Blades: Andrew, O'Kane, Brown, Williams (Murray 60), Kennedy, Maguire, Gregory, James, Slew (Ahmadi 60), Foster (Pennycooke-Morgan 60), Chappell.