Jamie Ward netted twice as United held on to secure three points in a seven-goal thriller at Bramall Lane.

At one stage the Blades held a 3-0 lead over Plymouth but were forced to hold on at the final whistle as the Green Army staged a fightback.

Henri Camara opened the scoring and Richard Cresswell netted a bizarre fourth after Ward's double to end Plymouth's mini-revival.

Morgan and Cresswell returned to the starting line-up for the home clash with Argyle in place of the injured Geary and suspended Henderson. Accommodating skipper Morgan meant Nosworthy reverted to right-back allowing Montgomery and Ward to continue in roles further forward. For the visitors, boss Mariner named an unchanged team, which included Sheffield-born Barker.

Bartley made an early impression, clattering Mackie after just six seconds, and despite the hardcore of travelling fans making themselves heard, United were the better side in the early exchanges. From the game's first corner, on six minutes, Cresswell beat team-mate Morgan to a Yeates delivery but headed wide.

United grabbed the lead, however, a minute later and it was the result of Yeates cleverly helping on a forward ball with his left boot. CAMARA outpaced Arnason down the right channel before slotting beyond the hand of Stockdale and into opposite corner.

Camara had a chance to add a quick second when Ward's shot deflected to the goalscorer but this time Barker made the block, at the expense of a corner. The Blades looked the more potent and Ward's delicate chip over the visiting defence almost put Williamson in.

Half chances for the visitors saw Morgan keep out Mackie after Fallon had headed down a Duguid cross and then there were weak appeals for a penalty when Mackie fell just inside the box.

It wasn't long before United were back on the attack and a good move resulted in Kallio trying his luck from 30 yards, but Stockdale was well positioned. The away goalkeeper, though, had no chance on 35 minutes when the Blades added a second. Kallio attacked down the left and his cross evaded a busy box until WARD fired an unstoppable first-time effort into the top corner.

Mackie was industrious and Fletcher fired wide but the visitors offered little in attacking positions. The only noteworthy action in the remainder of the first period was a yellow card for each team. Cresswell was cautioned for accumulative fouls and he was followed into the book by Stockdale, for dissent.

Mariner showed his displeasure at Plymouth's first half display with a double change at the break, throwing on Bolasie and Mason, and both made an impression in a hectic first 15 minutes of the second period.

United appeared to be continuing from where they had left off in the first period with a third goal on 47 minutes. From Nosworthy's long throw, Morgan took the attentions of Barker and Arnason, allowing WARD to take a touch before beating Stockdale again, this time from less than six yards.

United appeared to be coasting but Plymouth hit back and caused a number of nervous moments for the home players, management and crowd. It began when Bunn attempted to claim a long throw through a barrage of bodies but when he failed, BOLASIE was gifted a simple chance to touch into the empty net.

Bunn went some way to making amends when he was quickly off his line to deny Mason but the goalkeeper was beaten in the air by Arnason, fortunately the ball landed on the roof of the net.

Plymouth were having their best spell of the game and closed the deficit once more on 56 minutes, thanks to another of their substitutes. Nosworthy failed to clear and a spell of head tennis ended with MASON clipping past an exposed Bunn.

By now Mariner had used all his substitutions and soon after the Blades regained their composure, and had began to force the visitors back once again. Ward looked for his hat-trick with a long-range effort and then Cresswell fired over after a quick break.

Morgan and Mackie were booked for a mild coming together and United's first personnel change was on 78 minutes when Evans replaced the tiring Camara.

The final ten minutes followed the pattern of the second half in terms of entertainment and goalmouth action, beginning with a bizarre fourth goal for the Blades. Stockdale collected the ball after diving at Cresswell's feet but forgot about the United frontman when he rolled the ball out! CRESSWELL accepted the gift, took the ball from the goalkeeper and sidefooted into the unguarded net whilst Stockdale held his head.

Stockdale saved with his legs, ironically from Cresswell, moments later and then gathered a shot from Yeates after an intelligent Montgomery pass.

Blackwell threw on both Harper and Stewart but Plymouth pressed in the final moments and added a third goal, this time MACKIE being rewarded for his hard work, firing past Bunn after a neat turn.

Five minutes of added time brought more nervousness, especially when Mason found space and fired just wide with Bunn at full stretch.

Stockdale looked to make amends when he went forward for a late Argyle corner and he was involved but was let down by a poor touch. The final chance went begging in the final minute of stoppage time when Fletcher hammered wide.

The final whistle signalled that United had stretched the unbeaten home run to ten matches but it wasn't without tension, mainly in the second half.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Nosworthy, Yeates (Harper 85), Williamson, Cresswell (Stewart 90), Ward, Bartley, Kallio, Camara (Evans 78).
Unused: Bennett, Taylor, Quinn, Fortune.

Plymouth: Stockdale, Duguid, Fletcher, Clark, D. Johnson, Mackie, Arnason, Fallon (Bolasie 45), Barker, Noone (Mason 45), R. Johnson (Summerfield 50).
Unused: Larrieu, Wright-Phillips, Judge, Cooper.