The Blades completed the Championship campaign on a high - recording a first victory at Portman Road in 35 years.

Goals from Mark Yeates, Ched Evans and Richard Cresswell saw United comfortably beat Roy Keane's Ipswich Town to secure an eighth place finish in the table.

On a day of highs and lows, particularly for some, there was little more than pride to play for in Suffolk but the Blades picked up three additional points for the travelling hardcore.

Blackwell handed a full debut to home grown teenager Lowton in Sunday's season finale and he quickly slotted into a right midfield role with Yeates on the left. Evans partnered Cresswell in attack, whilst the back five remained unchanged. As well as the three changes in the starting XI, Blackwell named 18-year-old Academy youngsters Foster and James on the bench.

A free-kick in the first ten minutes was the best opportunity for a goal for both teams. A Yeates effort flew over the crossbar for United and then Kenny dropped Garvan's delivery but, fortunately for the Blades goalkeeper, the ball dropped into the only muddy spot on the Portman Road pitch and he was able to collect.

Kenny was back on top form to keep out two long-range efforts from Leadbitter as the home side attempted to take control. The midfielder was also involved in a move on 27 minutes when a Walters cross was headed against a post by Garvan. Kenny was rooted to his spot and when the ball came back off the upright it struck Morgan and trickled away for a corner.

A great tackle in the penalty area from Bartley stopped Colback in his tracks before the Blades stunned the home contingent by grabbing the advantage on 34 minutes. Fed by Naysmith, YEATES went past his marker and fired right footed beyond the goalkeeper's right hand but inside the near post.

Ipswich hit straight back and Colback wasted a great chance when the ball dropped to him just ten yards out and then, from a Garvan free-kick, Smith headed down into a dangerous area but Naysmith mopped up the loose ball.

Home debutant Eastman was the first to be booked and the final opportunity of the half fell to the Blades but Evans fired wide from the edge of the box after good work from Lowton.

United made a bright start to the second period, with goalscorer Yeates involved in all the early moves. He delivered a cross which struck defender Eastman and forced Murphy into a save and then got free down the left, getting the better of Peters, but his cross was kicked away by the goalkeeper.

Lowton went close to a dream debut goal but his glancing header was just wide, however, a second Blades goal was just moments away. With 56 minutes gone, Cresswell set Yeates free down the left and his low centre was perfect for the onrushing EVANS, who swept the ball, left-footed, into the top corner, from the edge of the box.

Keane's response was to make a double substitution which he was left to rue moments later when the home side went down to ten men - Eastman sent-off after picking up his second booking of the game, this time for a foul on fellow debutant Lowton. The Town boss quickly used his third and final replacement, adding defender Brown.

However, it made no difference as United moved forward and added a third just after the hour mark. Yeates cut inside Peters and Leadbitter and although his shot was parried by Murphy, CRESSWELL was ideally placed to head home the rebound, with the aid of the underside of the crossbar.

Ipswich attempted to hit back with a shot by Wickham, but Kenny saved and Lowton sniffed glory on a run on 74 minutes but his shot, with his unfavoured left foot, flew over the crossbar.

Little was added to the proceedings on 85 minutes, for Nosworthy, meaning Lowton reverted to right-back, whilst Kenny saved a header from Walters.

Yeates almost capped an impressive personal performance with another goal on 89 minutes and the final minutes were incidental as the win was secured but it did give Blades fans the chance to go into the summer break looking forward to another assault on the Championship season.

Ipswich: Murphy, McAuley, Leadbitter, Garvan, Norris (Clark 57), Peters, Colback (Brown 62), Walters, Smith (O'Connor 57), Wickham, Eastman.
Unused: Lee-Barrett, Martin, Edwards, Hyam.

Blades: Kenny, Naysmith, Montgomery, Morgan, Nosworthy (Little 85), Evans, Yeates, Harper, Cresswell, Bartley, Lowton.
Unused: Aksalu, Seip, Geary, Fortune, Foster, James.