United could not prevent the dismal away form stretching to eight games without a win at Peterborough on Tuesday night.

Craig Mackail-Smith's first half goal was the only difference between the sides in the re-arranged Championship fixture at London Road.

Blackwell made three changes and continued with the 4-4-2 formation. Stewart, Harper and Evans returned at the expense of Kallio, presumably injured, and Yeates and Quinn, who dropped to the bench. Also among the substitutes was 20-year-old reserve defender Lowton, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Ferencvaros.

Cresswell and Evans were the front two with Williamson and Ward charged with getting forward from the flanks, Harper slotting into a central role with Montgomery. From the right, Williamson put in the game's first cross but Cresswell, back pedalling, could not get his header on target.

With less than five minutes gone Evans, keen to impress on his return, threw himself into a challenge with goalkeeper Lewis after Montgomery flicked on Nosworthy header. The striker needed treatment, was shown a yellow card to add insult to injury, and trudged down the tunnel protecting his shoulder moments later. Camara was his replacement.

Whilst United were assessing the injury sustained by Evans, the home side created two good chances and would have been disappointed not to have taken the lead. Firstly, Green found space and saw his effort punched away by Bunn and after the Blades had failed to clear the resulting corner, Dickinson drew his shot just wide.

Frecklington shot over with 20 minutes gone and Nosworthy became the second player to be cautioned by referee Singh, the defender guilty of a foul on Mackail-Smith, trying to rectify a stray pass.

United were struggling to create opportunities on a compact pitch and Peterborough were using their knowledge of the surroundings to force the visitors back. The hosts made their pressure tell on 40 minutes, taking the lead from right-wing corner. Bunn pushed Lee's initial header against the crossbar but MACKAIL-SMITH was the first to react, forcing the ball over the line, again following a touch off the woodwork.

Blackwell's woes continued when he was forced to replace Ward a minute later, Quinn taking over on the left, and then McLean's shot was heading for the top corner before Bunn stepped to his right to make a catch.

Camara attempted an acrobatic effort from a Nosworthy throw-in, which failed to trouble Lewis, and United's first-half misery was ended by the referee's whistle soon after.

Blackwell gambled by using his third and final substitution at the start of the second half, adding the creativity of Yeates at the expense of Williamson. Peterborough also made a change, withdrawing Frecklington for Torres, who, strangely, was booked 90 seconds after the restart following a conversation between the fourth official and referee.

The Blades looked revived at the start of the second period and began to force the home side back. After a Yeates free-kick had struck the wall, Harper couldn't believe his luck when his two goalbound efforts hit Zakuani and Cresswell. On 51 minutes a neat flick from Camara gave Quinn a shooting chance but one of a crowd of defenders made the decisive block.

Peterborough added powerful-looking midfielder Geohaghon for striker McLean to try and prevent United's attacking intent. On a rare Posh attack, on 75 minutes, Little's cross was palmed away by Bunn and Rowe lacked composure with space in the penalty area.

United's frustrations were clear, Morgan was warned by the referee and Yeates picked up a booking for a clash with Rowe. Dickinson and Stewart were the next to be shown yellow cards by the fussy referee.

Marauding runs from Bartley and Nosworthy, in the final ten minutes, put Peterborough on the back foot and Morgan stayed forward as an auxiliary striker for the last five minutes.

Montgomery hooked a shot wide in the four minutes of added time at the end of the 90 but Lewis was barely tested, especially with Morgan's late flicked header, from Yeates' cross, flying agonisingly wide.

Peterborough: Lewis, Morgan, Zakuani, Lee, Dickinson, Frecklington (Torres 45), McLean (Geohaghon 64), Mackail-Smith, Rowe, Little, Green.
Unused: McKeown, Day, Crook, Griffiths, Koranteng.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Nosworthy, Evans (Camara 8), Williamson (Yeates 45), Harper, Cresswell, Ward (Quinn 41), Stewart, Bartley.
Unused: Bennett, Taylor, Seip, Lowton.