Richard Cresswell's second half goal - his fifth in Blades colours - was enough to secure a deserved home victory over Middlesbrough.

The striker stooped to convert Andy Taylor's cross to ensure the impressive run of late continues.

Henri Camara was denied by a post late on but Mark Bunn and his defence were barely tested by Boro.

Manager Blackwell made just one change with the fit-again Walker returning in the right-back position and Geary dropping to the bench, where he was joined by Henderson and Ward. Boro included Flood, Robson and Killen, all signed from Celtic in midweek.

With the snow melted, rain holding off and little wind, conditions were good for United's first Championship game of 2010. Less than a minute had elapsed before Wheater was called upon to stop Cresswell after Evans had knocked down Walker's cross.

From Middlesbrough's first attack, Seip cleared from Aliadiere and then Morgan blocked Osbourne's shot but a crowded midfield prevented any clear cut chances being created by either side.

Cresswell picked up an early booking for a challenge on McMahon and referee D'Urso made himself even more unpopular on 25 minutes when he failed to spot a handball in Boro's box. Walker's header into the penalty area clearly hit Robson but there was no spot-kick award.

Back on defensive duties, Walker timed his tackle on Flood to perfection in the area and then Bunn did well to hold on to a high ball, despite being under pressure. The United goalkeeper was called upon twice more to make saves before the interval, firstly from Osbourne after a fortunate ricochet presented him with a chance and then from Riggott's header following a Robson free-kick.

Mr D'Urso was thrust back into the limelight on 34 minutes, starting with a booking for Robson following his challenge on Quinn, who, along with O'Neil, were also shown yellow cards for a disagreement which ended with them going nose-to-nose.

The closing stages of the first half were incident less, with a lack of action in the penalty area giving both goalkeepers an easy ride until the interval. Both managers resisted the urge to make a change at half-time but O'Neil attempted to break the deadlock with two early free-kicks in the second half.

Williamson was booked for a foul on Flood before United began to get a foothold, trying to force the visitors back. Walker's centre beat everyone and flew across the face of goal and then the ball would not drop for Evans after Williamson's head down.

A bit of pressure, though, did the trick... the opening goal arrived on 56 minutes. Taylor was the instigator; he played a one-two with Evans from a free-kick before whipping in a cross which CRESSWELL converted from close range. The United striker got the better of Wheater but didn't know his header had beaten Coyne until turning round to see the ball nestling in the back of the net at the Kop end.

Boro had a big penalty appeal waved away moments later when Aliadiere went down at pace under a combined challenge from Seip and Walker. The play-on call from Mr D'Urso all but confirmed that United would not receive a penalty soon after when Evans tumbled following Riggott's challenge.

Middlesbrough made the first substitution of the day, introducing Johnson, and just two minutes later he had set Hoyte free down the left but from the subsequent cross Robson could not keep the ball down.

On 68 minutes a good move almost brought the Blades a second. From a Cresswell cross, Evans cushioned the ball into the path of the onrushing Harper, but he could not keep his effort down but Blackwell indicated more attacking endeavour by introducing Ward and Camara.

Middlesbrough, chasing a leveller, should have been on the offensive in the later stages but United used attack as the best form of defence to keep the visitors at bay. It was Quinn who started a fine move on 85 minutes which saw Harper illegally stopped on the edge of the box by Riggott but Camara played on and curled his effort against the base of the post, watching in agony as the loose ball dropped into the grateful arms Coyne.

Johnson fired a long-range free-kick over and Franks was stopped by Montgomery as the visitors searched for a spark, whilst United introduced Henderson for the tiring Cresswell, possibly to add extra power to the rearguard.

Four minutes of added time was announced and despite the groan from the crowd at the amount of injury minutes, the Blades negotiated the time with little fuss - securing three more valuable points to keep the pressure on the top Championship sides.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Evans (Camara 70), Williamson (Ward 70), Harper, Taylor, Cresswell (Henderson 89), Seip, Quinn, Walker.
Unused: Bennett, Stewart, Geary, Fortune.

Boro: Coyne, Hoyte, Riggott, Aliadiere (Johnson 63), Killen, Flood (Franks 75), O'Neil, Robson, McMahon, Wheater, Osbourne.
Unused: Bent, Arca, Bennett, Steele, Williams.