The nation, through Sky TV, can see United's luck is out. Newcastle received not one but two slices of good fortune in scoring the winning goal in Monday's Championship clash.

Kevin Nolan avoided a foul in robbing Kyle Walker of possession in the lead up to the second half goal, which took a wicked and significant deflection off Chris Morgan.

Newcastle's Steve Harper made countless saves, including an injury-time point-blank stop from Darius Henderson, and to emphasis the goalkeeper's contribution, the travelling Geordies sung his name at the final whistle.

Stewart and Davies returned for United, replacing Taylor and Little in the starting XI, and shortly after kick-off it became clear that boss Blackwell had tinkered with the positions. Davies partnered Morgan in central defence, Kilgallon lined up at left-back with Stewart ahead of him and Treacy switched to the right flank.

There was a period of warm applause before kick-off in memory of ex Blade and Magpie Keith Kettleborough, who passed away earlier on the day of the game.

Kicking towards the Kop in the first half, the Blades made a bright start. The visitors had to repel an early free-kick and then Evans put Henderson in the clear, but the big striker dragged his left-foot shot wide of the target.

Newcastle's first opportunity came from a Nolan break but Walker blocked from Carroll. The home side were quickly back on the offensive and Evans won the game's first corner and then, on 14 minutes, Treacy fired over after Henderson laid back Stewart's cross. The next chance fell to Quinn, from Henderson's cross, but he also failed to find the target and then a Harper shot hit Evans.

Taylor fired at Bennett, after Nolan was involved again, and Carroll headed Newcastle's first corner over, whilst a couple of feisty challenges resulted in Morgan picking up the game's first booking, on 31 minutes, for a foul on Carroll, who was the next to be shown a yellow card soon after. Taylor was also cautioned before the break, for stopping a marauding Walker, who was soon back on defensive duty to stop Coloccini.

The last two chances of a frantic first period, which the Blades shaded, saw Treacy fire at the visiting goalkeeper and then Evans shot just wide after holding off Coloccini.

Taylor, already booked, was afforded the benefit of the doubt for a crude foul on Walker early in the second half, whilst Bennett flicked away a header from Nolan. The Blades goalkeeper was powerless when he saw a Carroll header strike the base of a post and the opening goal arrived on 54 minutes.

Bringing the ball out of defence, Walker appeared to be fouled by Nolan, who made little if no contact with the ball. TAYLOR accepted the gift of being able to play on and was aided again as his long-range effort took a major deflection off Morgan and curled into the bottom corner.

Walker, injured in the challenge which resulted in the goal, hobbled off and was replaced by France moments later. United attempted to force the visitors back, a Treacy cross was headed over by Stewart, who soon made way for Cotterill.

An Evans free-kick, which was on target, was kicked away by Butt and, on 73 minutes, goalkeeper Harper did well to make himself big to block a Henderson effort. Blackwell then used his third and final change for the last 15 minutes with Camara taking over from Evans.

United did most of the attacking in the closing stages but Harper looked assured. Treacy fired over with a first-time effort and the home side looked for a penalty when Ranger went through the back of Henderson in the final minute of normal time.

Five additional minutes heralded extra hope but Treacy's shot, from the back post, was blocked by the legs of Harper. Davies was now in attack as an auxiliary striker but Quinn's shot struck a plethora of bodies and Henderson's late header struck goalkeeper Harper... summing up United's fortune.

Blades: Bennett, Morgan, Kilgallon, Henderson, Evans (Camara 76), Harper, Stewart (Cotterill 70), Davies, Treacy, Quinn, Walker (France 61).
Unused: Reid, Williamson, Bunn, Little.

Newcastle: Harper, Coloccini, Enrique, Nolan, Simpson (Ranger 76), R. Taylor, Smith, Gutierrez (Harewood 85), Butt, Carroll, Kadar.
Unused: Guthrie, Geremi, Krul, Tozer, Donaldson.