United ended the winless run with a battling and determined display against Peterborough at Bramall Lane.

On Help For Heroes day, Henri Camara and Mark Bunn were United's champions.

On his first start for the club, Camara scored the game's only goal and loan goalkeeper Bunn saved a second half penalty from George Boyd to protect the advantage.

Williamson and Camara were handed their first starts as boss Blackwell made a total of four changes for the home encounter with Peterborough. Morgan returned from his one-match ban and Bunn was back in goal. On the bench Taylor and Geary were among seven outfield substitutes.

A Blades huddle - a rare occurrence - preceded the kick-off whilst when the action got underway on a slippery surface, due to persistent rain, Camara looked lively.

The first notable action at either end arrived on nine minutes when Walker, attacking at pace, appealed for a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Griffiths, but referee Hedley was uninterested.

For the visitors, Boyd robbed Harper and fired just wide from 20 yards and then a shot by Whelpdale was just over. United, however, enjoyed much of the territorial advantage and one of the best chance of the half came on 25 minutes. After Quinn's free-kick had been deflected for a corner, Ward's delivery was pulled back for Evans, who smashed an unstoppable effort - Sheringham-style - off the underside of the crossbar.

Soon after, Williamson and Kilgallon had to rush back to snuff out Mackail-Smith when Peterborough were quick to capitalise on a mistake by Walker to breakaway.

Also for the visitors McLean fired over and Boyd was giving Walker a severe test, but the Blades were clearly on top and keeping goalkeeper Lewis on his toes. Good work between Quinn, Evans, Camara and Williamson almost worked a chance before the opening goal arrived on 42 minutes.

Walker and Ward combined down the right flank and after an Evans shot was blocked by the legs of Lewis, CAMARA was the first to react to blast the loose ball into the net for his first Blades goal.

Before the interval there was still time for Camara to have two efforts blocked by the legs of Bennett and after Peterborough had half-cleared a corner, Morgan's cross was headed just wide by Davies.

Peterborough were out early for the second half, working on another warm-up routine before the restart. However, it was the Blades who were quickly out of the blocks and Camara headed over after a good move involving Ward, Evans, Williamson and Walker.

The visitors hit back, though, and put the Blades onto the back foot for a spell. An error by Kilgallon led to a deflected McLean shot, which was saved by Bunn.

Morgan did well to hold up Mackail-Smith, enabling Bunn to make a good save and then Mackail-Smith headed wide at the near post from a Griffiths cross. None of the chances, however, were as clear-cut as a penalty on 67 minutes.

A cute back-heel from McLean gave Mackail-Smith a sight of goal but he was prevented from pulling the trigger by a challenge from Davies, which referee Hegley looked long and hard at before pointing to the spot. The left-footed Boyd stepped up but his shot to the goalkeeper's left was pushed out by Bunn and subsequently cleared.

Treacy replacing the tiring goalscorer was Blackwell's first change and although United managed to stem the flow of Peterborough attacks there was an element of nerves around the Lane.

As the rain continued to fall, Blackwell replaced Williamson with France and Ward with Reid, whilst Harper failed to connect with a good chance with five minutes to go.

Just as four minutes of injury-time was announced United were denied a penalty when the referee thought the combined challenge of Lee and Frecklington on Treacy was not a foul. In the third extra minute there was a scare for the Blades when a shot by Batt rolled wide of the target as Bunn slipped but the home side held on for a morale-boosting success.

Blades: Bunn, Morgan, Kilgallon, Evans, Williamson (France 81), Harper, Ward (Reid 85), Davies, Quinn, Walker, Camara (Treacy 69)
Unused: Taylor, Little, Geary, Fortune.

Peterborough: Lewis, Zakuani, Lee, Frecklington, McLean, Boyd, Mackail-Smith, Diagouraga (Simpson 88), Whelpdale (Batt 65), Bennett, Griffiths.
Unused: Martin, Coutts, McKeown, Rowe, Green.