A very rare Nick Montgomery goal and two from Richard Cresswell paved the way to the convincing victory over Blackpool on Tuesday night.

The Blades were impressive in avenging the defeat by the same score at Bloomfield Road in October and in the process leapfrogged over the Seasiders in the Championship table.

Montgomery's strike was his first since October 2006 and Cresswell took his Blades tally for the season to double figures.

Defender Connolly, signed on an emergency loan from Derby County earlier in the day, made his bow, whilst Henderson was also recalled to the starting line-up. Suspended Morgan and Harper, who dropped to the bench, missed out. Crainey and Ormerod were brought back into Blackpool's XI.

United were forced to kick towards the Kop in the first half but if Blackpool were hoping to unsettle the home side, the plan backfired within the opening minute. Camara forced a corner out of Baptiste and the delivery from Yeates, into a crowded six-yard box, may have flashed off goalkeeper Gilks' knuckles, leaving CRESSWELL to force in at the back post on either the second or third attempt. However many efforts it took, only 42 seconds had elapsed.

Ex Blackpool loanee Seip did well to cut out Crainey's cross, which was destined for the head of Campbell, but United had made the better start and were forcing the away side back. A second Yeates corner, this time from the right, also caused problems but Euell cleared as Camara prepared to pounce.

Connolly and Stewart were getting forward from the full-back positions regularly and a Quinn shot was blocked by Gilks on 18 minutes. A number of close offside decisions, at both ends of the pitch, were also frustrating the players.

Two tepid Blackpool shouts for a penalty were waved away and Southern hit a first-time effort wide before becoming the first player to be shown a yellow card, following a late challenge on Montgomery.

Baptiste headed wide a Vaughan corner and then Nosworthy was well-placed to cut out a pass that would have put Euell in the clear but Blackpool's hopes of a revival were dealt a blow from an unlikely source on 43 minutes.

Quinn did well to keep the ball in play close to the touchline and after Camara had laid off, MONTGOMERY strode forward confidently and smashed the ball beyond Gilks. The strike may have taken a deflection but did not take any elation away from the stand-in skipper, who slid on his chest in front of the Kop. Every red and white shirt offered their congratulations, whilst the announcement of the goal through the PA system also brought a great cheer from the Lane crowd.

Before the break there was a chance to cut the arrears courtesy of Cresswell's mis-placed back pass but Bunn made it difficult for Campbell, who couldn't find the target.

Cresswell attempted to repeat his goal in the first half when he got on the end of another Yeates corner early in the second period, whilst boss Holloway waited until ten minutes after the restart to add another striker to Blackpool's cause and replacement Burgess saw his header from Vaughan's corner held by Bunn.

Montgomery threatened to add a second just before the hour after Camara and Yeates had combined but, with Gilks stranded, the midfielder was unable to get a shot away.

New boy Connolly came to United's rescue on 63 minutes, clearing from the middle of the goalmouth after Euell had the lifted the ball over the onrushing Bunn, but a third Blades goal put the game out of Blackpool's reach.

With 68 minutes on the clock, Quinn won a decisive challenge and Henderson, from the left, drilled the ball across the face of goal, giving CRESSWELL the easy task of knocking the ball over the line for a yard out.

Camara cut in from the left flank but saw his shot gathered by Gilks at the second attempt and Nosworthy's powerful challenge nullified Campbell's effort as the chances in an entertaining game continued.

Two-goal Cresswell was given a break, replaced by Harper for the last 15 minutes, and a Henderson shot was deflected wide. Yeates combined with the big striker on 83 minutes but the winger failed to curl his effort into the top corner.

Connolly was given a standing ovation when he was withdrawn late on and the winning margin could have been more had Yeates found either of Henderson or Camara after a burst down the left.

Seip was the first Unitedite booked, for a foul on Ormerod on 90 minutes, and the Blades comfortably survived the stoppage time period to extend the unbeaten home run.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Nosworthy, Henderson, Yeates, Cresswell (Harper 76), Stewart, Seip, Quinn, Connolly (Bartley 88), Camara.
Unused: Williamson, Bennett, Taylor, Little, Fortune.

Blackpool: Gilks, Crainey, Sourthern (Burgess 55), Eardley (Butler 41), Ormerod, Vaughan, Baptiste, Euell (Bannan 69), Campbell, Edwards, Adam.
Unused: Rachubka, Clarke, Martin Dobbie.