An early penalty scored by Brian Howard set United on the path to a 1-0 win over Maltese side Floriana in their first pre-season fixture.

The Blades' extra quality showed through but they met with stern resistance on a very warm evening at the Hibernians Stadium. A crowd of 1800 was in attendance for the game, over 400 of which were United fans.

Darius Henderson was left out of the squad owing to injury and Kevin Blackwell put out a starting eleven that included youngsters, Connor Brown and Nathan Foster, as full-backs and both triallists, Julian Gray and Glen Little, on the flanks.

Gray helped create - and miss - the game's first chance when he inexplicably headed wide when totally unmarked from Little's corner.

But the Fulham man set-up an opportunity for Montgomery that led to a 15th minute opener, converted from the penalty-spot with ease by Brian Howard.

Gray teed up Montgomery but the ball was close enough to him and defender, Sunday, for the tackler to consider himself unlucky that his challenge was penalised.

Goalkeeper Nicallef produced a flying save to deny Robertson when his header had seemed to evade him, and then Gray got close in to divert Howard's ball in over the top.

Floriana had made a bright enough start but were now being pinned back by waves of United attacks, and although Darnanin's free-kick from distance was hit firmly enough it was off target and a rare effort on goal.

Howard's awkwardly bouncing drive made life difficult for the home goalkeeper who stopped it unconvincingly with his shins.

There was an element of short temper in the game and just before half-time Morgan was booked for an innocuous challenge, whilst Carvana received the same sentence for his over reaction.

Only Haber, Brown, Foster and Robertson of the Blades starting eleven resumed for the second-half as seven substitutes took to the field.

United threatened a second when Ward's neat flick put Robertson in behind his marker but his lob over the advancing goalkeeper also cleared the bar from 15 yards.

The young striker then slammed a loose ball against the goalkeeper's legs following good work by Cotterill, and the Maltese side's response was their best so far, Darnanin steering his header wide from Carvana's ball in from the right.

Floriana boss Roddy Collins made a series of substitutions which didn't help his team's cohesion, and Coterrill wasn't far off doubling the score when he received Reid's short corner, advanced and fired past the far post.

Haber had had nothing to do but on 77 minutes had to react quickly to push out Nicovanovic's inswinging corner at the far post, and two minutes later watch Brincat's header sail off target.

The home team had enjoyed a couple of let-offs but had stayed in the game and as it petered out they were pushing for an unlikely equaliser.

United's youngsters were indebted to Naughton and Brown for snuffing out one dangerous situation, but Brown almost crowned his performance with a last minute burst and chip that flew just too high.

United: Haber, Brown, Morgan (Bromby HT), Kilgallon (Walker HT), Foster, Little (Cotterill HT), Montgomery (Williamson HT, Naughton 79), Howard (Quinn HT), Gray (Reid HT), Robertson, Sharp (Ward HT).
Unused: Bennett.