United produced another spirited performance but slipped to a narrow loss against Manchester City at Bramall Lane.

And it was a former Blade who inflicted the defeat on Chris Wilder's side, as Kyle Walker's first-half strike proved decisive for Pep Guardiola's side.

For the clash against the Citizens, Wilder made just one change, with the fit-again Lowe replacing Lundstram, who dropped to the bench. Brewster was handed his full home debut.

After a quiet opening, Ramsdale was called into action on eight minutes to deny Torres with a header from Cancelo's cross, before Ampadu produced a timely block to halt Sterling's shot in the second phase. The visitors were enjoying plenty of the ball, but United were standing firm and making life difficult in tight areas, although Egan had to be alert to Sterling's run. From the resulting corner, Laporte fired wide at the near post.

United went forward and Lowe seized on a misplaced pass from Rodri, before City broke and Egan made a vital interception to divert De Bruyne's pass to Sterling back to Ramsdale. The United stopper was then called into more serious action as he managed to save a dipping effort from Rodri at the expense of a corner.

City continued to press forward and Ramsdale produced his best save of the game on 23 minutes, a superb reflex block to deny Torres from close-range, before Mahrez blazed over from a promising position from Cancelo's cross. But Ramsdale was powerless to stop City taking the lead five minutes later, Sterling advanced at pace, before De Bruyne found WALKER who fired low and hard into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes before the break, United won two corners in quick succession. From the first, Basham almost headed home at the back post from Berge's delivery, only for Walker to deflect his goal bound header wide. Then, in United's next attack Brewster just failed to make a clean contact with a header from another delivery from Berge. But at the other end, City produced a slick break and only a crucial block from a retreating Stevens denied Torres from Cancelo's deep cross.

The second half began at a decent pace, United were positive, whilst City looked a threat on the break, Ramsdale denied Torres again, but the assistant referee raised his flag after the save had been made. Walker than burst to the byline, just about kept the ball in and from the pull back, De Bruyne fired wide of the far post.

As the hour mark approached, Ramsdale and United stood firm, this time the stopper denying Mahrez with a low free kick from a dangerous position after Stevens was harshly adjudged to have fouled De Bruyne. In response, the Blades built and threatened down the right, but a combination of Walker and Rodri cleared the danger from Berge's looping centre.

With 25 minutes remaining, Norwood took the place of Ampadu and following another period of possession down the right, Berge got the better of Cancelo, but Dias had luck on his side as his attempted clearance landed in the hands of Ederson. Five minutes later, United fashioned their best chance of the game, Berge again was instrumental powering down the right and beating Cancelo, but Lundstram fired his effort narrowly too high from the edge of the box.

Brewster found himself in the clear but was denied by Ederson, before the assistant referee flagged for offside. City then enjoyed a couple of chances, mainly through De Bruyne and Sterling, although Egan and Ramsdale again managed to snuff out the danger. As the minutes ticked by, McGoldrick replaced Lowe in another positive switch. Ramsdale again stood tall as Silva danced into the box, to keep United in contention, before heading clear as Sterling looked to latch onto Ederson's punt forward.

Three minutes of added time were signalled by the fourth official, but despite pushing bodies forward, the ball just wouldn't drop United's way in the final third.

Blades: Ramsdale, Baldock, Stevens, Basham, Berge, McBurnie, Egan, Lowe (McGoldrick 81), Ampadu (Norwood 65), Osborn (Lundstram 55), Brewster.
Unused: Sharp, Burke, Robinson, Verrips.

Man City: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Torres (Foden 81), Mahrez (Gundogan 85), Sterling.
Unused: Carson, Stones, Ake, Zinchenko, Garcia.

As it happened...

12:32
Manchester City to kick-off after the players take the knee in a show of solidarity against racism.

We're underway!

1'
Early clash between McBurnie and Dias leaves the latter on the floor. Free-kick to City on halfway, United making a fiesty start.

2'
Early spell of possession from City until Egan steps in to clear, he's caught late by Torres, Blades free-kick deep inside their own half.

4'
Attempt of a throughball from Mahrez, no-one on the same wavelength and United happy to see the pass run through for a goal kick.

7'
United neatly play out of the back up to halfway as Brewster lays off to Osborn. The midfielder attempts to send a pass in behind first time, it doesn't work out though, but United on the ball.

8'
First real chance.

Cancelo with the cross and Torres' header is pushed away by Ramsdale.

City come again and Sterling fires a shot in from 20 yards which is blocked by Ampadu.

12'
Intricate stuff from City around the edge of the area. De Bruyne with a lovely pass in behind for Sterling whose cut back is put behind by Egan.

The resulting corner goes low into the area and Laporte puts a good chance wide.

15'
Poor clearance from City and Lowe latches onto it and tries go around Walker, he does get a low cross into the area but City clear.

The visitors then have a promising counter ended with a brilliant Egan challenge on De Bruyne.

17'
De Bruyne with a dangerous low cross which is kicked up into the air by Stevens. Ramsdale comes out and punches clear and Berge clears.

19'
Long range strike from Rhodri which caused Ramsdale a problem as he pushed over. Resulting corner cleared by McBurnie.

23'
Save by Ramsdale.

Sterling with a one-two inside the area, from the by-line he finds Torres with a low cross and he connects to the ball but Ramsdale saves low down.

24'
City create another opening, a deep cross to the back post is controlled by Mahrez before firing over the bar.

25'
The rain is pounding down now at the Lane!

27'
Lay-off from Brewster allows Berge to drive into the area but his shot is blocked.

28'
Goal.

City move upfield, Sterling with a damaging run, De Bruyne's pass finds Walker and he drills a low shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

33'
City dominating the ball as you would expect here. United hanging in as Egan fells Torres, free-kick on the edge of the area.

34'
Very much in De Bruyne range this one...

The midfielder drills it low through the wall but Ramsdale is behind it and holds on.

35'
Good work down the left and Lowe's cross is deflected behind for a corner.

Berge delivers and it is behind off Walker for another corner...

36'
Osborn delivers dangerously but City head clear.

Baldock then makes a brilliant challenge to stop a counter.

37'
Wicked De Bruyne free-kick is deflected behind for a corner. The cross is whipped in, flicked on by Rodri, United half clear.

Mahrez comes again but his low cross comes back off Lowe and then the City man for a goal kick.

39'
Really good cross from Berge but it is just too high for Brewster who jumps well but can only get a glance on the cross.

41'
Another brilliant City counter was slightly held up by a brilliant Baldock challenge. They come again though and the cross to the back post gives Torres a chance but a wayward effort is blocked.

43'
United intercept and Berge plays a lovely ball to Baldock who drives into the box but the cross is too strong and City clear.

45'
Concerted effort of pressure from United towards the end of the half, just lacking a final pass.

13:17
One added minute.

13:18
Half time

Blades 0 - 1 Man City

Walker's low strike has City in front at the break.

13:34
United get the second-half underway!

47'
Early United free-kick but the delivery from Berge is disappointing and it sails behind for a goal kick.

49'
Sterling with a surging run which ends with a shot blocked by Basham just inside the area.

50'
Ampadu works it wide for Berge who whips in a cross but no-one there for United as the ball goes right through the six-yard area.

52'
Ball in behind for Torres, Ramsdale sprints out there to meet him but the striker is there first. He tries to lift it over the 'keeper but Ramsdale back inside his area claims.

55'
Chance!

Walker glides towards the by-line and keeps it in play, the cut back falls for De Bruyne who drills narrowly wide.

55'
First change for United as Osborn is replaced by John Lundstram.

57'
Stevens with a foul on De Bruyne 25 yards from goal.

City free-kick in De Bruyne range, but it is Mahrez who takes it instead and Ramsdale makes a excellent save low down.

58'
United clear the resulting corner and as City come again, Ampadu does well to win it back inside the area and clear.

61'
United threaten through some good play by Basham. He lays it Baldock who has Berge on the outside, the cross is deep and City smuggle it clear.

63'
Ampadu with a poor pass and City break but just as they look as though they are going to open United up, Basham gets back to make a crucial interception.

65'
Second change for United as Ampadu is replaced by Ollie Norwood.

66'
United unlucky!

Norwood low cross fell kindly for Berge who then delivered low and it deflects off Dias into the grateful grasp of Ederson.

70'
Wonderful play by Berge!

The midfielder looked to be going nowhere and he just glides past his man to the by-line, pulling the ball back for Lundstram who fires just over first time.

71'
Chance!

Not sure if he was onside but the ball is poked forward and Brewster is clean through - he tries to dink over Ederson but the big 'keeper stands up to block.

The flag did eventually go up for offside.

73'
City back on the front foot as Baldock blocks a cross.

City corner taken by De Bruyne, headed clear by Lowe.

74'
Sterling in behind at the angle, goes one way, then another, the ball is cut back, hits a United player and falls kindly for Ramsdale.

81'
Sub for Man City. Torres off and Phil Foden on.

81'
Lowe who did really just now to stop a City counter is coming off and David McGoldrick is on.

84'
Bernardo Silva runs from the right and cuts inside but the shot is straight at Ramsdale who holds on.

85'
Another change for City as Mahrez is replaced by Ilkay Gundogan.

85'
Straight ball over the top looks like it has United in trouble but Ramsdale clears with his head as Sterling closes in.

88'
City just trying to see this one out now United giving away free-kicks in their haste to get the ball back.

90'
Three added minutes.

14:22
Full time

Blades 0 - 1 Man City

Brave effort from United second-half but City take the points after Walker's long range first-half strike.

Blades 0-1 Man City - report