UNITED 2 (Howson 54, 66), CHELTENHAM 0
United: Ankergren, Hughes (Kilkenny 33), Naylor, Marques, Parker, Robinson, Douglas, Howson, Delph, Becchio (Grella 90), Snodgrass (Trundle 86). Subs: Lucas, Michalik.
Cheltenham: Scott P Brown, Westwood, Diallo, Townsend, Wright (Bird 66), Russell, Finnigan, Westlake, Bignall, Owusu, Antonio (Watkins 29). Subs: Puddy, Spencer, Hammond.
Referee: P Walton
Booked: Townsend
Att: 20,131
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United manager Simon Grayson re-shuffled his pack - Andrew Hughes returned at right-back, Jonathan Douglas was back from suspension, Fabian Delph was moved to the left side of midfield, Andy Robinson to the right, and Robert Snodgrass partnered Luciano Becchio up-front - and he was almost rewarded with a perfect start when Becchio narrowly failed to get on the end of a Jonny Howson pass.
Howson also forced Cheltenham goalkeeper Scott Brown into making a good save when he tried his luck from distance, and moments later the keeper came racing off his line to thwart Becchio.
United started in positive fashion, and Brown made another good block when he got down well on his line to deny Richard Naylor.
On 20 minutes, Delph had a shot blocked following some neat build-up play involving Robinson and Jonathan Douglas.
It was the woodwork which came to Cheltenham's rescue on 27 minutes when Douglas headed onto the bar following a Rui Marques header.
The opening 30 minutes were pretty much one-way traffic, and Brown was called upon again to save from Howson and Snodgrass.
United suffered a blow on 33 minutes, though, when Hughes limped out of the action. He was replaced by Neil Kilkenny with Douglas switching to right-back.
Michael Townsend and Brown were the Cheltenham heroes on 37 minutes, denying Kilkenny and Becchio. In-between, Robinson headed against the post after following up Kilkenny's shot.
The visitors had offered little, but Casper Ankergren was called into action when he spread himself well to deny Lloyd Owusu when Cheltenham threatened shortly before half-time.
On 42 minutes, Howson sent a shot across the face of goal as United looked to make the first half domination count, and Becchio was again denied by Brown when through on goal.
And on the stroke of half-time Robinson curled a free-kick wide after Delph was fouled on the edge of the box.
United also started the second half on the front foot and Kilkenny was denied after dwelling on the ball. Moments later, Delph came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock when he curled a shot inches wide of the mark.
But the goal finally came in the 54th minute when Howson, latching on to a Snodgrass cross, sent a glancing header past Brown to give United a deserved lead.
There was a scare on 62 minutes when Owusu thought he had levelled with a header following Cheltenham's first attack of the half - but the striker, who was in acres of space, was offside.
And it was United who scored a second goal in the 66th minute. Delph fed Howson, and the United youngster finished with a left foot strike.
Snodgrass came close to getting in on the act with 15 minutes remaining when he forced Brown into making a save from a free-kick.
Brown also saved from Kilkenny on 79 minutes when the Aussie got in a stooping header.
With four minutes remaining, Grayson made his second substitution, Lee Trundle replacing the hard-working Snodgrass for the final few moments.
The striker's first involvement was to send a header over the top, following a Douglas cross.
And that was the last real action as United went on to record a fourth successive home league victory.
