SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 (Lichaj 54og, Riise 74), LEEDS 0

Sheffield Utd: Simonsen, Nosworthy, Lowton, Mattock, Lowry, Doyle, Quinn, Montgomery (Riise 72), Bogdanovic (Yeates 90), Vokes, Evans (Cresswell 83). Subs: Yeates, Aksalu, Kozluk, Bent, Maguire.

Leeds: Schmeichel, Lichaj, O'Brien, Bromby, McCartney (Somma 75), Johnson, Bannan, Snodgrass (Watt 83), Howson, Gradel, Becchio (Paynter 67). Subs: Bruce, Naylor, Kilkenny, Higgs.

Referee: M Jones

Booked: O'Brien (Leeds)

Sent-off: Paynter (Leeds)

Att: 23,728 (3,600 Leeds)

Extended highlights plus match reaction...

United manager Simon Grayson made two changes to his side, Barry Bannan coming in for his full debut in place of Neil Kilkenny and Luciano Becchio returning in place of Billy Paynter.

Bramall Lane was the scene of one of the club's greatest triumphs in 1992 when the Football League title was all-but secured here, but since then the home of the Blades hasn't proved the happiest hunting ground for Leeds.

Sheffield United are languishing in the bottom three of the division, and their position was reflected by a less than full-house crowd at Bramall Lane, although Leeds were backed by a sell-out 3,600 fans.

Kasper Schmeichel was the first goalkeeper to be called into action when he saved a header from a free-kick inside the opening five minutes.

Barring one Elland Road encounter, following our relegation from the Premiership, recent games between the two sides tend to have been tight affairs with little in the way of entertainment, and this encounter started in similar vein.

United's first attempt on goal came shortly after the quarter-hour when Max Gradel curled a shot which Steve Simonsen was able to collect.

Moments later, Gradel came within a whisker of opening the scoring. Rob Snodgrass and Eric Lichaj combined well down the right, and Gradel headed the resulting pin-point cross wide of the mark.

The home side enjoyed the better in terms of possession during the opening half-hour, but it was a scrappy affair, littered with free-kicks.

Schmeichel came off his line to punch away one good delivery from the Blades while Nick Montgomery sent a volley so wide it went for a throw-in. Montgomery also had Schmeichel back-pedalling with an audacious attempt from distance.

At the other end, Gradel also tried his luck with a shot which well wide of the mark.

But the best chance of the half fell to Daniel Bogdanovic after great work down the right byChed Evansand a clever flick on. The former Barnsley man had time to pick his spot, but Schmeichel was quick to react to make a goal-saving block.

Leeds immediately responded by breaking quickly, and Snodgrass fired wide.

But it was Schmiechel who was called upon again to make another good save six minutes before the break when he tipped a Stephen Quinn shot around the post.

United's goalkeeper was in action again before the break when he turned away an Evans strike, and that proved to be the final chance of the half.

Grayson resisted from making any changes at the interval, but will have called for his side to sharpen up after a lacklustre opening period.

His players came out with more purpose at the start of the second period and after winning an early corner, Bannan sent a shot wide of the mark.

Bradley Johnson also headed over the top, following a Snodgrass free-kick.

But nine minutes after the re-start it was Sheffield United who got their noses in front. Montgomery whipped on a low cross, and Lichaj stabbed the ball over the line for an own goal.

The goal was a hammer blow because, given all the home side's possession, they hadn't looked confident in front of goal.

Leeds immediately came charging forward and there were appeals for a penalty for handball, but referee Mike Jones awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.

But it took some good defending from Leigh Bromby to snuff out a Sam Vokes raid, despite the former Leeds loan man appearing to be at least two yards offside.

The goal had lifted the atmosphere, but it also spurred on Leeds, and Bannan came close to snatching an equaliser with another good strike from distance.

With 23 minutes remaining, Grayson made his first change, Billy Paynter replacing Becchio in the front-line.

United were looking to get on the front foot now, and for the first time in the game, it was the hosts who were being asked to do some defending.

But United were still guilty of giving the ball away too much and after inviting pressure on one such occcasion, Bjorn Helge Riise was able to find the space to score from the tightest of angles to make it 2-0.

That looked like game over, and Leeds were facing an uphill struggle. With 10 minutes remaining, United almost got back into it, but some desperate defending denied both Gradel and Bromby after as corner wasn't cleared.

As the clock ticked down, Leeds looked to show a sense of urgency, but the home side were looking comfortable with men behind the ball.

And United's challenge was effectively ended on 89 minutes when Billy Paynter was shown a straight red card, following a goalmouth melee that involved players from both sides.

Even the five minutes of stoppage time offered little in the way of hope with the home side able to stride towards what could prove to be an important victory for them.