Sky Bet Championship 

Sheffield United 2 (Sharp 2, pen 73) Leeds United 1 (Lasogga 47)

A brace from former Leeds United striker Billy Sharp ensured new Whites head coach Paul Heckingbottom got off to a losing start.

Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O’Kane returned to the side following suspension, whilst Stuart Dallas came in for Gaetano Berardi who begun a two match ban, Caleb Ekuban also returned to the bench following injury.

Leeds playing in blue, wore black armbands, to remember former Whites midfielder Liam Miller who lost his battle with cancer on Friday.

Sheffield United took the lead inside two minutes, Mark Duffy’s cross fell to Sharp who fired home a fine volley.

The Blades could have made it two through Sharp, when a Lee Evans free-kick found him in the box, but he could only head over.

United’s first chance came through Ezgjan Alioski, but he could only fire wide from long distance.

Alioski then tried a speculative bicycle kick from the edge of the box, but his effort failed to really test Jamal Blackman.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga then went close for United, he fired a great effort from 25 yards, which went narrowly wide.

Sharp then did well on the left for the home side, before firing the ball across goal, but Leon Clarke couldn’t connect, before the ball fell to Mark Duffy on the edge of the box, but he fired wide.

Duffy again tried his luck from range,  this time forcing Felix Wiedwald into a good stop, with a low effort from 25 yards.

There was a controversial challenge in the 44th minute, when Alioski and Evans slid in together for the ball, Alioski came out worse off and Evans was shown a yellow card.

From the resulting free-kick, Pontus Jansson had the chance chance to equalise,  Pablo Hernandez delivered and Jansson provided adiving header, but Blackman made a great save to keep the Blades in front.

Half Time: Sheffield United 1-0 Leeds United 

After making the worst possible start to the first half, Leeds made the perfect start to the second, Pablo Hernandez did well to win possession on the left flank, before providing a fine cross and Lasogga’s brilliant header found the back of the net in front of the Whites travelling support.

Hernandez then had a chance to level when the ball fell to him in the box, but his attempt deflected narrowly wide.

From the resulting corner defender there was a goal mouth scramble, Matthew Pennington saw his show blocked by Jack O’Connell, before the home side cleared.

Mark Duffy then did well to cut inside, before firing from the edge of the box, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.

The hosts were then awarded a penalty in the 72^nd minute, following a well worked set-piece, O’Kane bought down John Fleck and Blades captain Sharp netted his second goal of the game from the spot.

Leon Clarke then had a chance to make the game safe for hosts, but he could only fire over when in a good position.

Hernandez then did well to weave into the penalty area, before firing an effort from a narrow angle, but he couldn’t find the target.

In stoppage time Laurens De Bock tried his luck from range, but his effort deflected wide of the post and the Blades held on, to ensure the Whites winless 2018 continues.

Full Time: Sheffield United 2-1 Leeds United

Sheff U: Blackman, Baldock, Stevens, Fleck, O’Connell, Basham, Clarke, Sharp (Holmes 90), Stearman, L Evans (Lundstram 88), Duffy (Leonard 77), Subs not used: Donaldson, Wilson, Lafferty, Eastwood

Leeds: Wiedwald, De Bock, Jansson, Pennington, Dallas, Forshaw, O’Kane (C), Phillips (Ekuban 77), Alioski (Sacko 75), Roofe (Hernandez 45), Lassoga Subs: Lonergan, Anita, Cibicki, Vieira

Referee: A Madley

Booked: Sharp, Evans, Fleck (Sheffield United) Forshaw, Roofe (Leeds United)

Venue: Bramall Lane

Attendance: 27,553 (2,236 Leeds)