Five goals, two red cards and an entertaining finish failed to mask United's disappointing performance at Scunthorpe United on Saturday.

More than 2,200 Blades fans made the short trip to Glanford Park to see two late goals from Danny Webber fail earn the Blades a share of the points.

Matt Sparrow netted a 90th minute winner after United fought their way back from 2-0 down against last season's League One winners, who deserved to maintain the 100 per cent home start in the Championship.

Manager Robson named the same eleven that beat West Brom, which included returning striker Sharp, who was afforded a tremendous welcome by the sell-out Glanford Park crowd. Funnily enough it was a former Blades player that had the first chance of the day but Hurst's shot on two minutes was comfortable for Kenny, dropping to his left.

Sharp attempted a volley on the turn on six minutes, following Beattie's flick on, but the effort failed to trouble Murphy, and moments later the former Scunthorpe striker did force the goalkeeper into a save after meeting Bromby's cross.

Playing in the new lime kit for the first time in the Championship, the Blades had not made the greatest of starts and appeared to be indebted to the match officials for keeping the scores level on 18 minutes. Montgomery was caught in possession as he attempted a back-pass to Kenny and after Paterson slid the ball home, the referee took his linesman's advice and indicated an offside decision.

Scunthorpe went close again moments later when Crosby glanced a header wide from a cross by Baraclough and Kenny conceded an unnecessary corner when he took his eyes off the ball when attempting to claim a high ball.

Murphy then kept out efforts from both of United's strikers within a minute. First, he held onto Beattie's free-kick on 35 minutes and then saved from Sharp following a good build-up which included Gillespie, Bromby, Armstrong and Geary.

The opening goal, however, arrived at the other end of Glanford Park on 37 minutes. A deep free-kick was whipped in diagonally from left to right and, after an initial aerial challenge, the ball dropped nicely for defender CROSBY to smash home a left-foot volley from inside the six-yard box.

United attempted to hit back with Montgomery drilling just over from 25 yards, but the home side created the last chance of the half but Beattie managed to clear Hurst's free-kick as Crosby looked for a second goal in injury-time.

Geary came out for the second half in determined fashion and made a couple of crunching challenges but generally United's standard didn't improve straight after the break and when Armstrong was caught in possession, Sparrow fired just over.

A flicked header from Hayes, following Hurst's cross, was just wide and then Paterson hit a curler just over after turning inside and out of Kilgallon.

Scunthorpe brought on another former Blade in Forte just after the hour and he made an immediate impact. Receiving the ball on the right, he released PATERSON, who had pulled away from Morgan, and he coolly slid the ball across Kenny and home.

Before the goal Robson had already planned to throw on Webber and he was involved on 65 minutes when Beattie laid off for Sharp to smash over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Hurst and Forte - products of United's Academy - combined on 68 minutes with the former supplying a pin-point cross for the latter to head over at the back post and then Kenny had to concede a corner as another delivery caused problems in the penalty area.

Beattie fired a half-volley over the stand - summing up United's day - whilst Sharp was replaced as Robson's double substitution was the last throw of the dice.

There was an instant return as United pulled a goal back on 79 minutes. A cross from the right was helped on by Beattie and WEBBER added the vital touch, despite Murphy getting his hands to the ball.

It gave United hope and with the next opportunity, the visitors drew level. Earlier in the move Scunthorpe were incensed that Morgan was not adjudged to have fouled Forte but play continued and a hopeful ball into the right channel saw WEBBER get the vital touch ahead of the goalkeeper.

That, however, was not the end of the drama.

Webber turned provider with a cross from the left but Beattie was under pressure from Youga and headed wide and then the record signing fired home but the whistle had already gone for offside.

Youga, the home side's man of the match, headed over a deep Hurst cross on 86 minutes before Geary's frustrations finally got the better of him and he was shown a straight red card - along with fellow Dubliner Byrne - for an off the ball incident on 89 minutes.

From the resulting free-kick, midway into United's half, Forte sent the ball across the goal-line and after numerous defenders failed to clear, SPARROW touched in at the back post, much to the delight of the home contingent.

A spell of added time saw United firing the ball into the Scunthorpe box but the Iron held on and the Blades slipped to a second consecutive away league defeat.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Crosby, Byrne, Sparrow, Goodwin, Hayes (Forte 61), Paterson (Taylor 66), Baraclough, Youga, Butler, Hurst.
Unused: Cork, McBreen, Lillis.

Blades: Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Beattie, Kilgallon, Montgomery, Tonge, Gillespie (Webber 62), Armstrong (Stead 76), Sharp (A. Quinn 76), Geary.
Subs: A. Quinn, Bennett, Lucketti.