United ruined the recent unbeaten run after conceding three goals in the opening 20 minutes of Tuesday's home fixture with Stoke.

Bryan Robson's team looked impotent in reply to Stoke's early onslaught, despite two superb performances on the road prior to this fixture.

Richard Cresswell got the ball rolling with a goal after two minutes and then an own goal by James Beattie and close range effort from Ryan Shawcross gave Stoke a cushion they were determined not to surrender.

In the build up to the fixture it was reported that Kilgallon and Montgomery were doubts but both were on the teamsheet as Robson named an unchanged side for the third successive game. The personnel selected suggested a 4-5-1 formation once again, indicating that Beattie was
likely to battle alone in attack.

Stoke obviously won the toss and forced United to kick towards the Kop in the first half... but that was just the start of the home side's problems.

Just over 90 seconds had elapsed when Stoke netted with their first attack of the night. It was only a couple of weeks ago that the Blades repelled Potters for an entire 90 minutes but on this occasion, Naysmith slipped attempting to cut out a diagonal ball from Shawcross and Lawrence centred for an unmarked CRESSWELL to slot home a cross two yards.

Just a further five minutes had gone when Stoke doubled their tally and again United did not help themselves. Bardsley conceded a free-kick and Lawrence's inswinger took at least two deflections, including the final one off BEATTIE, which trickled into the corner of the net with Kenny rooted to his spot.

United's first chance, on 14 minutes, was a result of Beattie's challenge on Cort from a Bardsley cross, the ball dropped for Armstrong but he could not maintain his goalscoring form with a shot from the edge of the box.

Stoke's travelling fans, despite not turning out in massive numbers, were enjoying the night and they couldn't believe their luck when the visitors added a third in front of them on 19 minutes. Following Kilgallon's foul, Lawrence delivered from the right, Cort won the initial header and the ball struck the legs of SHAWCROSS before nestling in the corner of the net. There was a suspicion of offside but the officials saw no infringement.

Stoke were 3-0 up and it was the 21st minute before we saw the first long throw of Delap and it almost brought a fourth with Sidibe winning the header.

United began to show signs of a revival after 22 minutes when Simonsen needed two attempts to gather Beattie's effort from Bardsley's cross, whilst Robson reacted to the scoreline by introducing Stead and withdrawing Montgomery.

Stoke threatened to add a fourth on the break just before the half hour mark but Fuller's header from Lawrence's cross was over and then United hit back with Stead and Carney doing well to keep the ball in on the left but Shawcross cleared before Beattie had the time to react.

Stoke were, understandably, slowing the game down but were not content just to sit back, it was only a block from Naysmith that prevented Sidibe from firing a shot in at Kenny. The visiting side's stalling tactics resulted in three minutes of added time at the end of the first half but the only notable action was Pugh's foul on Gillespie. The defender had already been cautioned and as the Blades fans called for a sending off, referee Tanner elected to give a lengthy lecture.

Robson resisted the urge to make further changes at the break and his side won two corners in the first three minutes of the half but were unable to reduce the deficit. A change did arrive on 55 minutes and with Naysmith being replaced, it brought a reshuffle, whilst Beattie was handed the captain's armband.

Another United corner, on 59 minutes, caused Stoke problems. Armstrong won the first header and after Gillespie crossed for a second time, Beattie rose highest but could only head at Simonsen.

Twice in the space of a minute both goalkeepers were called upon to make saves. Fuller beat three defenders and forced Kenny to push out a shot on 70 minutes and then after a quick break, and good work by Quinn, Tonge's shot cannoned against Simonsen's legs.

The Stoke goalkeeper, however, was not overly troubled as the visiting defence and midfield were on top. In fact, Kenny was the busier of the two stoppers in the second half and he held on to Lawrence's free-kick and pushed away Sidibe's header on 77 minutes.

Shawcross won a couple of headers as United launched a couple of crosses and Tonge continued working to the end, but his late effort from an acute angle was over Simonsen's crossbar.

The officials indicated two minutes of injury-time and many Blades fans had already left the stadium when Simonsen dropped to his right to keep out an attempt from the edge of the box by Quinn.

Blades: Kenny, Naysmith (S. Quinn 55), Bardsley (Sharp 79), Beattie, Carney, Kilgallon, Montgomery (Stead 23), Tonge, Gillespie, Armstrong, Cahill.
Unused: Lucketti, Gerrard.

Stoke: Simonsen, Eustace, Cort, Lawrence, Cresswell, Fuller, Sidibe (Parkin 88), Pugh, Shawcross, Delap (Dickinson 90), Wilkinson (Zakuani 52).
Unused: Pericard, Hoult.