The Blades needed just ten men to keep the feint play-off hopes alive and put a dent in Hull's own promotion aspirations.

Having Chris Morgan controversially sent off in first half injury-time appeared to inspire the Blades, who were by far the better team in the second half.

A tremendous volley from Stephen Quinn set the ball rolling and James Beattie added his 22nd goal of the season from the penalty spot after Billy Sharp was hauled down.

Manager Blackwell was forced into one pre-match change. With Geary suffering from a groin injury, Halls was drafted in to the right-back berth. There was also one alteration for Hull with Livermore replacing Brown.

Possession swapped hands often in a high-tempo start and the first opportunity fell to the visitors but Campbell, under pressure from both Morgan and Kilgallon, saw his deflected shot fall kindly for Kenny.

United's first chance was the result of Speed and Quinn having a hand in breaking up a Hull move. Tonge was allowed to run 50 yards and, with very few options, let fly with a 20-yard effort which was a yard over the crossbar.

Beattie turned the ball over the crossbar following a neat corner move between Tonge and Quinn, whilst before the opening half hour was completed, two of the four central defenders on show - Livermore and Morgan - had been booked.

The chances slowed midway through the half, but Marney volleyed over after a Ricketts cross had caused problems and Sharp mistimed a header from Cotterill's delivery from the right.

Two minutes of injury-time was indicated before the half-time break and that's when the controversy began. Referee Dowd looked to have given Hull the option of advantage, despite Morgan impeding Campbell, but when the chance was lost, the whistle was blown.

After the Hull players, including Fagan, who had already been booked for speaking out of turn, had had their say, Mr Dowd consulted with one of his assistants, awarded the visitors a free-kick and then showed Morgan a second yellow card. United's skipper was clearly unhappy with the decision but the home side kept out the resulting free-kick and the half-time whistle, seconds later, was greeted with booing, aimed at the officials.

United's ten men to start the second half included Ehiogu, who had replaced Cotterill, as Blackwell was forced in to restoring a back four. The Blades made a blistering start to the second half and just three minutes had elapsed when Tonge got the better of Livermore and teased in a fine cross for Sharp to head towards goal but Myhill made a fine reflex save.

United also won the second period's first corner, whilst as a result of going down to ten men, Quinn was brought in to a more central role and the tactical switch paid off after 51 minutes.

Halls was given space to deliver a diagonal ball from the right and after Beattie headed down, QUINN adjusted his body and powered in a controlled volley beyond the despairing dive of Myhill. The Irishman was booked for whipping off his shirt in celebration but didn't look overly worried!

Hull threw on Windass and Ehiogu took the sting out of a Marney shot, which eventually rolled into the grateful arms of Kenny. Ashbee then headed wide a Marney corner, before United added a second.

From Beattie's flick on, Sharp got in ahead of Livermore and was then fouled by the defender in the penalty area. A spot-kick awarded but how Livermore, who was already on a yellow card, stayed on the pitch was a mystery.

Hull, however, paid the penalty when BEATTIE smashed past Myhill from 12 yards. A chorus of "We've only got ten men" rang around Bramall Lane and the Tigers supporters had no answer.

Despite Marney curling an effort wide in a good, central, position and Hughes' shot being deflected away from goal, the penalty appeared to take the wind out of Hull's sails.

Late on a long-range Windass free-kick was pushed around the post by former room-mate Kenny, whilst four minutes of injury-time saw Hull mainly on the attack but the best they could muster was a curling Hughes effort, which was well off target.

Blades: Kenny, Naysmith, Morgan, Beattie, Cotterill (Ehiogu 45), Speed, Kilgallon, Tonge, Halls, Sharp (Hulse 76), Quinn
Unused: Stead, Gillespie, Martin.

Hull: Myhill, Dawson (Windass 63), Ashbee, Turner, Hughes, Folan, Ricketts, Marney, Fagan (Pedersen 55), Livermore (France 74), Campbell.
Unused: Walton, Duke.