Hendrie scored the opening goal of the night and clearly won over the Blades supporters with a hard working display in the centre of the park.

The former England midfielder has struggled to make an impact at Bramall Lane since arriving last summer and spent the latter part of last season on loan at Leicester City.

This was his first appearance for Blackwell who, ironically, is actively seeking a midfield player who can inject creativity and spark in the Blades midfield. Who knows, the solution to his problem may already be on the books?

Afterwards Blackwell said: "Lee's performance tonight means I have another first-team player in my squad. His career has gone backwards for a while, he has got to wake up to the fact that he's got a God-given talent but he's got to work harder and not abuse it."

Although League Two side Port Vale briefly drew level in the second half through Luke Rodgers, a stunning volley from Stephen Quinn and a late Danny Webber penalty ensured the Blades progressed to set-up an all Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town in the second round.

Blackwell had made it clear that the game offered an opportunity for fringe players to stake claims for a slice of regular first-team action hence a total of eight changes to a side that lost on the opening day of the season at Birmingham City.

Summer signing Matthew Spring made his debut, Hendrie made his first appearance in seven months, and David Cotterill, who was on loan last season, made his first appearance as a permanent employee of the club.

There were also recalls for Ian Bennett, Webber, Chris Armstrong, Derek Geary and Ugo Ehiogu.

Only Darius Henderson, Matt Kilgallon and Quinn stayed in the side from the weekend and, thanks to the change in the rules for this season's Carling Cup, there were seven substitutes including Nick Montgomery, back after injury, and youngsters Jordan Robertson and Kyle Naughton.

The Blades had enough chances to have wrapped the game up before half-time yet were only able to fashion a slender lead courtesy of Hendrie's goal after 41 minutes.

He curled the ball into the top corner from 25 yards after Spring laid the ball into his path.

Vale goalkeeper Joe Anyon saved from Henderson and Spring in the early stages and Henderson was unlucky when a close-range shot was blocked on the line by Chris Slater.

But Vale, under the guidance of former Farsley Celtic manager Lee Sinnott, got back on level terms soon after the interval when veteran Blades defender Ehiogo failed to deal with a low cross from Louis Dodds and substitute Rodgers pounced.

It was an unexpected lifeline as Blades goalkeeper Bennett had been mainly twiddling his thumbs until that stage.

With only 7,694 supporters in attendance and the Kop closed, the atmosphere was doing little to help the game.

After a nervy spell at the start of the second half, the Blades began to exert their superiority once again.

And it was midfielder Quinn, one of the few first-team regulars on view, who restored the lead with a cracking volley from the edge of the area.

Cotterill started the move with a far post cross, Henderson headed back into the danger area, and Vale's defence only succeeded in teeing the ball up nicely for Quinn.

Cotterill nearly made it 3-1 just moments later but his drive was tipped onto the crossbar by Anyon.

A sloppy back pass from Ehiogu could easily have let Ross Davidson in for a Vale equaliser but the Blades managed to escape.

Bennett also needed to be alert to tip over a shot from Barnsley striker Marc Richards as the clock ticked down.

Webber wrapped up United's victory from the penalty spot in the final minute after Cotterill had been tripped by Sam Stockley.


Sheffield United: Bennett; Geary, Ehiogu, Kilgallon, Armstrong; Cotterill, Spring, Hendrie (Naughton 85), Quinn; Henderson, Webber. Unused substitutes: Kenny, Morgan, Stead, Montgomery, Sharp, Robertson.

Port Vale: Anyon; Stockley, McCombe, Slater, Collins; Dodds (Richman 80), Davidson, Griffith, Taylor (Rodgers); Perry (Tudor 74), Richards. Unused substitutes: Prosser, Martin, Glover, Lawrie.

Referee: KA Friend (Leicestershire).