Evans hits right note once again to ensure Blades remain ahead

The goal took Evans’s tally to 10 in eight matches when he scored from the spot after Sam Collins had fouled him.

The Blades had dropped down to third earlier in the day following Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Preston, but this win lifted United back above their city rivals.

Manager Danny Wilson said his team adapted well to difficult conditions on his return to the club he used to manage.

“It was a very tough encounter,” said Wilson. “From our point of view it was a terrific game and result.

“We had to adapt to the conditions and I thought we did that very well.”

While there were vehement appeals against the 79th-minute penalty from the home side, Wilson was in no doubt the right decision was made.

“There’s no doubt in my mind it was a penalty,” said Wilson.

“You can’t get a hold of someone in the penalty box like that without risking conceding a spot kick.

“We thought we had got one earlier when it looked like Harry Maguire had been fouled, but that wasn’t given.”

Wilson said he was pleased with his team’s creativity, but admitted it was tight defence which gained his side all three points.

“We’ve created some really good situations and so have they – but that’s the way it goes,” he added.

“In some games it’s really tight and what we needed was the result, which we got. We knew we’d have to defend well and that’s what we did.

“Players put their bodies on the line when they had to.”

The Blades dealt with an early aerial assault from the home side, while Evans was first to threaten at the other end when he fired over the crossbar after being set up by Kevin McDonald.

Hartlepool, having shaded what had been a stop-start first-half, came bursting out of the traps in the second with Neill Collins required to make a strong challenge on Anthony Sweeney.

As the game started to open up, Neil Austin flung himself in front of Stephen Quinn’s shot to prevent the Irishman from giving United the lead.

Evans drilled a powerful strike wide after Harry Maguire, Quinn and Lee Williamson had worked United into an encouraging position. Then, the tireless Richard Cresswell was only inches away from touching home Williamson’s centre.

Evans was overcome with joy in the 79th minute when he converted his 31st goal of the season from the penalty spot in front of United’s fans having been hauled down by Collins.

With five minutes remaining, Peter Hartley collected his second caution in comical fashion and Hartlepool were reduced to 10 men. Incensed by referee Carl Boyeson’s decision to award Michael O’Halloran a free-kick, he slammed the ball into the turf and was dismissed for dissent.

Sweeney wasted a wonderful chance to level in the 92nd minute though; blazing wide from Austin’s long throw.

Hartlepool United: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood, Sweeney, Murray (Boyd 81), Liddle, James (Brown 73), Noble, Monkhouse. Unused substitutes: Rafferty, Humphreys, Baldwin.

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Lowton, Collins, Maguire, Hill, Williamson, McDonald, Doyle, Quinn (Williams 90), Evans, Cresswell (O’Halloran 73). Unused substitutes: Howard, Hoskins, Beattie.

Referee: C Boyeson (E Yorkshire).