Sheffield United 0 Huddersfield Town 3: Toppled Blades left stunned as Town hit them hard

The Blades suffered their first defeat of the season and were booed off the field for the first time since the appointment of former Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Wilson.

The Owls, meanwhile, lost 5-1 away at Stevenage – and the size of that result can only send shockwaves around Hillsborough.

At one stage, nothing but a good night had looked on the cards for Blades supporters.

It was only just gone 8pm when the electronic scoreboard at Bramall Lane flashed up news of a third Stevenage goal against Wednesday.

Yet those laughing at the misfortune of the Owls were soon to be silenced as the goals started to fly past Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen.

Ironically, many Town supporters boycotted last night’s game in protest at ticket prices.

Those who opted to save their £28.50 missed Town’s biggest win at Bramall Lane for 58 years.

However, it was still a long way short of Town’s record away victory against the Blades – that was 7-1 in the 1920s .

Town, unbeaten now in 33 league games, scored three times before the half-time whistle and could have had more.

The result left Wilson with plenty of food for thought. Town are just a point behind in the League One table which is now topped by Charlton on goal difference.

Lee Novak broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen failed to hold a shot from Danny Ward.

Simonsen, 32, has never truly won over the Blades supporters – and slips like that have been at the root of the problem.

Ward’s shot must have swerved at the last minute. If not, Simonsen was caught in two minds – palming the ball away from goal rather than opting to gather. Novak duly seized on the moment and slid the ball under his body.

The goal sparked chants of “Twenty eight quid and we’re having a laugh” from the Town fans.

Defender Marcus Williams made his debut for the Blades after arriving on a month’s loan from Reading. He replaced the suspended Lecsinel Jean-Francois at left-back and there were also changes in midfield with Lee Williamson and Ryan Flynn preferred to David McAllister and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.

Damien Johnson made his first start of the season for Town as one of four changes from the side which had beaten Tranmere Rovers last weekend.

Johnson, who has been recovering from cruciate knee surgery, was joined by Oscar Gobern and Scott Arfield in midfield with Novak returning in attack. Anton Robinson and Jordan Rhodes dropped to the bench but Tommy Miller and Donal McDermott were absent.

After looking so solid in the previous home game against Bury, Blades centre-back Neill Collins was far from comfortable dealing with Town’s Alan Lee.

Big and strong, though quick to hit the deck when a free-kick was an option, Lee won plenty of aerial balls.

Town’s midfield had an edge over the Blades for long spells and there was often danger on the counter attack. The Blades also looked vulnerable dealing with crosses into the box.

Striker Chris Porter nearly equalised but turned a low centre from Flynn inches wide.

Moments later Novak scored again to double Town’s advantage, meeting a cross from Arfield and volleying past Simonsen from close range.

It got even worse for the Blades when Oscar Gobern headed in a third for Town at a corner five minutes before the break.

Had it not been for a header off the line by Williams – which denied Novak a hat-trick – the halftime score at Bramall Lane would have mirrored that down in Stevenage.

The Blades were booed off the field and changes had to be made to try to put things right.

Striker Ched Evans and midfielder Kevin McDonald were sent on to replace Porter and Williamson.

Evans nearly scored with his first touch, forcing a save out of Ian Bennett from a 25-yard free-kick.

Things did improve for the Blades but Town no longer had a need to press because of the three-goal cushion. Defender Matt Lowton flashed a shot wide but the longer the game went on, the less likely was a Blades revival.

Town goalkeeper Ian Bennett, playing against his former club, made good saves to deny Evans twice and substitute Kevin McDonald.

Afterwards, Wilson denied reports that Blades had taken midfielder Mark Fotheringham on trial following his release by Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Williams; Quinn, Williamson (McDonald 45), Doyle, Flynn (Mendez-Laing 71); Porter (Evans 45), Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Long, Parrino.

Huddersfield Town: Bennett; Hunt McCombe, Kay, Woods; Arfield (Robinson 68), Johnson, Gobern, Ward; Lee, Novak (Rhodes 71). Unused substitutes: Roberts, Cooper, Colgan.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).