Sheffield United 1 Carlisle United 0: Financially-troubled Blades kept on course as Evans strikes again

Blades top scorer Evans struck his seventh goal of the season on 21 minutes, firing into the roof of the net at the far post after Lee Williamson’s corner was headed on.

It helped ease the pain of the annual accounts which had revealed in midweek losses of over £13m for the past financial year.

Blades chief Danny Wilson, who had new signing James Beattie watching from the directors’ box, claimed: “It was a great three points. It’s always nice to keep a clean sheet and come away with the win.

“It was a hard-earned victory for us particularly in the latter stages when they had nothing to lose. We stood firm and fully deserved the result.”

Goalkeeper Adam Collin had already turned a shot from Williamson onto the upright before Evans struck.

Only Michalik’s perfectly-timed tackle prevented Evans from doubling both his tally and United’s lead soon after the opener following Stephen Quinn’s clipped pass.

Collin then saved Richard Cresswell’s poor 70th-minute penalty and the Blades almost paid the price as Lee Miller came within inches of grabbing an equaliser for the Cumbrians.

The spot-kick came after Ryan Flynn, who had come on in the 52nd minute after Williamson took a blow to the knee, and who had been sent clear by Michael Doyle, was fouled in the area by Christian Ribeiro.

The Cumbrians’ third league game without a win and their second without a goal leaves them 11th, six places and six points behind the Blades, who had Collins, Williamson and Quinn booked.

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Williams, Williamson (Flynn 52), Doyle, Montgomery, Quinn, Evans (Porter 82), Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Long, Jean-Francois, McAllister.

Carlisle United: Collin, Ribeiro, Livesey (Murphy 46), Michalik, Robson, Noble, Thirlwell (Zoko 62), Berrett, Miller, Loy (Curran 76), McGovern. Unused substitutes: Gillespie, Taiwo.

Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands).

Man of the match: Ched Evans.