Shrewsbury Town 1 Sheffield United 2: Wilson’s Blades get back on track thanks to Doyle and Kitson

In fact it was the Blades’ first league win since Boxing Day and the three points took them up into fifth place and five points away from the top two.

Captain and central midfield man Michael Doyle opened the scoring from close range in the 63rd minute after the Shrews failed to deal with Jamie Murphy’s cross.

Nine minutes later, striker Dave Kitson, who was partnered by Jonathan Forte, made it two with a powerful 25-yard strike into the bottom corner which gave goalkeepr Chris Weale no chance.

Stephen McGinn grabbed a consolation when his 35-yard free-kick crept in after he had been fouled by Kitson.

The result left the Shrews looking over their shoulders, just four points clear of the drop zone.

Graham Turner’s side included David McAllister, who made 30 senior appearances for the Blades before completing a permanent transfer to Shropshire last month and who scored the only goal of the game when the sides met at Bramall Lane on the opening day of the season.

After Saturday’s welcome win, Blades chief Danny Wilson, whose side head to Bury tomorrow night, said: “We were strong and comfortable, in terms of how we got on the ball and we played very well at times in possession.

“We controlled large parts of the game. I never felt for one minute that we would concede a goal, apart from that one in the fashion we did.

“We always looked in control, we passed the ball well, we linked the ball well and the two strikers were a threat.”

Shrewsbury Town: Weale, Gayle, Jones, Mambo, Jacobson, Taylor (Summerfield 46), McGinn, McAllister, Richards, Doble (Bradshaw 63), Parry. Unused substitutes: Anyon, Purdie, Edwards, Goldson, Wildig. Booked: Gayle, Jones.

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Maguire, Collins, Higginbotham, Flynn, Doyle, McDonald, Murphy (Robson 75), Kitson (Ironside 90), Forte. Unused substitutes: Coyne, Westlake, Hill, McFadzean, De Girolamo.

Referee: M Heywood (Cheshire).

Man of the match: Kevin McDonald.