Sheff Utd 0-1 Sunderland

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The Blades won a competitive encounter

Ten-man Sunderland maintained their march up Division One as Kevin Kyle's second half winner condemned Sheffield United to their first home defeat of the season.

Mick McCarthy's improving side were good value for their third away victory, hitting the home side on the break in the first period and slowly taking control in the second.

And it all came despite the dismissal of the impressive Argentinian Julio Arca for two yellow card offences.

Sunderland striker Marcus Stewart also turned in an eye-catching display and it was his fine cross on 68 minutes that the diving Kyle headed home for the match-winner.

Following a whirlwind opening period there was no respite after the restart, with Phil Jagielka testing Sunderland keeper Mart Poom from distance.

Stewart also saw his shot from the edge of the area cleared off the line by Chris Armstrong as Sunderland took the game to United and it was not long before they were rewarded for their second-half enterprise.

Stewart made space enough out wide to whip in an inch-perfect cross and Kyle hurled himself to send a bullet header beyond Blades keeper Paul Gerrard.

Warnock played his final hand when replacing Ashley Ward with Wayne Allison.

And when Arca was given his marching orders for his second bookable offence with five minutes left, Blades fans sensed another comeback.

In a frenetic first half Peter Ndlovu almost celebrated his 400th league appearance by getting the Blades off to a flyer, the veteran winger's shot from the edge of the area turned smartly round the post by Poom.

Poom intercepted another dangerous cross from Tonge but Arca continued to threaten for the visitors, this time from further out, a 30-yarder well held by on-loan keeper Gerrard.

Stewart let fly from 25 yards but skewed it wide and Tonge's drilled effort was blocked by Gary Breen as both sides chased the all-important breakthrough.

Stuart McCall went close with a header, United's on-loan Fulham defender Jon Harley limped off and was replaced by Armstrong and Poom caught two goalbound efforts from Paul Peschisolido as the first half ended scoreless.

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Sheff Utd: Gerrard, Kozluk, Harley, Jagielka, Whitlow, Montgomery, McCall, Ndlovu, Tonge, Ward, Peschisolido. Subs: Armstrong, Lester, Allison, Rankine, Cryan.

Sunderland: Poom, Williams, McCartney, Breen, Whitley, Healy, Arca, Oster, Butler, Kyle, Stewart. Subs: Tommy Smith, Ingham, Proctor, Thornton, Bjorklund.

Referee: P Danson (Leicestershire).