Goals from debut boy David Unsworth and Shefki Kuqi gave Town victory at Bramall Lane and extended the lead at the top of the table to five points.

Unsworth, who has joined on loan from Portsmouth until the end of the season, finished superbly after 20 minutes, following an exchange of passes with Shefki Kuqi.

It was the Finnish international who sealed the victory, scoring from six yards on the hour with the Blades appealing vehemently for offside.

Unsworth's former Everton team-mate Danny Cadamarteri caused early problems for the Town defence, escaping clear but Jason De Vos made the block with Andy Gray open if the Blades' striker had made the pass.

Gray did bring a save from Kelvin Davis a minute later with a low shot, then Phil Jagielka headed over the bar with 10 minutes on the clock.

From Town's first attack of menace, Joe Royle's side took the lead with Unsworth showing great composure to put his side ahead.

Darren Currie, playing against the club where his uncle Tony Currie was a hero in the 1970s, went close with a 25 yard free-kick, the ball just dipping over the bar, then Jim Magilton almost put Darren Bent in on goal with the Blades defence dithering before clearing for a corner.

Unsworth had Paddy Kenny scampering across goal with another long range free-kick and from another set-piece, United had a golden chance to equalise just before the break with Leigh Bromby heading wide at the far post from a Michael Tonge delivery.

Davis was immediately into the action in the second-half, palming away Gray's shot then Nick Montgomery sliced a left foot shot wide after Cadamarteri had set him up.

The impressive Tonge tested the Town No.1 again with a terrific strike from the angle as Neil Warnock's side started the second-half on top with the midfielder then showing his defensive abilities, sliding in on Kuqi to clear the danger after Magilton had sent the Finn clear.

Kuqi wasn't denied on the hour though, scoring from close range after Ian Westlake's shot had been deflected into his path six yards out with the Blades looking for offside.

Warnock and his team were clearly incensed that the flag stayed down and Tonge was booked for carrying on the protests as long as five minutes later.

Despite the Blades boss introducing all three substitutes in the closing stages and going for an all-out attack, they rarely troubled a Town defence well marshalled by the outstanding Jason De Vos.

A slight concern for Town was an injury to Bent, who limped off three minutes from time after taking a heavy challenge from Chris Morgan and was replaced by Dean Bowditch.

With Sunderland dropping points at Wolves on Friday and Wigan going down to a surprise defeat at home to Stoke, Town finish the day sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table.