Neill Collins' first goal for Sheffield United saw off promotion rivals Huddersfield Town to move the Blades up to second in League One.

The former Wolves defender gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead, heading in unmarked inside the six-yard box.

Jordan Rhodes went close to levelling for the Terriers just before half-time when he struck the post with a volley.

Skipper Michael Doyle cleared Sean Morrison's goal-bound header off the line as the visitors held on.

The win moves the Blades above city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 1-0 at home to Stevenage.

It was only the third league defeat of the season for Lee Clark's Huddersfield, who stay fourth.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Blades manager Danny Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It was a fantastic game. We had some terrific football from both sides, we've had chances from both sides, we've seen some fantastic goalkeeping. And, thankfully, from our point of view, we've got the all important goal.

"It was one of those games where we could have won it, we could have lost it, we could have drawn it, but thankfully we've managed to see it through.

"We had some immense defending at times and we had to do. That ball was raining in our box from long throws and free kicks etc and you could have to put your body on the line."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Huddersfield Town

  • 01 Smithies
  • 03 Naysmith Booked
  • 06 McCombe
  • 15 Morrison
  • 32 Hunt
  • 07 Roberts (Cadamarteri - 64' )
  • 10 Gobern (Woods - 46' )
  • 11 Ward
  • 22 Robinson
  • 17 Rhodes
  • 19 Lee Booked (Novak - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Bennett
  • 02 Woods
  • 09 Cadamarteri
  • 21 Novak
  • 27 Higginbotham

Sheffield United

  • 01 Simonsen Booked
  • 02 Lowton
  • 03 Lescinel
  • 15 Collins
  • 19 Maguire Booked
  • 08 Doyle
  • 11 Flynn
  • 27 McDonald Booked
  • 28 Quinn
  • 09 Evans (Hoskins - 90' )
  • 17 Cresswell (Porter - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Long
  • 30 Williams
  • 04 Montgomery
  • 07 Hoskins
  • 21 Porter
Ref: Kevin Friend
Att: 17,320

Match Stats

Shots

4 5

On target

2 2

Corners

10 6

Fouls

10 7

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:07 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

89:21 Substitution

Substitution Will Hoskins comes on in place of Ched Evans.

87:38

Inswinging corner taken by Daniel Ward from the left by-line.

85:25

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Flynn.

85:25

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Daniel Ward from the left by-line.

84:38

Anton Robinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Lowton. Indirect free kick taken by Stephen Quinn.

80:51 Substitution

Substitution Richard Cresswell leaves the field to be replaced by Chris Porter.

78:45

Foul by Gary Naysmith on Richard Cresswell, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Matthew Lowton.

76:26

Corner taken by Daniel Ward played to the near post, Harry Maguire manages to make a clearance.

74:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anton Robinson on Ched Evans. Harry Maguire takes the direct free kick.

72:55 Substitution

Substitution Lee Novak replaces Alan Lee.

71:09

Ryan Flynn takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post.

70:19

Foul by Anton Robinson on Lecsinel Jean-Francois, free kick awarded. Ryan Flynn takes the indirect free kick.

66:14

Corner taken by Daniel Ward from the right by-line to the near post, Matthew Lowton makes a clearance.

65:11

Effort from outside the penalty box by Daniel Ward goes wide right of the goal.

63:12

Free kick taken by Harry Maguire.

63:12 Substitution

Substitution (Huddersfield) makes a substitution, with Danny Cadamarteri coming on for Gary Roberts.

63:12 Booking

Booking Gary Naysmith shown a yellow card.

63:07

Gary Naysmith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ched Evans.

62:29

Daniel Ward takes the indirect free kick.

62:29 Booking

Booking The referee books Harry Maguire for dissent.

62:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Harry Maguire on Alan Lee.

60:19

Lecsinel Jean-Francois challenges Alan Lee unfairly and gives away a free kick. Daniel Ward restarts play with the free kick.

57:46 Booking

Booking Alan Lee is shown a yellow card.

57:13

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kevin McDonald on Anton Robinson. Direct free kick taken by Jack Hunt.

56:26

Indirect free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.

56:26 Booking

Booking Steve Simonsen receives a yellow card.

55:28

Harry Maguire fouled by Alan Lee, the ref awards a free kick.

54:40

Corner taken by Daniel Ward played to the near post, clearance by Neill Collins.

52:37

Kevin McDonald is adjudged to have handled the ball. Jack Hunt restarts play with the free kick.

46:04

Unfair challenge on Ched Evans by Sean Morrison results in a free kick. Shot comes in from Kevin McDonald from the free kick.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Calum Woods is brought on as a substitute for Oscar Gobern.

45:00 +1:58 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

43:35

Corner taken right-footed by Ryan Flynn from the right by-line, Jamie McCombe makes a clearance.

41:32

Corner from right by-line taken by Daniel Ward.

39:46

Free kick taken by Jamie McCombe.

39:46 Booking

Booking Kevin McDonald is booked.

39:45

Unfair challenge on Jamie McCombe by Ched Evans results in a free kick.

39:16

Alan Lee takes a shot. Save made by Steve Simonsen.

38:43

The referee blows for offside against Ched Evans. Alex Smithies takes the indirect free kick.

36:46

Ryan Flynn takes a corner.

36:28

Richard Cresswell takes a shot. Save by Alex Smithies.

33:27

Unfair challenge on Alan Lee by Lecsinel Jean-Francois results in a free kick. Daniel Ward fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

29:37

Alan Lee gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Lowton. Free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.

28:39

Close range effort by Kevin McDonald goes wide of the right-hand upright.

23:39

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Roberts.

22:13

Corner taken left-footed by Gary Roberts, clearance made by Neill Collins.

21:27

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Roberts to the near post, Neill Collins makes a clearance.

19:19

Gary Roberts takes a corner.

17:54

Jordan Rhodes challenges Lecsinel Jean-Francois unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Simonsen takes the free kick.

16:18

Handball decision goes against Michael Doyle. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Anton Robinson, save made by Steve Simonsen.

15:03

Alan Lee is adjudged to have handled the ball. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.

14:10

Shot on goal by Stephen Quinn from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

12:07

Foul by Oscar Gobern on Michael Doyle, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Harry Maguire.

10:08

Daniel Ward fouled by Lecsinel Jean-Francois, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Ward restarts play with the free kick.

8:03

Harry Maguire concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Lee. Free kick taken by Gary Naysmith.

4:51

Assist by Harry Maguire.

4:51 Goal scored

Goal - Neill Collins - Huddersfld 0 - 1 Sheff Utd Neill Collins finds the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Huddersfield 0-1 Sheff Utd.

4:18

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Flynn from the left by-line,

3:44

Jack Hunt sends in a cross, save by Steve Simonsen.

2:03

Corner taken by Ryan Flynn from the right by-line, clearance made by Jamie McCombe.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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