Nick Blackman's penalty was enough for Sheffield United to remain unbeaten in League One with victory over Walsall.

Blackman slotted home his spot-kick after Dave Kitson was fouled in the box by Dean Holden, who was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity.

George Long then produced a fine double stop to deny both Will Grigg and Jamie Paterson and maintain the Blades' lead.

Despite seeing much of the ball, United could not find a second, with sub Shaun Miller having a fine effort saved.

The Blades are now the only unbeaten side left in the Football League this season.

Despite their fine form earlier in the campaign, Walsall, who are without a win in six games in all competitions, drop to 15th in League One.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Blades manager Danny Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We got the goal from a penalty, which was a definite penalty, but I think the tempo of our game went after that.

"They went to 10 men and all of a sudden I think we thought we were going to coast it.

"They've got some very good players at Walsall, some very good young lads who know how to play. Full credit to them. They really stuck at it.

"We put a few balls in the box with no-one in the box, we overplayed a few times and were too slow at times but we ground it out."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Sheffield United

  • 25 Long
  • 05 Maguire
  • 06 Hill
  • 29 McMahon
  • 30 Williams
  • 07 Flynn
  • 08 Doyle
  • 11 McDonald
  • 16 McAllister (Cofie - 55' )
  • 10 Blackman (Miller - 68' )
  • 14 Kitson Booked (Porter - 80' )

Substitutes

  • 34 Willis
  • 02 Westlake
  • 15 Collins
  • 09 Porter
  • 12 Miller
  • 17 Cresswell
  • 19 Cofie

Walsall

  • 27 Darlow
  • 02 Taundry
  • 04 Butler
  • 05 Holden Dismissed
  • 26 Taylor
  • 06 Featherstone
  • 07 Chambers
  • 08 Cuvelier
  • 24 Baxendale (Downing - 15' )
  • 09 Grigg (Bowerman - 77' )
  • 10 Paterson (Hemmings - 65' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Grof
  • 14 Purkiss
  • 22 Downing
  • 11 Hemmings
  • 16 Jones
  • 12 Brandy
  • 17 Bowerman
Ref: Geoff Eltrigham
Att: 15,744

Match Stats

Shots

13 5

On target

6 2

Corners

6 2

Fouls

14 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:20 Full time

Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.

90:00 +3:23

John Cofie takes a short corner.

89:12

The referee blows for offside against Chris Porter. Direct free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

88:42

Shaun Miller challenges Richard Taundry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Karl Darlow restarts play with the free kick.

88:05

The offside flag is raised against George Bowerman. George Long restarts play with the free kick.

87:21

Tony McMahon delivers the ball, clearance made by Paul Downing. Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony McMahon on Adam Chambers. Karl Darlow restarts play with the free kick.

86:24

Shaun Miller takes a shot.

85:19

Tony McMahon crosses the ball, Andy Butler makes a clearance. Michael Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Chambers. Paul Downing takes the free kick.

83:06

Foul by Richard Taundry on Ryan Flynn, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Flynn from right wing.

82:52

Centre by Ryan Flynn, clearance by Paul Downing.

81:00

Corner taken by Ryan Flynn from the right by-line, Nicky Featherstone manages to make a clearance.

80:58

Kevin McDonald takes a shot. Paul Downing gets a block in.

75:43 Substitution

Substitution George Bowerman joins the action as a substitute, replacing Will Grigg.

75:43

Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick. Shaun Miller is caught offside.

75:13

Michael Doyle takes a shot. Dave Kitson challenges Karl Darlow unfairly and gives away a free kick.

78:53 Substitution

Substitution Chris Porter on for Dave Kitson.

78:53

Richard Taundry delivers the ball, Harry Maguire manages to make a clearance.

75:43

Karl Darlow takes the free kick. Blocked by Andy Butler.

75:43

Indirect free kick taken by Karl Darlow. Blocked by Andy Butler.

75:43 Substitution

Substitution (Walsall) makes a substitution, with George Bowerman coming on for Will Grigg.

75:43

Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick. The official flags Shaun Miller offside.

75:43 Booking

Booking The referee shows Dave Kitson a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

75:13

Michael Doyle takes a shot. Karl Darlow fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick.

73:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Chambers on Kevin McDonald. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

71:26

Foul by Florent Cuvelier on Marcus Williams, free kick awarded. Matthew Hill takes the free kick.

69:14

Shaun Miller takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow. Corner taken short by Ryan Flynn. A cross is delivered by Ryan Flynn, Unfair challenge on Karl Darlow by Harry Maguire results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

66:49 Substitution

Substitution Shaun Miller is brought on as a substitute for Nick Blackman.

66:49

Ryan Flynn takes a shot. Richard Taundry gets a block in. Ryan Flynn produces a cross.

64:01 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Hemmings joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jamie Paterson.

63:45

The ball is delivered by Ryan Flynn, Nicky Featherstone manages to make a clearance.

63:29

The ball is sent over by Marcus Williams, clearance by Adam Chambers.

62:08

Kevin McDonald sends in a cross, clearance made by Andy Butler. Ryan Flynn delivers the ball, Andy Butler manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Ryan Flynn from the right by-line, clearance by Andy Taylor.

60:57

Effort from the edge of the box by Marcus Williams goes wide of the left-hand upright.

59:27

Jamie Paterson takes a shot. Save by George Long. Kevin McDonald takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow.

58:10

The ball is delivered by Marcus Williams, Headed effort from inside the box by Nick Blackman misses to the right of the target.

56:38

The ball is sent over by Marcus Williams, clearance made by Nicky Featherstone.

55:25

Effort from the edge of the box by Florent Cuvelier goes wide of the left-hand upright.

54:24 Substitution

Substitution John Cofie on for David McAllister.

52:36

The ball is sent over by Ryan Flynn, Richard Taundry gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Flynn from the left by-line played to the near post, Florent Cuvelier makes a clearance. Tony McMahon produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

52:36

The ball is delivered by Ryan Flynn, blocked by Richard Taundry. Corner taken left-footed by Ryan Flynn from the left by-line to the near post, Florent Cuvelier makes a clearance. Tony McMahon produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.

51:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Florent Cuvelier by Nick Blackman. Richard Taundry restarts play with the free kick.

50:53

Shot by Tony McMahon from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

49:15

Jamie Paterson is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

47:45

Paul Downing fouled by Harry Maguire, the ref awards a free kick. Richard Taundry takes the direct free kick.

47:14

Unfair challenge on David McAllister by Adam Chambers results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

45:54

Handball decision goes against Dave Kitson. Karl Darlow takes the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +2:33 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +2:02

Nick Blackman delivers the ball, Dave Kitson concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Butler. Direct free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

44:29

Marcus Williams crosses the ball, Dave Kitson concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Butler. Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick.

42:28

Will Grigg delivers the ball, George Long makes a save.

41:57

Michael Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Florent Cuvelier. Direct free kick taken by Andy Taylor.

39:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin McDonald by Adam Chambers. Direct free kick taken by Ryan Flynn.

38:48

Dave Kitson has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

36:35

Florent Cuvelier produces a cross, Will Grigg takes a shot. Save by George Long. Nicky Featherstone takes a inswinging corner to the near post, save made by George Long. Nicky Featherstone takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Adam Chambers produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

36:17

The ball is delivered by Tony McMahon, Richard Taundry makes a clearance.

35:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Taylor by Dave Kitson. Nicky Featherstone takes the free kick.

34:20

The ball is swung over by Jamie Paterson.

33:46

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Chambers by Nick Blackman. Direct free kick taken by Andy Taylor.

33:14

Marcus Williams crosses the ball, Nicky Featherstone makes a clearance.

32:33

The offside flag is raised against Will Grigg. Matthew Hill takes the indirect free kick.

31:59

Will Grigg is penalised for a handball. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

31:26

The referee blows for offside. Karl Darlow takes the indirect free kick.

27:31

Corner taken by Ryan Flynn, clearance by Andy Butler. Shot from 30 yards by Tony McMahon. Karl Darlow makes a save.

27:19

Marcus Williams sends in a cross, blocked by Richard Taundry.

26:01

Ryan Flynn produces a cross.

22:25

Richard Taundry sends in a cross, clearance by Matthew Hill.

21:19

Dave Kitson takes a shot. Blocked by Nicky Featherstone. The ball is swung over by Ryan Flynn, clearance by Andy Butler.

20:16

The offside flag is raised against Nick Blackman. Karl Darlow takes the free kick.

17:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tony McMahon on Andy Taylor. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Andy Taylor from left wing, Kevin McDonald manages to make a clearance.

17:23

Harry Maguire challenges Will Grigg unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nicky Featherstone takes the direct free kick.

17:10

Will Grigg crosses the ball, Marcus Williams gets a block in.

14:23 Substitution

Substitution James Baxendale goes off and Paul Downing comes on.

13:24

The assist for the goal came from Dave Kitson.

13:24 Goal scored

Goal - Nick Blackman - Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Walsall Placed penalty scored by Nick Blackman. Sheff Utd 1-0 Walsall.

12:40 Dismissal

Dismissal Dean Holden shown a red card.

12:27

Foul by Dean Holden on Dave Kitson, Penalty awarded.

11:05

Ryan Flynn fouled by Nicky Featherstone, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Doyle takes the free kick.

10:17

Tony McMahon delivers the ball, Dean Holden makes a clearance.

6:39

Unfair challenge on Ryan Flynn by James Baxendale results in a free kick. Michael Doyle takes the direct free kick.

4:11

Marcus Williams sends in a cross, save made by Karl Darlow.

3:32

The ball is sent over by Marcus Williams.

1:32

Shot by Florent Cuvelier from outside the box goes over the target.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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