Sheffield United eased past struggling Colchester to move back into the League One automatic promotion places.

Barry Robson slotted home his first goal for the Blades from the spot after he had been fouled by Josh Thompson.

The U's responded well and almost equalised when Freddie Sears' free-kick was deflected wide.

But Kevin McDonald's low drive doubled the hosts' lead in the 73rd minute, before Kitson pounced on away keeper Sam Walker's parry for their third.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"The scoreline will suggest that it was a great result, but I think we've had scorelines where it's not been quite as emphatic a win, but a better performance.

"We've just come off the back of three tough games where the boys have had to call on everything in terms of their determination and commitment to the cause and their fitness.

"It's difficult to come off the back of those games and perform to the standard they have again today."

Lineup, Bookings (6) & Substitutions (5)

Sheffield United

  • 25 Long
  • 04 Higginbotham
  • 05 Maguire
  • 15 Collins
  • 29 McMahon Booked
  • 07 Flynn (De Girolamo - 90' )
  • 08 Doyle
  • 11 McDonald
  • 19 Robson Booked (Poleon - 58' )
  • 14 Kitson
  • 23 Murphy

Substitutes

  • 35 Coyne
  • 02 Westlake
  • 06 Hill
  • 26 McFadzean
  • 22 Poleon
  • 24 Ironside
  • 36 De Girolamo

Colchester United

  • 44 Walker
  • 02 Wright (Bond - 86' )
  • 03 Garmston
  • 04 Okuonghae
  • 25 White
  • 40 Thompson Booked
  • 41 Clifford Booked
  • 39 Porter (Compton - 65' Booked )
  • 11 Sears Booked
  • 17 Ibehre
  • 21 Massey (Wright - 72' )

Substitutes

  • 29 Shaun Phillips
  • 18 Eastman
  • 14 Bond
  • 15 Bean
  • 30 Wright
  • 09 Morrison
  • 33 Compton
Ref: Webb
Att: 16,860

Match Stats

Shots

14 8

On target

9 3

Corners

7 4

Fouls

11 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:00 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:51

Diago De Girolamo takes a shot. Magnus Okuonghae gets a block in.

90:00 +4:15 Goal scored

Goal - Dave Kitson - Sheff Utd 3 - 0 Colchester Dave Kitson gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 3-0 Colchester.

90:00 +2:20

Shot comes in from Tony McMahon from the free kick.

90:00 +2:20 Substitution

Substitution (Sheff Utd) makes a substitution, with Diago De Girolamo coming on for Ryan Flynn.

90:00 +2:20 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Jack Compton for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:08

Jack Compton concedes a free kick for a foul on Tony McMahon.

90:00 +0:31

Foul by Dave Kitson on Billy Clifford, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Bradley Garmston.

87:15

Jabo Ibehre challenges Michael Doyle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.

85:22 Substitution

Substitution David Wright leaves the field to be replaced by Andy Bond.

83:56

Jack Compton takes the outswinging corner, Kevin McDonald manages to make a clearance.

83:43

A cross is delivered by John White, clearance made by Tony McMahon.

83:20

Dominic Poleon takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a comfortable save.

82:16

Danny Higginbotham takes a shot. Save by Sam Walker.

79:58

John White concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Higginbotham. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Ryan Flynn.

79:18

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

79:00

Dave Kitson takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a save.

76:32

Danny Higginbotham takes a shot. Blocked by Josh Thompson.

76:07

Ryan Flynn decides to take a short corner, Jamie Murphy crosses the ball, Jabo Ibehre makes a clearance.

74:43 Booking

Booking Caution for Billy Clifford.

74:43 Booking

Booking Billy Clifford receives a caution.

72:23 Goal scored

Goal - Kevin McDonald - Sheff Utd 2 - 0 Colchester Kevin McDonald fires in a goal from long range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 2-0 Colchester.

71:27 Substitution

Substitution Gavin Massey goes off and Drey Wright comes on.

70:34

Outswinging corner taken by Jack Compton from the right by-line, clearance by Neill Collins.

69:54

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Flynn by Freddie Sears. Direct free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

69:04

The ball is sent over by Jack Compton, Kevin McDonald manages to make a clearance.

67:34

Unfair challenge on Harry Maguire by Jabo Ibehre results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Harry Maguire.

66:11

Pass corner from left by-line taken by Ryan Flynn to short, Magnus Okuonghae manages to make a clearance.

66:01

The ball is crossed by Dave Kitson, blocked by David Wright.

63:53

Free kick taken by Bradley Garmston.

63:53 Substitution

Substitution Jack Compton comes on in place of George Porter.

63:53 Booking

Booking Tony McMahon is shown a yellow card.

63:39

Foul by Tony McMahon on George Porter, free kick awarded.

63:03 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Freddie Sears for unsporting behaviour.

58:56

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ryan Flynn, save made by Sam Walker.

58:32

Danny Higginbotham delivers the ball. Centre by Tony McMahon.

57:12 Substitution

Substitution Dominic Poleon replaces Barry Robson.

56:24

The ball is crossed by Tony McMahon, clearance made by Josh Thompson.

56:05

Unfair challenge on Kevin McDonald by Bradley Garmston results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin McDonald.

53:58

David Wright concedes a free kick for a foul on Dave Kitson. Free kick taken by Tony McMahon.

51:45

Foul by Dave Kitson on John White, free kick awarded. Sam Walker takes the direct free kick.

50:53

Effort on goal by George Porter from long range goes harmlessly over the bar.

50:09

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dave Kitson by Josh Thompson. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.

49:55

George Porter sends in a cross, clearance made by Harry Maguire.

48:56

The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Walker.

48:14

The ball is delivered by Ryan Flynn, blocked by Jabo Ibehre.

46:48

Harry Maguire fouled by Jabo Ibehre, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.

46:12

Freddie Sears crosses the ball, save made by George Long.

45:14

Billy Clifford fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Walker restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +2:02 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:35

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bradley Garmston by Tony McMahon. Direct free kick taken by Sam Walker.

45:00 +0:19

Shot from outside the box by Michael Doyle hits the post. Shot on goal by Barry Robson from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

43:28

The referee blows for offside. Sam Walker takes the indirect free kick.

41:16

George Porter crosses the ball.

39:13

Tony McMahon takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.

38:31

Dave Kitson fouled by Magnus Okuonghae, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Neill Collins.

38:04

Josh Thompson fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Walker restarts play with the free kick.

37:20

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson, clearance made by Jabo Ibehre.

36:26

Dave Kitson fouled by Magnus Okuonghae, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Doyle takes the direct free kick.

35:30

Foul by Bradley Garmston on Barry Robson, free kick awarded. Tony McMahon takes the direct free kick.

35:03

Kevin McDonald delivers the ball, Dave Kitson takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a save.

34:39

Danny Higginbotham produces a cross. Barry Robson crosses the ball, clearance by John White.

33:39

Jabo Ibehre takes a shot. George Long makes a comfortable save.

33:13

Jamie Murphy takes a shot. Sam Walker makes a save.

33:13

Jamie Murphy takes a shot. Save made by Sam Walker.

30:49

Magnus Okuonghae concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Murphy. Michael Doyle takes the direct free kick.

29:45

David Wright fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Josh Thompson.

28:56

George Long restarts play with the free kick.

28:56 Booking

Booking Booking for Josh Thompson for unsporting behaviour.

28:35

Danny Higginbotham fouled by Josh Thompson, the ref awards a free kick.

28:12

Outswinging corner taken by Freddie Sears from the right by-line, Michael Doyle makes a clearance.

27:53

Freddie Sears takes a shot. Save made by George Long.

25:52

Centre by Jamie Murphy.

24:25

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the left by-line, George Porter makes a clearance. Effort from 20 yards by Michael Doyle. Save by Sam Walker.

24:17

Danny Higginbotham sends in a cross, blocked by John White.

24:05

The ball is delivered by Jamie Murphy, John White gets a block in.

22:39

Sam Walker takes the free kick.

22:39 Booking

Booking Barry Robson receives a caution.

22:16

Barry Robson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on George Porter.

19:41

A cross is delivered by Bradley Garmston, clearance made by Danny Higginbotham.

18:53

Effort on goal by David Wright from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.

18:17

Foul by Kevin McDonald on Gavin Massey, free kick awarded. Billy Clifford takes the free kick.

16:56

Freddie Sears takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

16:24

Centre by George Porter, save by George Long.

15:38

George Porter delivers the ball, Close range headed effort by Josh Thompson goes wide of the left-hand post.

15:11

Corner from the left by-line taken by Freddie Sears, Barry Robson makes a clearance.

13:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Freddie Sears by Kevin McDonald. Freddie Sears has an effort direct from the free kick, Tony McMahon gets a block in.

13:43

Barry Robson produces a cross, clearance by Magnus Okuonghae.

12:35

A cross is delivered by Dave Kitson, blocked by John White.

11:58

Billy Clifford gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Barry Robson. Harry Maguire restarts play with the free kick.

11:28

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

11:28

Shot from just outside the penalty area by Freddie Sears misses to the left of the target.

10:44

Danny Higginbotham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on George Porter. Billy Clifford restarts play with the free kick.

7:56

Corner taken by Barry Robson, clearance by Billy Clifford.

6:32

Barry Robson crosses the ball, Magnus Okuonghae makes a clearance.

6:21

Centre by Danny Higginbotham, Josh Thompson makes a clearance.

4:39

The ball is sent over by Danny Higginbotham, save made by Sam Walker.

3:59 Goal scored

Goal - Barry Robson - Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Colchester Placed penalty scored by Barry Robson. Sheff Utd 1-0 Colchester.

2:38

The ball is delivered by Ryan Flynn, Barry Robson fouled by Josh Thompson, the ref awards a Penalty.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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