Jamie Murphy's first-half goal sent Sheffield United to the top of League One as Bournemouth slipped to sixth.

Murphy struck from close range after his initial effort hit the post as manager Eddie Howe suffered a first home league defeat since his return.

Barry Robson hit the bar for the Blades while Harry Arter saw his shot cleared off the line for Bournemouth.

United's Dave Kitson scuffed wide, while Harry Maguire's sliced clearance was tipped over by keeper George Long.

The result gave the Blades a one-point lead at the top over Swindon, Tranmere and Doncaster, who are only separated by goal difference, with both Yeovil and Bournemouth a point further back.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe told BBC Radio Solent:

"We huffed and we puffed and we kept the ball really well but we never hurt them enough and never asked enough questions.

"Our match winners didn't perform and I think we need our flair players to dig us out of a hole sometimes and there was nothing in the game in terms of chances for them.

"We knew we were in a really difficult spell of games. We are always disappointed to lose and that's consecutive defeats which will hurt everybody badly but we really need to bounce back on Tuesday."

Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"Our team's performance was excellent. We had to have the physicality today, we had to defend properly.

"But what pleased me more than anything was how we thought out our game-plan, there was some intelligent pressing all the way through.

"They didn't get through us virtually all afternoon. to come here and have that type of performance was terrific.

"Yes, we had to defend and yes, they had some possession, but it was all around the half-way line."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Bournemouth

  • 01 Jalal
  • 02 Francis
  • 03 Cook
  • 05 Seaborne
  • 15 Painter (McQuoid - 46' )
  • 07 Pugh
  • 08 Arter Booked
  • 30 Ritchie
  • 32 O'Kane
  • 22 Grabban Booked (Tubbs - 73' )
  • 40 Pitman (Fraser - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Allsop
  • 12 Fogden
  • 16 MacDonald
  • 17 McQuoid
  • 20 Fraser
  • 26 Hughes
  • 18 Tubbs

Sheffield United

  • 25 Long
  • 04 Higginbotham
  • 05 Maguire
  • 15 Collins
  • 29 McMahon
  • 07 Flynn
  • 08 Doyle Booked
  • 11 McDonald
  • 19 Robson Booked (Poleon - 84' )
  • 14 Kitson
  • 23 Murphy

Substitutes

  • 35 Coyne
  • 02 Westlake
  • 06 Hill
  • 26 McFadzean
  • 22 Poleon
  • 24 Ironside
  • 36 De Girolamo
Ref: Sutton
Att: 8,497

Match Stats

Shots

4 6

On target

2 2

Corners

7 5

Fouls

13 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:34 Full time

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

90:00 +4:22

Matt Ritchie produces a cross, clearance made by Michael Doyle.

90:00 +4:10

The ball is swung over by Marc Pugh, Neill Collins makes a clearance.

90:00 +2:59

Dave Kitson fouled by Harry Arter, the ref awards a free kick. George Long takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:40

Unfair challenge on Eunan O'Kane by Dominic Poleon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.

90:00 +1:11

Harry Arter produces a cross, save made by George Long.

90:00 +0:26

Handball by Dave Kitson. Shwan Jalal takes the direct free kick.

89:48

Harry Arter delivers the ball, blocked by Tony McMahon.

89:40

The ball is delivered by Eunan O'Kane, Harry Maguire makes a clearance.

89:26

The ball is swung over by Marc Pugh.

89:08

Kevin McDonald concedes a free kick for a foul on Matt Tubbs. Eunan O'Kane restarts play with the free kick.

86:45

Dave Kitson fouled by Daniel Seaborne, the ref awards a free kick. Tony McMahon crosses the ball in from the free kick, Steve Cook manages to make a clearance. Harry Maguire produces a cross, Steve Cook manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Ryan Flynn, clearance by Daniel Seaborne.

85:12

Neill Collins is penalised for a handball. Matt Ritchie crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Harry Maguire manages to make a clearance. Shot from just outside the box by Ryan Fraser misses to the left of the goal.

84:29

Unfair challenge on Steve Cook by Dominic Poleon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Steve Cook.

83:06

Free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.

83:06 Substitution

Substitution Dominic Poleon joins the action as a substitute, replacing Barry Robson.

83:06

Unfair challenge on Matt Ritchie by Dave Kitson results in a free kick.

79:54

Tony McMahon produces a cross. Ryan Flynn is ruled offside. Shwan Jalal restarts play with the free kick.

79:25

Steve Cook gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dave Kitson. Free kick taken by Neill Collins.

79:13

Centre by Harry Arter, clearance by Harry Maguire.

78:19

Centre by Matt Ritchie, Harry Maguire makes a clearance. Corner taken by Matt Ritchie, Dave Kitson makes a clearance.

75:18

The ball is swung over by Eunan O'Kane, save made by George Long.

74:36

The ball is swung over by Barry Robson, clearance by Steve Cook.

73:31

Jamie Murphy produces a cross. Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the left by-line, clearance made by Josh McQuoid.

72:11 Substitution

Substitution Lewis Grabban leaves the field to be replaced by Matt Tubbs.

70:32 Booking

Booking Michael Doyle goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

69:35

Neill Collins takes the free kick.

69:35 Booking

Booking Booking for Harry Arter for unsporting behaviour.

69:28

Dave Kitson fouled by Harry Arter, the ref awards a free kick.

67:52

Shwan Jalal takes the free kick.

67:52 Booking

Booking Booking for Barry Robson.

67:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Harry Arter by Barry Robson.

66:54 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Fraser on for Brett Pitman.

66:54

The ball is delivered by Tony McMahon, Lewis Grabban gets a block in.

66:38

Jamie Murphy fouled by Matt Ritchie, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin McDonald takes the free kick.

65:23

A cross is delivered by Marc Pugh, Danny Higginbotham manages to make a clearance.

64:27

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Flynn by Josh McQuoid. Free kick taken by Danny Higginbotham.

61:01

A cross is delivered by Eunan O'Kane, blocked by Neill Collins. Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Matt Ritchie, clearance made by Michael Doyle. Marc Pugh concedes a free kick for a foul on Barry Robson. George Long restarts play with the free kick.

59:59

The ball is sent over by Simon Francis.

59:37

Kevin McDonald takes a shot.

57:58

The ball is swung over by Ryan Flynn, save made by Shwan Jalal.

51:59

The ball is sent over by Marc Pugh, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance. Corner from left by-line taken by Brett Pitman.

48:59

Eunan O'Kane fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Steve Cook.

48:21

Harry Arter challenges Barry Robson unfairly and gives away a free kick. George Long restarts play with the free kick.

47:36

Brett Pitman sends in a cross, Neill Collins makes a clearance. Corner taken by Brett Pitman played to the near post, Kevin McDonald manages to make a clearance.

47:36

The ball is sent over by Brett Pitman, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by Brett Pitman to the near post, Jamie Murphy manages to make a clearance.

46:51

Dave Kitson concedes a free kick for a foul on Simon Francis. Direct free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Marcos Painter goes off and Josh McQuoid comes on.

45:00 +2:22 Half time

Half Time The half-time whistle blows.

45:00 +1:32

Centre by Harry Arter.

43:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steve Cook by Barry Robson. Simon Francis takes the direct free kick.

42:35

A cross is delivered by Matt Ritchie, Ryan Flynn gets a block in.

41:28

The ball is sent over by Simon Francis, Harry Maguire makes a clearance.

40:14

The ball is crossed by Danny Higginbotham, Steve Cook manages to make a clearance.

39:49

Tony McMahon produces a cross.

38:10

Outswinging corner taken by Brett Pitman, clearance made by Neill Collins.

37:49

A cross is delivered by Harry Arter, Danny Higginbotham manages to make a clearance.

35:44

The official flags Ryan Flynn offside. Simon Francis takes the indirect free kick.

33:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Daniel Seaborne by Barry Robson. Daniel Seaborne restarts play with the free kick.

32:30

Dave Kitson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Simon Francis. Steve Cook restarts play with the free kick.

30:28

Marc Pugh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tony McMahon. George Long takes the free kick.

27:53

The offside flag is raised against Barry Robson. Indirect free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.

26:45

Marc Pugh produces a cross, clearance made by Ryan Flynn.

26:40

Simon Francis crosses the ball, clearance made by Tony McMahon.

25:31

Matt Ritchie produces a cross.

25:15

Lewis Grabban crosses the ball, Neill Collins gets a block in.

23:51

Lewis Grabban challenges Tony McMahon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by George Long.

23:07

Effort from just outside the area by Tony McMahon goes over the target.

19:12 Goal scored

Goal - Jamie Murphy - Bournem'th 0 - 1 Sheff Utd Jamie Murphy scores a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Bournemouth 0-1 Sheff Utd.

18:48

Shot by Jamie Murphy from deep inside the penalty area hits the post.

18:18

Free kick taken by Neill Collins.

18:18 Booking

Booking Lewis Grabban receives a caution.

18:08

Foul by Lewis Grabban on Dave Kitson, free kick awarded.

17:12

Jamie Murphy crosses the ball.

16:22

Matt Ritchie takes a shot. Save made by George Long.

15:10

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Barry Robson, Danny Higginbotham takes a shot. Save by Shwan Jalal.

14:08

Unfair challenge on Michael Doyle by Harry Arter results in a free kick. Neill Collins takes the free kick.

11:08

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Robson from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Brett Pitman.

10:19

Inswinging corner taken by Barry Robson, clearance by Marcos Painter.

10:11

Michael Doyle sends in a cross.

8:35

Daniel Seaborne fouled by Dave Kitson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Shwan Jalal.

7:58

Ryan Flynn delivers the ball, Daniel Seaborne manages to make a clearance.

5:46

Harry Arter takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Doyle.

5:15

Corner taken left-footed by Matt Ritchie.

4:16

Marcos Painter concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Murphy. Michael Doyle takes the direct free kick. Lewis Grabban takes a shot. George Long makes a comfortable save. Marc Pugh decides to take a short corner.

3:24

The referee blows for offside against Brett Pitman. Harry Maguire takes the free kick.

2:45

Barry Robson has an effort at goal.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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