Montgomery's telling blow

Crewe Alexandra 0 Sheffield United 1

Nick Montgomery's goal six minutes from the end restored Sheffield United's promotion ambitions against the odds at Gresty Road, Neil Warnock's team ending a run of four consecutive defeats despite losing the defender Mike Whitlow to a red card inside the first half-hour and conceding a second-half penalty.

The visitors, beaten play-off finalists last season, seemed to draw inspiration from an eye-catching performance by Jonathan Forte, a 17-year-old striker given his full debut by Warnock in preference to more experienced players left on the bench.

The youngster went close to an early goal with a well struck shot that Clayton Ince pushed over the bar, and it was his brave challenge on the Crewe goalkeeper that played a key part in the decisive goal.

The home side should have had the upper hand, however, after the dismissal of Whitlow, already booked for a foul on Dean Ashton. The veteran defender was shown a straight red card by the referee, Kevin Friend, for cynically bringing down Craig Hignett when the on-loan Leicester attacker - back on the ground where he made his Crewe debut in 1988 - was poised to make a clear run on goal.

But despite being a man short, United were always in charge. Forte stretched Ince again just before the interval, and in the second half Steve Foster headed to safety over his own bar after Ince had palmed a deflected Forte shot skywards. Ince tipped over a fine effort by Andy Parkinson; Hignett headed off the line from Ward; and Ince produced a spectacular save to deny Michael Tonge from long range.

Ashton spurned the chance to give Crewe the lead, blasting his 69th-minute penalty high over the bar after Phil Jagielka had brought down Steve Jones.

It proved an expensive miss as United deservedly capitalised on the let-off. The substitute Peter Ndlovu fired in a cross from the right and after Forte bravely challenged Ince in the air, the ball flew out to Montgomery, whose header looped into the net in spite of two defenders on the Crewe goalline.

Crewe Alexandra (4-3-3): Ince; Wright, Moses (B Jones, h-t), Foster, Tonkin; Cochrane (Rox, 77), Sorvel (Lunt, 61), Vaughan; S Jones, Hignett, Ashton. Substitutes not used: Tomlinson (gk), Edwards.

Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Jagielka, Page, Whitlow, Kozluk; Parkinson (Ndlovu, 81), Montgomery, Robinson, Tonge; Ward, Forte (Shaw, 86). Substitutes not used: Allison, Peschisolido, Cryan.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).