Sheffield United 2 Plymouth 0

Warnock makes it eight wins in a row

This victory, made possible by two goals in just over half an hour, is an eighth off the reel for the Blades, who could scarcely have made a more compelling case for achieving automatic promotion, winning 10 of their first 11.

They have a seven-point lead this morning, although the table may look considerably less comfortable for them by the weekend. Reading, who play this evening, host Neil Warnock's side at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

For the moment, though, Warnock has a rosy perspective on his club's progress, even though he is still waiting to learn if he will be offered a new contract when his present deal expires at the end of this season. This is his seventh in charge at Bramall Lane and given that he has yet to fulfil his quest to take United into the Premiership it is not unreasonable to assume that he might not be given many more chances.

If this is to be his last throw of the dice, however, then he has started by rolling double-six.

Even before last night's match, United had recorded their best start to a season and after two goals in the first 31 minutes it was clear that their momentum is as strong as ever.

They were in front inside 10 minutes, albeit with a touch of good fortune. Romain Larrieu, the Plymouth goalkeeper, made a good save when Neil Shipperley rose to meet Paul Ifill's cross with a strong close-range header only for the ball to hit the veteran striker and rebound into the net.

Alan Quinn doubled the lead after 31 minutes. The former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder scored with a direct free-kick from 20 yards, the ball arrowing through a porous defensive wall to nestle in the bottom right-hand corner.

Yet Plymouth, clearly out to impress new manager Tony Pulis, never allowed Warnock's team to look comfortable. Before half-time, United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was almost embarrassed when a speculative shot from Paul Wotton hit a post, then had to make a decent save to deny Nick Chadwick as Plymouth demonstrated potency going forward.

Soon after the break, Kenny denied Chadwick before a goalline clearance by Nick Montgomery foiled a Micky Evans header. United responded and it took a double save by Larrieu from Steve Kabba, followed by a goal-preventing block by Tony Capaldi from Shipperley, to keep Plymouth in touch.

Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Kozluk, Bromby, Morgan, Unsworth; Ifill (Gillespie, 69), Montgomery, Jagielka, Quinn; Shipperley (Pericard, 64), Kabba (Webber, 78). Substitutes not used: Tonge, Geary.

Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): Larrieu; Barness, Doumbe, Aljofree, Brevett (Djordjic, 57) ; Gudjonsson (Buzsaky, 57), Wotton, Norris, Capaldi ; Evans, Chadwick (Taylor, 57). Substitutes not used: West, McCormick (gk).

Referee: G Laws (Tyne and Wear).