Shift in balance of power

Sheffield United 0 Barnsley 1

Although Danny Wilson and Howard Kendall both cautioned against reading too much into one skirmish in an extended campaign, Barnsley's late winner at Bramall Lane has significantly changed the balance of power in the First Division.

Wilson's already confident side will find their faith in their own abilities strengthened by the enterprising way they took on their big city neighbours. As he said, offered a 0-0 draw 10 minutes from time he would have politely declined.

To some extent, United were there for the taking. Kendall refused to use the absence of eight first-team regulars as an excuse - a similar line-up won at fellow promotion candidates Crystal Palace in midweek - but the timing of those absences was unfortunate. If United deserved something for their diligence, then Barnsley still merited a little more.

It was John Hendrie's take, turn and tuck past Alan Kelly that secured the points - "he stuck his big, fat arse into them," was Wilson's highly technical description of the manoeuvre - and his combination with his old Middlesbrough hunting partner, Paul Wilkinson, always carried more threat than Sheffield's equivalent.

Other key contributors were David Watson, who made three outstanding saves, and the imports recruited from Portugal earlier this season - the Trinidadian, Clinton Marcelle, and the Yugoslav, Jovo Bosancic.

United's own exotic signing, the Belorussian, Petr Kachuro, had two good chances to score but was twice denied by Watson. That effectively cost Sheffield a place or two. But there is a long way to go and, as Kachuro said: "In Minsk, we celebrate the new year much more."

Goal: Hendrie (85) 0-1.

Sheffield United (3-5-2): Kelly; Hodgson, Holdsworth, Parker; Beard, Patterson, Spackman, Hutchison, Scott (Simpson, 59); Walker, Kachuro. Substitutes not used: Hartfield, Tracey (gk).

Barnsley (3-4-1-2): Watson; Davis, Shirtliffe, De Zeeuw; Eaden, Bosancic, Redfearn (Jones, 19), Sheridan; Marcelle; Hendrie, Wilkinson. Substitutes not used: Liddell, Bullock.

Referee: E Lomas (Manchester).

Man of the match: Bosancic. Attendance: 24,384.