Beattie brace sinks Tykes

Beattie: At the double

Related links

Teams

• Barnsley
• Sheffield United

Also see

• Championship fixtures
• Championship table
• Championship stats

James Beattie struck a brace as Sheffield United downed Barnsley 2-1 in a fiery Yorkshire derby at Oakwell.

Striker Beattie netted in both halves to clinch the success after Ugo Ehiogu and Anderson De Silva were sent off for a clash in the first half.

The Blades sit in an encouraging fourth position in the Championship table, while Barnsley lie three points above the relegation places.

The victory stretched United's unbeaten run in the league to five matches and halted Barnsley's mini-revival, while Tykes manager Simon Davey finished up in the stands following words with Andy D'Urso over the referee's handling of the penalty decision.

New loan signing from Preston Simon Whaley went straight into Barnsley's starting line-up for the injured Jon Macken (hamstring) and Bobby Hassell stepped up for suspended captain Stephen Foster.

Brian Howard, on loan from Sheffield United with a view to a permanent move in January, was ineligible, while the Blades were unchanged from the side that beat Plymouth last week.

Chance

Barnsley were first to threaten after eight minutes of sparring when Martin Devaney warmed United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny's hands at the end of a flowing move.

Hassell's last-ditch header at the far post snuffed out the visitors' first chance before Kevin Blackwell's side broke the deadlock in the 20th minute.

Webber turned Dennis Souza inside out on the right side of the penalty area and crossed for Beattie to stab the ball home at the far post.

Beattie almost made it 2-0 moments later, but his left-footed drive was turned away by Tykes goalkeeper Heinz Muller.

Devaney headed inches wide at the other end following Moore's long throw-in.

Ehiogu and De Silva were given their marching orders after a spiteful exchange ended with both players leaning in headfirst.

Barnsley went close to equalising through two rasping shots from Hugo Colace, but the visitors held on until the interval.

Rob Kozluk was denied an equaliser for Barnsley soon after the restart after a neat one-two with substitute Miguel Mostto, but the on-rushing Kenny smothered his shot.

Kenny comfortably collected Devaney's header as Barnsley probed for an opening and home appeals for a penalty after Moore went down under Chris Morgan's 63rd-minute challenge were waved away by referee D'Urso.

Jamal Campbell-Ryce blazed over the crossbar for the hosts and then with little over 20 minutes left Tykes manager Simon Davey sent on big striker Kayode Odejayi for full-back Hassell.

Spot-kick

Whaley let fly from 35 yards and was inches wide and Spring rifled over for the Blades as the game ebbed and flowed.

United midfielder Stephen Quinn tripped when poised to seal the points six yards from goal.

Moments later Barnsley defender Kozluk appeared to use his arm in the area and while referee D'Urso failed to spot it, he belatedly consulted his assistant and awarded the visitors a penalty.

Furious Tykes boss Davey was then sent to the stands, as Beattie dispatched, and within two minutes Barnsley hauled one back when Odejayi headed home Whaley's cross from six yards.

Barnsley poured forward in the closing stages, but the Blades still threatened on the counter-attack and held on to clinch their third away win of the season.