Fortress Bramall Lane remained intact after James Beattie helped Sheffield United defeat Bristol City.
Sheffield United keep up unbeaten home record with easy win
Fortress Bramall Lane once again remained intact after a double by James Beattie helped Sheffield United to a fine 3-0 win over Bristol City.
The former England frontman opened the scoring with a powerful volley in first-half stoppage time and doubled his tally with 20 minutes to go when he headed home another David Cotterill corner to make it 3-0.
That impressive double was enhanced by an unfortunate clearance by Liam Fontaine that ended up in his own net in the 56th minute.
The match began in cagey fashion with both teams reluctant to commit themselves forward, and Blades midfielder Stephen Quinn's speculative effort from distance was the only meaningful effort of the opening 15 minutes.
And when Quinn darted in to meet Billy Sharp's pin-point 23rd-minute cross, goalkeeper Adrian Basso prevented the deadlock being broken.
United manager Kevin Blackwell made two changes to the side which won at Doncaster in midweek as Ugo Ehiogu and Cotterill came in for Chris Morgan and Greg Halford, while there was a place on the bench for new loan signing Brian Howard.
Beattie and Billy Sharp spearheaded the in-form home side's attack but they were afforded little space by the Robins' central defensive pairing of Louis Carey and Fontaine.
Chances
There were chances for both sides before the break as Carey smashed his volley inches over Paddy Kenny's bar before Cotterill embarked on a mazy run and delivered an incisive ball to the feet of Sharp, but his effort failed to trouble Basso.
But it was Beattie who provided the quality to spark the game into life as he met Cotterill's corner with power and athleticism to smash the ball beyond Basso and give his side the advantage at the break.
The second half commenced at a rapid pace and the visitors should have levelled as quickly as the 49th minute when veteran striker Dele Adebola's flick-on found midfielder Elliott six yards out, but he somehow conspired to lift his shot over the bar.
And Gary Johnson's men were made to pay for their profligacy when hapless Robins defender Fontaine could only look on in desperation as his defensive header following Quinn's corner looped over Basso and into the net to double the home side's lead in the 54th minute.
It was soon 3-0 as Blackwell's men established an unassailable lead in the 67th minute.
Once again it was Beattie who proved too hot to handle for the visitors as he battled to rise above the Robins defence and into the net.
