With the winter snowfall burying Britain under a sea of white, United get set to make the short trip across the region to face local rivals Barnsley.
However, it won’t be the first time in recent years that the pair have squared off amidst a hefty snowfall. Billy Sharp was the hero of the hour when the two sides met in 2008, in blizzard conditions at Oakwell.
It was early into the reign of Kevin Blackwell, and the new Blades boss had managed three successive victories by the time the game came around in early March.
James Beattie was left on the bench for the game, with Rob Hulse starting alongside local-lad Sharp. Rob Kozluk was in the Barnsley team that day, with Chris Morgan also facing his former side (in less controversial circumstances than the following year) and Gary Speed anchoring United’s midfield.
United were tested early on with Paddy Kenny saving from another man who would later make the switch across South Yorkshire, Brian Howard, but the Blades showed excellent resolve despite Derek Geary being replaced on the half-hour.
Both sides had shouts for a penalty either side of the break, but it was United who went closest. Michael Tonge’s through ball finding Speed who rattled a shot off Luke Steele’s post.
The snow continued with a wicked wind swirling around stadium, before Speed proved the catalyst setting up Sharp to fire the ball right-footed across Steele and into the bottom corner. The excellent travelling support behind the goal roared, and sang the final ten minutes out, providing United with a fourth straight victory.
United: Kenny, Geary, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Cotterill, Speed, Tonge, Carney, Hulse, Sharp.
Subs: Halls, Beattie, Stead, Gillsepie, Ehiogu
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