Sheffield United came through a tough game against Derby to emerge with a win which helps their promotion hopes.

Kyle Naughton curled in a shot from the edge of area and Darius Henderson headed home to put the Blades 2-0 up.

Rob Hulse pounced to smash in a shot for Derby before Henderson muscled past Martin Albrechtsen and tucked in to restore the Blades' two-goal lead.

Barry Bannan powered in a strike for the Rams but Craig Beattie secured the home side's win with a late strike.

Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell:
"Darius Henderson's got a massive role and he looked a real threat today.

"He holds the ball up, he's a real threat and it was always going to be a very difficult job to fill James Beattie's boots.

"Strikers thrive on service so it's important that your wide men give it."

Derby manager Nigel Clough:
"Until we can defend at a reasonable level, then that's going to be the pattern I'm afraid.

"We have to improve to try and make it a little harder for the opposition to score.

"The first three from our point of view were very, very poor goals."

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Bromby (Halford 72), Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Cotterill (Beattie 83), Naughton, O'Toole, Stephen Quinn, Ward (Howard 90), Henderson.
Subs Not Used: Lupoli, Bennett.

Booked: O'Toole.

Goals: Naughton 7, Henderson 21, 62, Beattie 90.

Derby: Bywater, Albrechtsen, Todd, Nyatanga, Connolly, Teale, Eustace (Bannan 46), Savage, Barazite (Villa 78), Davies, Hulse.
Subs Not Used: Kazmierczak, Price, Sterjovski.

Booked: Eustace, Todd, Hulse.

Goals: Hulse 52, Bannan 69.

Att: 27,565

Ref: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).

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