Ched Evans gave John Carver an immediate boost as new caretaker boss of Sheffield United by hitting the winning goal against Swansea City.
The Wales striker scored just before half-time against his countrymen, timing his run to perfection to smash home Andy Reid's ball over the top.
Evans nearly claimed a second with a stinging left-foot shot but was denied by Dorus de Vries' excellent save.
Swansea had few sights of goal with the best chances falling to Scott Sinclair.
Blades winger Stephen Quinn produced the first moment of excitement when he had the ball in the net in the 10th minute, only for the 'goal' to be ruled out for offside.
Sunderland loanee Reid was looking like an influential figure for the home side whenever he was able to get on the ball, and he went close with a deflected free-kick as United pushed on.
Swansea were looking for Sinclair to add some inspiration on their rare attacks and he looked dangerous when he cut in from wide on the left, but could not find any power in his shot to trouble Steve Simonsen in the goal.
A poor afternoon was then illuminated by a moment of quality as the home side took the lead a minute before the break.
Reid provided it with a precise through pass which played Evans clean through on goal and the former Manchester City man clipped an early shot wide of De Vries and into the corner.
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers made a double change at the interval, with Craig Beattie and Mark Gower replaced by Jermaine Easter and Darren Pratley, and Easter was soon involved in an opening.
The on-loan MK Dons forward worked a neat one-two with Nathan Dyer before flashing the ball across the face of goal and forcing Kyle Bartley into a fine clearance.
Sinclair arrowed a long-range shot into the midriff of Simonsen as the Swans looked to claw their way back level and Pratley flicked a header wide.
Swansea were dominating possession but the hosts almost made the game safe with three minutes to go when substitute Jamie Ward sprinted clear down the right and found Evans inside the area.
The striker managed to turn and get in a shot which De Vries smothered at his near post.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Sheff Utd
1-0
Swansea
FT
(HT 1-0)
Evans 44
Sheff Utd
01 Simonsen
03 Nosworthy
12 Calve
16 Taylor
23 Bartley
04 Montgomery
08 Britton
11 Yeates yellow card
24 Reid (Ward 77)
28 Quinn
09 Evans (Batth 90+3)
Substitutes
13 Aksalu,
06 Ertl,
22 Kozluk,
25 Batth,
34 Lowton,
14 Williamson,
18 Ward
Swansea
01 De Vries
02 Williams
05 Tate
16 Monk
22 Rangel
10 Orlandi
12 Dyer (Cotterill 66)
21 Sinclair
24 Allen
27 Gower (Pratley 46)
09 Beattie (Easter 46)
Substitutes
25 Ma-Kalambay,
03 Taylor,
07 Cotterill,
08 Pratley,
26 Agustien,
14 Dobbie,
49 Easter
Ref: RussellAtt: 17,496
SHEFF UTD
SWANSEA
Possession
Sheff Utd48%
Swansea52%
Attempts on target
Sheff Utd5
Swansea6
Attempts off target
Sheff Utd2
Swansea5
Corners
Sheff Utd3
Swansea9
Fouls
Sheff Utd12
Swansea9
Final Result
94:57 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
Full Time
90:00+4:26 The offside flag is raised against Darren Pratley. Steve Simonsen takes the direct free kick.
90:00+3:50 Corner taken left-footed by Andrea Orlandi from the left by-line, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy.
90:00+3:40 The ball is delivered by David Cotterill, clearance made by Jean Calve.
90:00+2:08 Substitution Danny Batth is brought on as a substitute for Ched Evans.
90:00+1:54 Alan Tate crosses the ball, save made by Steve Simonsen.
90:00+1:26 Centre by Alan Tate, Jean Calve manages to make a clearance.
90:00+0:02 Shot from outside the box by Mark Yeates goes wide right of the target.
89:05 Short corner taken by Mark Yeates.
88:05 Scott Sinclair sends in a cross.
87:49 Darren Pratley fouled by Nick Montgomery, the ref awards a free kick. Darren Pratley restarts play with the free kick.
86:39 Ched Evans takes a shot. Dorus De Vries makes a save. Short corner worked by Mark Yeates.
86:18 A cross is delivered by Darren Pratley, clearance by Kyle Bartley.
86:11 A cross is delivered by Angel Rangel.
85:35 The ball is swung over by Andrea Orlandi, clearance by Kyle Bartley.
85:08 Andrea Orlandi takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Nick Montgomery.
82:07 The ball is sent over by Andrea Orlandi.
81:35 Corner taken by Andrea Orlandi from the left by-line, Nyron Nosworthy manages to make a clearance.
81:28 The ball is delivered by Andrea Orlandi, Leon Britton gets a block in.
81:11 The ball is swung over by Andy Taylor, Dorus De Vries makes a save.
80:54 Stephen Quinn sends in a cross, clearance by Ashley Williams.
80:12 Angel Rangel delivers the ball, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
79:58 Corner taken by Andrea Orlandi from the left by-line, clearance made by Nick Montgomery.
79:45 Centre by Andrea Orlandi, Mark Yeates gets a block in.
79:30 Angel Rangel delivers the ball, clearance made by Jean Calve.
78:28 Alan Tate sends in a cross, Header by Ashley Williams from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
76:52 Nyron Nosworthy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jermaine Easter. Ashley Williams takes the free kick.
76:52 Substitution Jamie Ward comes on in place of Andy Reid.
75:24 Effort from deep inside the area by Scott Sinclair clears the bar.
71:24 Ched Evans fouled by Ashley Williams, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andy Reid from right channel, clearance by Ashley Williams.
71:08 The ball is swung over by David Cotterill, save by Steve Simonsen.
68:35 Ched Evans gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joe Allen. Alan Tate takes the free kick.
65:52 Substitution David Cotterill replaces Nathan Dyer.
65:36 Ched Evans sends in a cross, clearance by Ashley Williams.
64:19 Corner taken short by Mark Yeates.
64:12 The ball is swung over by Mark Yeates, Angel Rangel gets a block in.
63:26 Scott Sinclair takes a shot. Steve Simonsen makes a save.
61:45 The ball is sent over by Scott Sinclair, Header by Darren Pratley from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.
61:11 Nick Montgomery concedes a free kick for a foul on Darren Pratley. Joe Allen restarts play with the free kick.
59:53 Scott Sinclair takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
58:48 Unfair challenge on Ched Evans by Alan Tate results in a free kick. Andy Reid crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, comfortable save by Dorus De Vries.
55:54 Andy Reid sends in a cross.
54:23 A cross is delivered by Jean Calve.
53:48 Jean Calve delivers the ball, clearance made by Ashley Williams.
50:56 Corner taken by Andrea Orlandi from the right by-line, Nyron Nosworthy makes a clearance.
50:39 Centre by Nathan Dyer, clearance made by Nyron Nosworthy.
49:08 Corner taken by Andrea Orlandi played to the near post, Nick Montgomery makes a clearance.
48:57 The ball is crossed by Jermaine Easter, clearance by Kyle Bartley.
47:37 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrea Orlandi played to the near post, Alan Tate takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen. Free kick awarded for a foul by Darren Pratley on Nick Montgomery. Direct free kick taken by Leon Britton.
47:19 Foul by Stephen Quinn on Joe Allen, free kick awarded. Angel Rangel restarts play with the free kick.
45:15 Nyron Nosworthy concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermaine Easter. Alan Tate restarts play with the free kick.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution Darren Pratley is brought on as a substitute for Mark Gower.
45:01 Substitution (Swansea) makes a substitution, with Jermaine Easter coming on for Craig Beattie.
Half Time
45:00+1:31 It is the end of the first-half.
45:00+0:07 Shot by Scott Sinclair from just outside the area goes over the net.
43:03 Assist on the goal came from Andy Reid.
43:03 GOAL - Ched Evans:Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Swansea Goal scored by Ched Evans from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Sheff Utd 1-0 Swansea.
42:30 A cross is delivered by Stephen Quinn, Andrea Orlandi makes a clearance.
41:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andrea Orlandi by Mark Yeates. Direct free kick taken by Alan Tate.
41:38 Booking Mark Yeates shown a yellow card.
40:44 Foul by Andrea Orlandi on Leon Britton, free kick awarded. Andy Taylor takes the free kick.
38:06 The ball is delivered by Stephen Quinn, clearance made by Ashley Williams.
37:25 Jean Calve produces a cross, clearance made by Ashley Williams.
36:50 Andrea Orlandi challenges Stephen Quinn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen Quinn takes the free kick.
36:20 Mark Gower delivers the ball, clearance made by Kyle Bartley.
31:24 Mark Yeates sends in a cross, clearance by Garry Monk.
30:15 Alan Tate gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nick Montgomery. Andy Reid restarts play with the free kick.
29:58 The ball is crossed by Angel Rangel, Jean Calve manages to make a clearance.
28:40 Andy Reid challenges Joe Allen unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Garry Monk.
27:35 The referee blows for offside against Stephen Quinn. Garry Monk takes the free kick.
24:40 Stephen Quinn takes a shot. Dorus De Vries makes a save.
24:09 Mark Gower concedes a free kick for a foul on Leon Britton. Andy Reid restarts play with the free kick.
23:57 Jean Calve crosses the ball, Garry Monk manages to make a clearance.
23:17 The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott Sinclair. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.
21:53 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andrea Orlandi from the right by-line to the near post, Garry Monk produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar.
21:34 Nathan Dyer takes a shot. Blocked by Andy Taylor.
19:41 Scott Sinclair takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen.
17:55 Garry Monk fouled by Ched Evans, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Garry Monk.
16:58 Free kick awarded for a foul by Angel Rangel on Mark Yeates. Direct free kick taken by Steve Simonsen.
16:12 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Tate by Ched Evans. Alan Tate takes the free kick.
15:09 Unfair challenge on Joe Allen by Stephen Quinn results in a free kick. Angel Rangel restarts play with the free kick.
13:43 Foul by Ched Evans on Garry Monk, free kick awarded. Garry Monk restarts play with the free kick.
12:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ched Evans by Ashley Williams. Andy Reid produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, blocked by Mark Gower.
10:16 Ched Evans takes a shot. Blocked by Ashley Williams.
9:00 The assistant referee flags for offside against Stephen Quinn. Dorus De Vries takes the direct free kick.
8:44 A cross is delivered by Stephen Quinn, clearance by Ashley Williams.
7:54 Mark Yeates has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.
5:30 Outswinging corner taken by Mark Gower from the right by-line played to the near post, Alan Tate takes a shot. Save made by Steve Simonsen.
0:00 The game gets underway.
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