This was probably the first fixture that Neil Warnock looked for when he accepted the job at Crystal Palace and the fixture list gave him a trip back North in the final weekend of the year. A reflection of how things have been going for him at Selhurst mean that he can name an unchanged starting side on the back of an eleven match unbeaten run against a United side who have lost just three of their twelve home games this term.

Before the first kick of the afternoon Warnock received the perfect welcome back to Yorkshire with a standing ovation and his name being chanted by the home fans as their former manager took his place in the visiting dug out for a change.

Early chances for both sides as Julian Speroni held a chance at the second attempt from Phil Bardsley whilst Ben Watson saw his free kick go just wide of Paddy Kenny's post. Sean Scannell starting his second game brought a fine save out of Kenny on 11 minutes when he collected a good through ball from Shaun Derry but the youngster couldn't keep the rebound off the keeper on target as it came back to him with pace.

Jon Stead looked set to settle the frustration which was already being voiced by the home crowd on eighteen minutes when he was in on goal but Speroni managed to produce an excellent one handed save which deflected out for a corner and the best opportunity of the opening twenty had come and gone.  

The same player was through again just minutes later after Palace lost possession in midfield but the 'keeper was not needed this time as Stead fired wide of the target from close range after picking up the through ball from Michael Tonge.

Palace continued to make the most of their work on the training ground when they scored another goal from a set piece to break the deadlock on 37 minutes as James Scowcroft converted his sixth goal of the season. A Watson free kick was floated over to the far post and Scowcroft was there to slot home a ball played back across goal by Clint Hill to the visitors the advantage.

Just three minutes later and United nearly get punished again from an identical free kick but they scramble the loose ball clear but the one they couldn't stop was the difference between the twosides at the break.

Bryan Robson made an immediate change at the start of the second half as Billy Sharpe came into the match at the expense of Keith Gillespie as United looked for the equaliser having seen their best two chances in the first half missed and then punished by Palace's breakthrough.

Rob Hulse had their first opportunity of the 2nd half to make amends for those misses when he found himself on the edge of the six yard box collecting a Stead cross but was denied by Speroni with a good save with his feet to keep his side ahead.

Just over the hour mark saw Robson make his second change as Lee Hendrie was introduced from the bench but they were to be denied just a minute later once again by the 'keeper.  Speroni not knowing too much about a thunderous free kick from outside the box from Bardsley, managed to get his body behind the drive and clear the ball.

The unmarked Hulse will be disappointed not to have done better with his 70th minute chance which fell to him infront of goal but he could only find the side netting after the the ball from Stead had found its way across the face of goal.

Carl Fletcher and Lee Hills both came into the action from the bench as Warnock made changes to his line up as his side continued to defend well against a much better United side in the second half.

Going into the final ten minutes and Hulse try's his luck with an overhead kick but its an easy save for Speroni but  the 'keeper could only watch as Sharp's volley clears the bar by inches from distance.

An injury time substitution saw Paul Ifill came on against his former club as Andy D'Urso added four minutes onto the clock. Warnock's side played out the time to make sure that his return was a victory as they kept their second consecutive clean sheet with a victory which takes their unbeaten record onto twelve games.

Teams

Sheff Utd Kenny, Bardsley, Kilgallon, Lucketti, Naysmith,Gillespie (Sharp 53), Tonge, Montgomery,Armstrong (Hendrie 63), Hulse, Stead.

Subs Not Used: Bromby, Bennett, Carney.

Booked: Hendrie.

Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Lawrence, Hudson, Hill,Watson, Soares (Ifill 90), Derry, Scowcroft,Morrison (Fletcher 73), Scannell (Hills 78).

Subs Not Used: Freedman, Fonte.

Booked: Derry, Soares, Butterfield.

Att: 23,982   Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).