Beattie Adds Meat to Robson Plan

At a club where the most notable recent successes have been brought by Dave Bassett and Neil Warnock, attractive, free-flowing football is hardly ingrained. But Bryan Robson's early attempts to bring a brighter brand of play to Bramall Lane appear to be bearing some fruit, with a solid display on Saturday bringing his first league win as Sheffield United manager.

A Sven-like revamp has not been necessary. It is to Robson's benefit that he has not had to sift through the rubble of a squad torn apart by relegation - the structure of the United side that competed so well in the Premier League for three-quarters of last season remains largely intact. Robson's job is therefore one of readjustment rather than reinvention, and he is satisfied with his squad's response thus far.

"You need to bed in," said Robson, who has experienced promotion from this level twice before, with West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough. "There are still a few injuries to players but the lads are responding well to myself and [assistant manager] Brian Kidd and what we want, what is expected of them. I want us to play with purpose but I do want us play a more passing game than what we actually do."

His efforts are at an embryonic stage but the Championship is a division in which the importance of substance far outstrips that of style and though it could be argued neither side possessed much of the latter on Saturday, James Beattie was at least on hand to provide the former. His winner, a looping back-post header, means that with two goals after three games the striker has already matched his tally of last season.

"That's three games we've played and for two and a half of those he's been very good," said Robson of the club's record signing . "He's led the line well, he's got a good understanding with Billy Sharp and he's confident because he is scoring."

For the West Bromwich manager, Tony Mowbray, it was a frustrating day, his side enjoying the lion's share of possession in the second half but failing to conjure an equaliser. Carl Hoefkens forced Paddy Kenny into one of several saves, but West Bromwich have now lost two out of two away and have lost ground to those at the top. The Blades are not in that number yet but Robson has a clear ambition. "After 10 or 12 games I want to be in front of everybody, not behind them," he said.

Man of the match Derek Geary (Sheffield United)