United Land a Triple Whammy

Breakaway goals form James Beattie and Gary Cahill and late third from Chris Armstrong ended a Charlton run of four straight wins as Sheffield United claimed three points from what manager Bryan Robson had hailed as their biggest test of the season so far.

Initially Charlton pushed United on to the back foot, but although Reid and Jerome Thomas caused panic with a series of jagged runs, Paddy Kenny was not needed until the 15th minute. Danny Mills collected a dainty Reid pass and scampered down the right before cutting the ball back to Lloyd Sam, whose 20-yard shot was beaten away. Five minutes later Sam twisted past two men only to drive a weak shot straight at Kenny.

United, playing with five across the middle in a bid to stifle Charlton's creativity, were offering little going forward and Nicky Weaver's exertions were confined to fielding the occasional set-piece, although David Carney's sporadic bursts on the left served as a reminder that Bryan Robson's players were not entirely impotent.

It was appropriate, then, when Carney was bundled over in the box by Thomas just after the half-hour, and James Beattie claimed his 12th goal of the season from the penalty. It was virtually his first touch of the game, but he made it count.

Conceding a goal for the first time in five matches, Charlton suddenly lost their swagger and United began to dominate, with Carney and Keith Gillespie finding more and more space from which to cross. Three minutes before the break, Carney almost equalized but his shot from 18 yards was deflected just past the post.

Alan Pardew attempted to regain the initiative with two half-time substitutions and switching to 4-4-2. Luke Varney nearly rewarded the move but his header from a Reid free-kick went narrowly wide and Kenny produced an outstanding saves from Chris Iwelumo and Zheng Zhi.

Then on a rare counter, United forced a corner and after Gillespie's center triggered chaos in the box, Cahill reacted sharpest to prod the ball over the line before Chris Armstrong added a third.