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Sheffield United maintained their unbeaten start to the Championship season with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Derby County.

A header 11 minutes from time by Matthew Kilgallon gave the Bladesall three points at Pride Park.

Chances were frustratingly few and far between in an even contest.

A Derby crowd bathed in September sunshine must have been expecting more engaging fare when Dean Moxey went close with a shot inside the first minute but the game immediately descended into a frantic scrap.

Keith Treacy twice shot wide for the visitors. The most contentious moment of the game arrived in the 20th minute when Darius Henderson had a goal controversially chalked off for offside when the striker tapped home after Stephen Bywater had parried a shot from Jamie Ward.

Derby created their best chance of the first half in the 25th minute when Stephen Pearson volleyed over the bar after impressive approach play from Paul Green.

The woodwork came to the Blades' rescue two minutes after the restart when Gary Teale's cross deceived Mark Bunn in the visiting goal but after the ball looped over the keeper it came back off the top of the crossbar.

With a spate of bookings and substitutions, the second period was even more fragmented than the first half.

Derby thought they had a hard-fought lead 15 minutes from time but as Pride Park prepared to celebrate a goal Rob Hulse's header went agonisingly wide.

United finally found the route to goal to claim the game's winner in the 79th minute. After Stephen Quinn had been fouled by Shaun Barker, Treacy whipped in the resulting free-kick and up rose Kilgallon to flick a header over Bywater.

Eurosport