Warnock: Blades season starts now

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock believes his side's season is now "up and running" after they finally won their first Barclays Premiership match of the season.

United looked destined for a third draw in seven matches after Yakubu had cancelled out Rob Hulse's 35th-minute opener shortly after the interval. But with the clock ticking, United captain Phil Jagielka struck a 30-yard cracker in the first minute of injury time to give the Blades a 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane.

And Warnock said: "I thought we deserved it. We've now got the monkey off our back and for us the season now starts from here."

He added: "We said that yesterday after training. We said we wanted to get a win to get our season up and running, and that's exactly what we have done. I cannot put into words just how big this win is - it's massive!"

United should have been behind before Hulse struck with his third goal of the season as Yakubu and Middlesbrough captain Jonathan Woodgate both missed what can only be described as 'sitters'.

"We made hard work of it, and had a little bit of fortune with those missed chances," added Warnock.

"The team spirit shone through, with everybody in the trenches, although we shot ourselves in the foot by giving them a chance to lift themselves early in the second half. But we got back on top, the crowd got behind us to produce a cup-tie atmosphere, and what a fabulous finish from `Jags'.

"He was due one. His other attempts on goal have been ending up in The Kop of late, but this one was good enough to win the game."

Under new boss Gareth Southgate, Boro continue to struggle, with one win from seven matches now in the Premiership. Southgate, however, saw signs in this game that such a run will soon come to an end and that the club will pull away from the relegation zone themselves.

"There's no question that we had chances to win this game," said Southgate. "After going behind the response I had from the players in the second half is what I wanted. I thought it was a healthy performance. But we didn't get what we deserved. I don't like losing matches, and when you lose a game like that then it is very cruel."