Full time: Sheffield Utd 2, Rovers 0

Sheffield United (2) 2

Kelly 5, Devlin 25

Blackburn Rovers (0) 0

ROVERS suffered their second consecutive defeat in a frustratingly bad display at Bramhall Lane.

Graeme Souness' side were up against it from the start - and it was all their own fault.

Alan Kelly committed a dreadful error after four minutes when he smashed the ball against the legs of Marcus Bent following a Henning Berg backpass.

The ball rolled passed him at an acute angle and crossed the line before the keeper could retrieve the situation.

Rovers came under constant pressure from a committed home side and went further behind after 26 when Paul Devlin latched onto a loose ball. The defence stood off and allowed him to strike a stunning 25-yarder just under

the bar.

And it could have been three before the break when a Marcus Bent effort was ruled out after Martin Taylor was adjudged to have been fouled.

Christian Dailly, out of favour in recent weeks, was brought in to shore up a shaky defence in the second half.

While Rovers had the better of the possession in the second half, chances were few and far between except for a Kaba Diawara double strike which was comfortably dealt with by Simon Tracey.

Then, with five minutes remaining, Nathan Blake headed a free kick onto the post before Diawara's replacement, James Thomas, sidefooted over when it was easier to score.

Two minutes later Damien Duff dragged a shot across the area and Henning Berg was only able to get a toe on it from close range, not enough to divert the ball into the goal.

Rovers are still without a win away from home this season.

Teams:

Rovers (4-3-3):

Kelly;

Curtis, Berg, Taylor, Bjornebye;

McAteer, Flitcroft, Dunn;

Diawara, Blake, Duff.

Subs: Kenna, Miller, Thomas, Johnson, Dailly

Sheffield United (4-4-2):

Tracey;

Uhlenbeek, Murphy, Sandford, Quinn;

Devlin, Ford, Brown, Woodhouse;

Bent, Kelly.

Subs: Woodward, Newby, Smith, Ribeiro, Blackwell