Sheffield United beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Bramall Lane tonight to move level on points with Tranmere Rovers at the top of the League One table.
© PA Photos
Nick Blackman's second-half penalty was enough to see off cash-strapped Pompey and extend United's unbeaten home league record to 13 games.
Blackman was the only player to register a shot on target in a first half during which both sides were mostly limited to long-range efforts.
After Blackman forced Mikkel Andersen into a first-minute save, former Queens Park Rangers midfielder Akos Buzsaky twice tried his luck from distance for Portsmouth.
The first of his efforts came back off the post, while an ambitious half-volley minutes later went narrowly over the crossbar.
Lively West Bromwich Albion loanee Scott Allan also came close to giving Portsmouth the lead but shot wide following a mazy run.
United applied the pressure after the break as central defender Harry Maguire's turn-and-shot came within inches of opening the scoring.
When the deadlock was eventually broken, United were grateful to a rash challenge by Lubomir Michalik, who brought down Chris Porter in the box.
Blades top-scorer Blackman stepped up to calmly slot past Andersen and earn United the points in front of the biggest League One crowd of the season.
Joe Fish
