Jagielka seals Blades' first Premiership win

Phil Jagielka's stunning late strike clinched Sheffield United's first Premiership win this season as his side beat Middlesbrough 2-1.

Phil Jagielka's stunning late strike clinched Sheffield United's first Premiership win this season as his side beat Middlesbrough 2-1.

Jagielka's goal moved Neil Warnock's promoted side off the bottom of the table as they won in the English top division for the first time in 14 years.

Rob Hulse had given United a first-half lead before Middlesbrough's Aiyegbeni Yakubu equalised straight after the break.

Middlesbrough, who have won just once this season and have now suffered three consecutive defeats, had started brightly and United defender Claude Davis made two brave blocks in quick succession to deny the visitors a shooting chance.

Yakubu wasted a glorious chance to put Southgate's side in front when Lee Cattermole set him clear on goal, only for the Nigeria striker to shoot against the post after he had rounded Paddy Kenny.

Middlesbrough captain Jonathan Woodgate was guilty of an equally poor finish just a minute later when he could only drag his effort wide from Stewart Downing's cross.

And Warnock's men took advantage in the 35th minute. Colin Kazim-Richards produced an astute pass to release Hulse and he held off James Morrison before planting a shot past Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer for his third goal of the season.

United could have doubled their lead before half-time as Hulse directed a header straight at Schwarzer and then Kazim-Richards drove a shot just wide.

But just four minutes into the second half Middlesbrough were level as Yakubu made amends for his earlier miss.

Emanuel Pogatetz launched a clearance from deep in his own half and Yakubu showed tremendous pace to sprint clear of Davis and beat Paddy Kenny with a clinical finish.

The Blades responded well and Keith Gillespie brought a fine stop from Schwarzer after a flowing move involving Michael Tonge and Alan Quinn.

Danny Webber almost put United in front with six minutes to go when he bent a shot just wide.

But United skipper Jagielka, who had scored an own goal at Arsenal last weekend, took charge in the first minute of injury time.

He controlled a clearance just inside the Middlesbrough half before blasting a superb 35-yard shot past Schwarzer to send Bramall Lane wild.