Simon Grayson will no doubt be questioning the refereeing authorities on Thursday morning after another inept performance from the man in black. Grayson and the vocal Pool supporters were left bewildered on seven minutes when first year referee Stuart Attwell who was officiating in his first ever game in the Championship showed Ian Evatt a straight red card for a professional foul on Billy Sharp, whether the challenge on the former Scunthorpe man was indeed a foul is one for the video replay, but the Warwickshire based official had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and sending Ian Evatt for an early bath, Evatt will now miss the Seasiders trip to Colchester on Saturday.
With the Pool supporters still going ballistic James Beattie stepped up to take the spot kick and the former England international could only watch on as Paul Rachubka dived full stretch to his left to claim the ball and deny the hosts.
The official then continued to frustrate the travelling Tangerine with a series of strange decisions, he must have missed that football is actually a contact sport!
Simon Grayson on 13 minutes decided to sacrifice Andy Morrell with Michael Jackson stepping up from the bench to fill the berth alongside Kaspars Gorkss.
The Blades made their numerical advantage count mid way through the first half when JAMES BEATTIE headed home Billy Sharp's right wing cross.
Pool's response was almost immediate when big Ben Burgess saw a left foot volley from the edge of the penalty area rebound off the bar with Paddy Kenny beaten.
At the other end Michael Tonge smashed a shot just over from 25 yards
On the stroke of half time Sheffield United made their first change when the injured James Beattie was replaced by Rob Hulse who was given a standing ovation as he entered the field of play.
Half Time Sheffield United 1 Blackpool 0
As you would expect attacking "their end" Sheffield United began the second period all guns blazing, Keith Gillespie saw a first time shot blocked by Hulse and Chris Armstrong drilled over the bar, whilst the back four had to constantly clear several teasing crosses from both flanks.
Having resisted the temptation to book a Sheffield United player, the referee was finally left with no option to book Gary Naysmith following a late challenge on Wes Hoolahan. The resulting free kick saw Michael Flynn teed up but the midfielder saw his strike blocked by The Blades defence.
Chris Armstrong and Keith Gillespie came close to extending the hosts leads, the duo twice blazed over as Pool defended resiliently against the high profile counterparts.
Chris Lucketti became the second United player in the book on 68 minutes following a late challenge on the edge of the area on Gary Taylor-Fletcher, the resulting free kick saw CLAUS JORGENSEN smash through a crowd and into the back of the net, sending the travelling army barmy.
With 15 minutes remaining Pool made their second change of the afternoon with David Fox replacing Wes Hoolahan whilst Bryan Robson to a chorus of boos replaced Billy Sharp and Keith Gillespie with Jon Stead and Lee Hendrie.
With six minutes remaining Pool made their final change of the afternoon when Andy Welsh replaced Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Both teams had chances to win it, Rob Hulse twice fired into the side netting for United whilst a Pool right wing corner caused problems and Michael Flynn will have been disappointed with his long range effort after he sprinted forward after another Sheffield United attack broke down.
The boos and jeers from the home supporters at full time would have almost certainly been louder had referee Stuart Attwell not been making his Championship debut at Bramall Lane, whilst the Pool fans made the most of reminding their South Yorkshire counterparts that we only had ten men!
Full Time Sheffield United 1 Blackpool
POOL: Rachubka, Barker, Evatt, Gorkss, Crianey, Taylor-Fletcher (Welsh 84), Flynn, Jorgensen, Hoolahan (Fox 75), Morrell (Jackson 13), Burgess Subs Not Used: Vernon, Slusarski
Attendance: 26409
