Shrewsbury Town 0 Sheffield United 3 - Report and pictures

Despite keeping their visitors out in an encouraging first half - where Salop grew as proceedings progressed - the hosts collapsed after the break.

Billy Sharp was chief conductor, scoring twice to leave more than 1,000 travelling Blades beaming and bouncing on a fiercely cold evening.

With the new manager understood to be nearing an end, the future Shrewsbury boss will have a real job picking up the heads and injecting confidence into a team who looked sapped of vigour and enthusiasm as the goals went against them.

Interim chief Danny Coyne could not have wished for a tougher home clash to sink his teeth into. Salop went into the bitterly cold evening with just one win from 12, while the Blades were unbeaten in eight - and the early signs wiere true to form.

Salop were unable to settle on the ball, and given little chance to by the confident, high-flying visitors, who quickly took it upon themselves to knock the ball around and try to overload Town in the final third.

It was fairly surprising that it took Sheffield up until the 13th minute to fashion a clear opening, and Salop were lucky to survive. A basic corner unlocked the Shrewsbury defence and skipper Billy Sharp leathered a close-range volley beyond Jayson Leutwiler, only to find Junior Brown who bravely blocked on the line.

Leutwiler was back up to get a strong palm onto the resulting effort as Greenhous Meadow took a sharp intake of breath with the ball finally launched clear.

Not surprising though, given the well-documented poor disciplinary form, was referee David Webb drawing yellow cards from his pocket.

Gary Deegan, who was dismissed for two cautions - one of Town's four red cards this season - last time on home turf, was in the book inside 10 minutes for a late challenge.

He was joined by Joe Riley less than five minutes later as the wing-back mistimed a challenge. He wasn't the final blue and amber shirt in trouble, as Ivan Toney joined the duo on the half hour mark for a blatant tug back.

It remains to be seen whether this Salop side are 'dirty', but it seems like every challenge they make is punished at the moment.

Coyne was left with his hands firmly on his head as the hosts made their first venture forward of note. A corner was met by a powerful mix of Junior Brown and Toney, the rebound falling at George Waring's feet, but the forward is unable to shuffle his significant frame and find the target.

As the half edged on, the Blades felt blunted in attack. The hosts grew into game, Salop pair Toney and Waring began to impact things, while Brown and Joe Riley were using the flanks well - peppering the United penalty area with crosses.

More frustration crept around the bitter atmosphere as Waring looked well-placed to connect to a Brown cross, but his header went across goal instead of on-target - and Lancashire was unable to convert.

Despite not really threatening for 15 minutes, United's technicians reminded their hosts what they were capable of on the stroke of half-time. John Fleck created some space on the left side of the penalty area before arrowing a vicious strike just wide of the opposite top corner, with excitable 'oooohs' echoing from the Pro-Vision CCTV Stand.

Despite keeping opposition out in the league for the first time since September 10th at Bury, Salop were quickly punished by the rampant second-half Blades.

It took top scorer Sharp just two minutes to lash in the opener. The forward, with more than 150 league goals to his name, leathered a first-time strike from 25 yards into Town's top scorer. It was the 11th game in a row that Salop had conceded a game's first goal.

The Blades weren't finish. In fact, they were rampant. Leutwiler saved from Sharp and Dan Lafferty fired over before the latter was unmarked to power a free header in just after the hour.

Town's heads had dropped by the time Mark Duffy powered against the crossbar via Leutwiler from distance, but Sharp added his second - and seventh of the season - moments later with a scrambled finish.

A well-hit Riley free-kick stung the palms of Simon Moore - the first save of the goalkeeper's night - with 18 minutes remaining. Sub Louis Dodds, on return from injury in a rare bright spark, also tested Moore with a fierce volley but it was far too late to change things.

Shrewsbury Town (3-5-2):

Leutwiler; Grimmer, Lancashire, Sadler; Riley, Ogogo ©, Deegan (Mangan, 64), Sarcevic, Brown; Mangan, Waring (Dodds, 64)

Subs not used: Halstead, Black, O'Brien, Leitch-Smith, Ebanks-Blake

Sheffield United (3-5-2):

Moore; Ebanks-Landell, Lafferty, Duffy (Whiteman, 82), Wright; Freeman (Brown, 88), Coutts, Basham, Fleck; Done, Sharp

Subs not used: Hussey, Scougall, Lavery, Ramsdale, Chapman

Referee: David Webb

Attendance: 5,460 (1,014 Sheffield United)