Sheffield United score in each half to put what could be the final nail in Burnley's promotion coffin.

James Beattie curled home an exquisite free kick just after the half hour, before Billy Sharp headed home when unmarked early in the second half.

Andrew Cole did hand the Clarets a lifeline, firing home with nine minutes left, but the damage had already been done.

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CLOCKWATCH

8 mins: After a drab start to the game, Sheffield United carve out the first real opening, with Brian Jensen called into action to acrobatically tip James Beattie's flick header over the bar from Michael Tonge's cross.

13 mins: Andrew Cole is inches away from turning Chris McCann's low cross into the net, only for Matthew Kilgallon to make a last ditch interception.

16 mins: Some neat build-up play on the edge of the area ends with the ball falling to Chris McCann, but his long range shot is straight down the throat of Paddy Kenny.

22 mins: Graham Alexander's quick free kick releases Andrew Cole in the area, but the on loan striker takes a heavy touch and the chance is gone.

30 mins: James Beattie comes mighty close to heading Sheffield United in front, coming inches away from connecting with Stephen Quinn's angled shot.

32 mins: GOAL!! David Unsworth is booked for cynically bringing down David Cotterill in full flight, and James Beattie spectacularly curls the resulting free kick beyound a despairing Brian Jensen. Burnley 0-1 Sheffield United.

34 mins: Burnley almost hit straight back with an equaliser, only for Paddy Kenny to pull off an instinctive close range save to deny Kyle Lafferty from Andrew Cole's centre.

38 mins: James O'Connor's lungbursting run ends with him curling an effort just over the angle of post and crossbar.

41 mins: David Unsworth comes steaming in at the back post to meet Robbie Blake's corner, but heads just wide of the upright, with Paddy Kenny nowhere.

Half-Time: Burnley 0-1 Sheffield United.

53 mins: GOAL!! David Cotterill gets past Stephen Jordan on the right, and crosses for an unmarked Billy Sharp to head into the corner past Brian Jensen. Burnley 0-2 Sheffield United.

54 mins: Robbie Blake rises to meet a Wade Elliott cross, but his header lacks power and fails to trouble Paddy Kenny.

61 mins: Owen Coyle makes a double change in an attempt to get back into the game, with former Sheffield United striker Ade Akinbiyi and Joey Gudjonsson joining the action.

74 mins: Michael Tonge's corner is met by James Beattie, but his header flashes inches wide of the far post, with Brian Jensen beaten.

81 mins: GOAL!! Burnley finally grab a lifeline as Chris McCann's neatly threaded ball is fired home by Andrew Cole past Paddy Kenny. Burnley 1-2 Sheffield United.

84 mins: Andrew Cole comes close to netting an equaliser, only denied by a Paddy Kenny reflex save when picked out by Joey Gudjonsson in the area.

Full-Time: Burnley 1-2 Sheffield United.

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Caldwell, Unsworth, Jordan, Elliott, J. O'Connor (Gudjonsson 61), McCann, Lafferty, Blake (Akinbiyi 61), Cole.
Subs: Kiraly (GK), Duff, Randall.

Sheffield United: Kenny, Geary, Morgan, Kilgallon, Naysmith, Cotterill (Ehiogu 90), Speed, Tonge, S. Quinn, Beattie (Gillespie 78), Sharp (Hulse 65).
Subs: Stead, Halls.

Attendance: 11,693

Referee: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).