Town's disappointing season came to a disappointing end with Tom Eastman sent-off on his debut as the Blades ran out comfortable winners.

Owen Garvan headed against the post with the scores still blank and Connor Wickham was denied by Paddy Kenny's feet after Mark Yeates had put Sheffield ahead with a volley just past the half hour.

Ched Evans extended the Blades' lead early in the second-half with a terrific finish and after teenage defender Eastman was dismissed for a second yellow card, Richard Cresswell headed in from close range.

Eastman became Town's 20th debutant of the season, Garvan coming into a five man midfield in the two changes from the side that drew at Newcastle last week.

Grant Leadbitter tested Paddy Kenny with a drive from 25 yards in the first shot in anger after 10 minutes, Wickham then crowded out in the box after Leadbitter and Jaime Peters had combined down the right flank. At the other end Peters did well to block Yeates' shot, Evans firing over soon after.

Kenny was kept active by another Leadbitter drive before Town almost got the breakthrough, Jon Walters crossing from the right and Garvan heading against the post, the ball hitting Chris Morgan on the way out and rolling inches wide for a corner.

Gareth McAuley appeared to be held as he challenged for Jack Colback's flag kick but referee Andy D'Urso waved away the penalty appeals.

The Blades took the lead just past the half hour mark when Yeates beat Brian Murphy from the edge of the box, his shot appearing to take a deflection off McAuley.

Town responded with Leadbitter setting up Peters with a clever backheel, his cross headed away by Kyle Bartley.

Evans sent Murphy scampering back to his goal with a 40 yard effort after Eastman's header had fallen into his path. The young defender then picking up a booking after pulling back Nyron Nosworthy just before the break.

Murphy was forced into a save with his feet after Yeates had wriggled free as the second-half got underway, Kenny then doing likewise from Wickham after Walters' shot deflected into his path.

Blades extended their lead on 55 minutes, Evans converting superbly from Yeates' pass after Sheffield had broken at pace down their left.

Town boss Roy Keane immediately made two changes, Tommy Smith and David Norris making way for Shane O'Connor and Billy Clark.

Blues' were reduced to 10 men soon after when Eastman was shown a second yellow and then a red card for a foul on Matt Lowton.

Troy Brown replaced Colback to make it 21 debuts for Blues this season but Sheffield struck again just past the hour, Cresswell heading in after Yeates' shot had been brilliantly beaten out by Murphy.

Lowton fired well over after Town lost possession on the halfway line, Walters then sliding his shot wide from 15 yards.

Glenn Little replaced Nosworthy on 84 minutes, Brown then forcing a save out of Kenny from Leadbitter's free-kick as Blues looked for a consolation.

It wasn't to come as Town finished below halfway in the Championship table, leaving boss Roy Keane with a busy summer ahead.

Town: B.Murphy, Peters, McAuley, Eastman, Smith (O'Connor 56), Walters, Garvan, Norris (Clark 56), Leadbitter, Colback (Brown 61), Wickham. Subs not used: Lee-Barrett, Martin, Edwards, Hyam. Sent-off: Eastman. Booked: Eastman.

Sheff Utd: Kenny, Nosworthy (Little 84), Morgan, Bartley, Naysmith, Lowton, Harper, Montgomery, Yeates, Cresswell, Evans. Subs not used: Aksalu, Seip, Geary, Fortune, Foster, James.
Att: 23,003