Ndiaye and Berge help Blades beat Millwall

Last updated on .From the section Championship

Sheffield United bounced back from an opening-day defeat with a comfortable win over Millwall at Bramall Lane.

And midway through the first half it was 2-0 when John Fleck seized on Charlie Cresswell's poor miscue and squared to Sander Berge who rounded goalkeeper Bart Bialkowski and slotted in.

Bialkowski prevented further damage by saving Oliver Norwood's first-half penalty kick after Jake Cooper had tripped Rhian Brewster.

Having failed to find the target and struggled to carve out chances in defeat at Watford, the Blades had Manchester City loanee James McAtee on the bench and were 2-0 up and cruising by the midway stage of the first half.

Lions defender Cresswell, on loan from Leeds, had been the two-goal hero of an encouraging 2-0 opening-day win, but discovered how quickly fortunes can change with a glaring mistake for the Blades' second goal.

The visitors' generous defending continued when Jamie Shackleton's careless cross-field pass gave Brewster a run on goal forcing Cooper to concede a spot-kick.

His blushes were spared by a diving penalty save from Bialkowski who had earlier done well to block a close-range strike from debutant defender Anel Ahmedhodzic.

The Lions were knocked out of the EFL Cup at League One side Cambridge in midweek and huffed and puffed for a way back after the break.

However, they were unable to seriously test home keeper Wes Foderingham, Ged Wallace firing their best chance wide.

"We know what Millwall are in terms of their threat. They scored over a third of their goals from set plays last season and top of the league in chances created from set plays so we were aware of that and prepared for it.

"We dealt with that well all game and actually scored a goal on the counter off one of them, which was big.

"All those things that go unnoticed and aren't talked about we were really strong today.

"The things that are noticed, us moving the ball quicker, creating chances, playing on the front foot, I thought that was there as well, particularly in the first half."

"It was a disappointing performance, particularly the first half. You can't give Sheffield United gifts at Bramall Lane.

"I thought that we started the opening stages of the game quite well and there was quite a big moment. I have watched it back lots and lots of times and I felt there was a big shove on Jake Cooper for the first goal.

"The referee said to me there's a clear directive to allow more physical contact and I can understand that.

"I have no problem with that as a manager, it's probably needed, but what you have then got to do is make sure you get it right in the right areas. A foul is a foul whether there is contact or not, so for me it was a poor decision."