ELLIS HAILS CONFIDENT BEATTIE

Boothroyd - suffered a frustrating afternoon.

Sheffield United assistant manager Sam Ellis senses the swagger will soon return to James Beattie's game after his towering header clinched a 2-1 victory over Watford.

Beattie, who missed the first six games of the season due to an ankle operation, headed home a classic centre-forward's goal to secure the Blades' third Coca-Cola Championship win of the season.

His first goal of the campaign also ensured the Blades bounced straight back from their midweek mauling at Arsenal in the Carling Cup.

Ellis said: "James has been unlucky in that (Darius) Henderson got injured and he probably had to come back too soon.

"You can see for yourself, his touch isn't quite there yet, but the goal will do him the world of good because he's back to his cocky self again after the game.

"That would lift a lot off his mind and hopefully it's clear enough now for him to get back to where we expect."

Gary Speed gave the Blades, humiliated 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, an early tonic when he tapped home unmarked two yards from goal inside the first minute.

John-Joe O'Toole headed Aidy Boothroyd's injury-hit Watford level early in the second half, but Beattie powered home Billy Sharp's fine cross in the 66th minute and with a bit more luck in the latter stages the Blades could have scored more.

Ellis added: "We're delighted to get back to winning ways. The performance was good, particularly from where we've been during the last 12 days.

"We think it shows what we felt all along - that we have a lot of character within the squad and they've shown it today, not only winning, but being pegged back and going on to win the game."

Ellis also had words of praise for teenager Kyle Naughton, who was outstanding in his first start for his hometown club.

The Blades number two said: "No need to get cramp, but apart from that he did smashing. No excuse for cramp, he's a fit lad.

"But he did well didn't he? He looked like what we think he might be.

"You always have a feeling and certainly the gaffer and the players think the kid's got it. All he needs now is the opportunity."

Watford, whose early season challenge has been scuppered by injury problems, must now add goalkeeper Scott Loach to an ever-increasing list of casualties.

Hornets manager Boothroyd revealed Loach, replaced by Richard Lee in the early stages, is expected to be out long-term. Boothroyd said: "It's quite serious. He's ripped all the abdominal muscles off his hip and we thought there was some internal bleeding, but thankfully his spleen is ok."

But Boothroyd, whose side are still chasing their first away win in the Championship after upsetting West Ham in the Carling Cup in midweek, refused to blame their poor league form on an ever-increasing injured list.

He added: "Every manager at some point gets a good hiding, or things don't go well for them and you get an opportunity to moan or get on with it.

"As far as I'm concerned we've got to make sure we take responsibility because that performance isn't good enough for us.

"There's a lot of cup upsets and then there's a lot of after-the-Lord-Mayor's-show performances.

"I don't want us to become a good cup team, I want us to be a team, as we have been for the last three years, consistently winning.

"But we got back into it and threw it away, so I'm not very happy really, it's a bit of a bad day."