Steve Bruce's first game as West Bromwich Albion boss ended in the same way as his very first in management more than two decades ago - with a Sheffield United home win.
Billy Sharp got both goals to lift the Blades level on points with Albion - and within a point of the top six - thanks to an eighth win in 11 games for Paul Heckingbottom's men.
But, in his 1,001st game in management after it all began at Sheffield United in 1998, Bruce was out of good fortune on his return to Bramall Lane.
Sharp's opener went in off a cruel deflection before Bruce had his skipper Jake Livermore harshly red-carded for a committed challenge on Aston Villa loan man Conor Hourihane - a man Bruce himself signed for Villa five years ago.