Billy Sharp scored from the penalty spot as Sheffield United reached the fifth round of the FA Cup with an uninspiring win over Preston North End.
Blades striker Sharp had won the spot-kick in the 80th minute of a match and confidently sent Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd the wrong way to secure safe passage.
The play-off aspirations of both United manager Chris Wilder and North End counterpart Alex Neil were reflected by the fact they made seven and eight changes to their starting line-ups respectively.
Priorities were elsewhere – principally forthcoming Championship fixtures with Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest respectively on Tuesday.
As a result both sides were disjointed as passes went astray and possession was squandered too cheaply to the backdrop of groans of a less-than-half-full Bramall Lane.
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Indeed there were only three efforts on target – one of those Sharp’s spot-kick - in the entire match.
Referee Graham Scott did little to help the rhythm of the game in the first half as he blew up for petty infringements which ensured proceedings were attritional rather than aesthetic.
United forward Clayton Donaldson’s hustled and bustled in attack and his effort from a low cross, which went well wide of the post, was a half chance at best in a poor first 45 minutes.
Even the contingent of 2,659 Preston fans who had been boisterous before kick-off, were slumped in their seats by the time Scott blew for half-time.
Mark Duffy signalled United’s intent shortly after the break when he teased a low cross to the near post but Donaldson was unable to test Rudd.
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The North End goalkeeper was, however, forced to make a stunning one-handed save to push Daniel Lafferty’s sweetly-struck shot from Duffy’s cross over the bar moments later
At the other end Preston midfielder Daniel Johnson struck a low powerful drive from distance which whistled past the post as they went in search of a winner.
However, it was the Blades who would finally break the deadlock when Sharp emphatically converted from the spot to score his ninth of the season after he had drawn a foul from Preston defender Tom Clarke.
Preston finally managed a meaningful effort on target when substitute Jordan Hugill volleyed at goal only to see Simon Moore dive and save as the Blades hung on.