Sheffield United 1, Newcastle United 2.

FOR nearly three-quarters of an hour after the full-time whistle, Glenn Roeder trudged disconsolately around the Bramall Lane turf. The Newcastle manager could have been surveying the wreckage of another Premiership battle lost.

As it was, however, Saturday was a day of success for Roeder and his Newcastle players. The three points secured have put the Magpies on course for a top ten finish rather than ending with the embarrassment of a relegation fight.

And Roeder, after pressing the disconnect button on his mobile phone after an extremely long phone call to an unknown third party, emerged from the pitch a calm and relieved figure.

Whether he would have been in quite the same mood had the Blades built on Christian Nade's leveller 16 minutes from time is hard to believe.

But, given it is four years ago today that he collapsed after a West Ham game with a brain tumour, he insists the last week has not been difficult to come through and that the strains of the job have hardened his resolve.

"I can't tell you who I was talking to. I get text messages before the game and after the game; that's the nature of football now," said Roeder. "Football is taking over so many people's lives. It's lovely to be involved. How do you handle the pressure? I actually don't feel the pressure and I know people will say, 'I don't believe you'. But it's true."

Roeder and his captain Scott Parker both admitted afterwards that even the squad feared Newcastle would roll over against the indomitable Sheffield United. And their manager Neil Warnock agreed.

After a defeat to the red half of the steel city last November and losses to Wigan, Charlton, Fulham and Manchester City, the Magpies have shown a tendency to lack a competitive edge against struggling sides.

However, after a series of team meetings were held in the aftermath of the reversal to City seven days earlier, Parker led by example and the rest followed.

This was not an outstanding display from Newcastle against poor opponents. But this was a performance full of team spirit which has been lacking in recent months.

"We came here on the back of a lot of criticism from the defeat against Man City and a lot of questions have been answered," said Roeder, whose side could close the gap to eighth by three points if they beat Arsenal today.

Sheffield United had dropped into the bottom three on Friday night and rarely showed an ability to drag themselves out.

There was plenty effort, which is what Warnock's side is all about, but a lack of craft and guile in the final third proved costly.

In the first half, with the exception of a dire free header from Chris Lucketti that dropped nicely into the arms of Shay Given from close range, the Newcastle goal was never in any danger. And when Obafemi Martins opened the scoring 17 minutes in it had been on the cards.

Damien Duff delivered a perfect cross to the back post. James Milner headed back into Martins' path and the Nigerian struck low past Paddy Kenny's bottom left.

It was a superbly worked goal and one which gave Newcastle the confidence to go on. Duff's driving runs had full-back Leigh Bromby in a spin and on two occasions the Irishman's efforts just rolled the wrong side of the post.

There was also the calamitous incident when Martins skipped around the stranded Kenny on the touchline before finding the post. From the rebound, with the whole goal to aim for, Antoine Sibierski failed to make the game safe when he blasted horribly high over the bar.

The introduction of Nade - at the same time as Newcastle lost Parker - did inject some life into the hosts but Given was never seriously tested until the equaliser.

Keith Gillespie, the former black and white winger, passed into the feet of Nick Montgomery. The midfielder, with his back to goal, held up play well before rolling to his left and Nade side-footed first time into Given's far corner.

For a few moments Newcastle must have feared the worst again. Instead, though, they went on the ascendancy and forced a corner five minutes later.

And from Milner's centre local hero Taylor rose above Lucketti and headed down into Kenny's net for the deserved winner.

Roeder, however, will not be completely happy until he has wheeled and dealed in the summer. "Basically I am still working with other managers' squads," he said.

"Next year I am happy to accept the responsibility and I want to accept the responsibility of where Newcastle need to be." And that, in the eyes of the supporters, remains much higher than the tenth position they presently occupy.