In the week that both management and playing staff at Sheffield United praised the influence Gary Speed has had on their recent upturn in form, it was predictably the United captain who proved the defining figure as the play-off hopefuls produced yet another victory, their 8th in the last 10 games, against 4th-placed Bristol City. The 38-year old midfielder, standing in as skipper in Chris Morgans absence, scored both goals and was a tower of strength and consistency through the game, even when a reshuffle forced him to play at centre-back alongside Matthew Kilgallon.Uniteds upheaval in fortunes and results has catapulted them into genuine contention for a top-six berth when the season draws to a climax next Sunday and, although overhauling Ipswich Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace with one match to go in the Championship calendar appears to be a improbable task on the surface, it is far from impo sible. United travel to Southampton knowing a victory, combined with favourable results elsewhere, could see them in with an unexpected chance of an instant return to the top-flight of English football.Undoubtedly, the catalyst for the upheaval has been James Beattie and, after receiving the Supporters Club Player of the Year award before kick off, the near-30,000 were relishing Victor Gonzalez Jersey  the opportunity to see the former Everton marksman add to his 22-goal tally for the season. These hopes were dashed however when Beattie left the fray after Uniteds first attack on 4 minutes  Kevin Blackwell introducing Rob Hulse as Beattie departed with what looked like a calf strain. Blackwell, who revealed that Beattie, along with fellow injury victims Ugo Ehiogu and Lee Martin faces a battle against time to be fit for Sunday, said: Beattie felt his calf in the warm-up and was in trouble as soon as he made his first sprint in the game.Hulse wasted little time displaying his undoubted aerial prowe s, knocking down a free kick into the path of Tonge on 13 minutes. City keeper Adriano Ba so had to be quick to pounce on the loose ball and prevent Tonge from opening the scoring. At the other end, Adebola received the ball and turned past Ehiogu on the edge of the box, before falling to ground with what appeared to be minimal contact. Referee Mark Halsey  Corey Seager Jersey had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Michael McIndoe stepped up to smash the ball past the dive of Paddy Kenny, straight down the middle of the goal. Eyes on the Bramall Lane crowd were divided between events on the pitch and the electronic scoreboard, which showed updates from not only Hull v Crystal Palace but also Leicester vs Wednesday  matches important for the Unitedites, but for very different reasons.Giving away the penalty proved to be Ehiogus last involvement in the game and, with Morgan suspended for the journey south, Blackwell could be provided with a dilemma as to who will partner Matt Kilgallon against The Saints. Thinking closer to home, however, his solution was to introduce Lee Martin after a long injury lay off and play Speed at centre-half. The impre  Pedro Baez Jersey sive Stephen Quinn was moved inside to partner Tonge, but the Irishman undoubtedly does not po se s the nous and experience that Speed oozes and this began to show as United lost their shape.One person not affected by the reshuffle though was the man himself, Speed. He rose highest to head home an exquisite Tonge corner, despite the best efforts of Noble on the line. Just before the interval however Kennys goal suffered another scare  the excellent Nick Carle saw his initial effort blocked by Quinn, before firing a 20-yarder through a crowded penalty area, but Kenny was equal to the tas