A Happy Hat-Trick For Reading - MATCH REPORT
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James Harper produced a spectacular strike to leave Neil Warnock's play off specialists still looking for their first win.
The 23-year-old midfielder snatched his second goal of the season three minutes before the interval just minutes after the Blades had wastefully thrown away a trio of chances.
Former Fulham team mates Barry Hayles and Jon Harley were the villains, with Hayles still waiting to get off the mark since his move from London.
Neil Warnock shouted and hissed from the dug out throughout the game as he attempted to get the best out of a United side that had drawn their opening two matches.
But the blunt Blades, who have scored just once in their opening three matches, failed to find a way through the Reading defence due to poor finishing rather than inability.
Sheffield United's failings allowed Marcus Hahnemann to record his first clean sheet of the season as the Royals held on.
The Yorkshire side started as they were to go on, midfielder Andy Liddell, signed from Wigan in the summer, picked out Harley but the ex-Fulham man woefully miscued his left foot strike from 10 yards.
Hayles was soon in on the act, throwing away a simple chance in the 17th minute after full back Leigh Bromby's long throw from the right caused havoc in the Reading defence.
Andy Gray stretched and missed as the ball fell nicely at Hales's feet but from six yards he blundered, pulling his shot wide of the far post.
Harley almost made amends minutes later, unselfishly threading the ball to Hayles but Marcus Hahnemann was quickly off his line to scoop up the ball.
United attempted to tighten the screw as Harley was handed another opportunity. Hayles's fierce drive struck a defender and spun towards the United midfielder who slammed his left foot strike into the side netting from 12 yards.
Reading survived the barrage and almost snatched the lead on 30 minutes after catching United on the break.
Nicky Forster, who had scored three goals in his previous two visits to Bramall Lane, shadowed by Phil Jagielka, cleverly turned inside before losing control of the ball.
Dave Kitson steamed in to take the ball and drill in a low strike from the edge of the area but it was spectacularly turned round the post by Paddy Kenny.
Republic of Ireland keeper Kenny had to once more keep out Forster, blocking the Reading striker's shot with his legs before the Royals broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute.
Sheffield United's back four dithered as Kitson headed the ball down for Harper on the edge of the box. The midfielder finished with a fierce strike beyond Kenny's reach.
Reading almost snatched a second a minute before the interval, Kitson erratically pounced on Bobby Convey's corner screwing the ball into the ground and onto the crossbar.
The Blades pushed hard for a second half equaliser but couldn't find a way through the Royals defence.
United skipper Chris Morgan went close, whilst Andy Gray almost caught out Reading.
American shotstopper Marcus Hahnemann spilled Gray's long range shot before the loose ball was scooped clear.
The Royals should have wrapped up the win in the dying minutes, but Kitson failed to pick out Hughes when clean through whilst Forster failed to frighten Paddy Kenny with a tame shot after searing through.
Reading's inability to finish their opponents off made for a tense finale, but the frustrated home side, unable to find a way through, appeared to run out of ideas.
The impressive win puts Coppell's side up to third in the table. Whilst the season is still young, Berkshire-based Reading are looking like a very capable side.