DAVID Flitcroft admitted his pride after watching what he'll surely remember as one of his most satisfying games as Bury manager.

Not only did his side claim another excellent away win after knocking Walsall off top spot last week, but the manner of the victory impressed many at Bramall Lane.

Flitcroft's game-plan worked even better than he could have imagined as Bury's team coach wound its way over the Pennines.

Sheffield United were fourth having won their last four in League One and were cheered on by 20,000.

But Bury blunted the Blades in the first half and as they became more adventurous after the break, the Shakers took advantage.

Substitute Tom Pope broke the deadlock in the 61st minute, only for Billy Sharp to equalise with a 72nd-minute penalty.

United looked most likely to go on and win it, yet the Shakers weathered the storm and replied with a stunning strike from Joe Riley with seven minutes left.

Bury then picked the hosts off again, Leon Clarke producing a classy finish in stoppage time to seal victory and maintain the Shakers'

remarkable run on the road.

“I'm very proud,” said Flitcroft. “It was a professional performance and we're now 15 unbeaten away since January.

“We came here and respected the history of Sheffield United, but we played with no fear and our fans deserve to be dancing in the aisles because we put on a fantastic performance.

“When you come here, in front of 20,000 fans, you've got to commit to a game-plan and give everything – and the lads did.”

Bury's defence was so solid in the first half that Jamal Campbell-Ryce swapped wings with Martyn Woolford, and it was Campbell-Ryce that created the first half's only chance.

His left-wing cross found Connor Sammon, whose close-range header was too close to Rob Lainton.

Sharp's 20-yard shot was then easy for the Bury keeper while Louis Reed curled a free-kick wide.

The referee. David Webb, made life difficult for himself by showing Tom Soares a soft yellow card early on, so when Soares committed another foul shortly before half-time, the home crowd were crying out for a second yellow. Much to their frustration, it did not come.

Andrew Tutte was forced off with a hamstring problem, so Reece Brown replaced Soares in the holding midfield role, pushing Soares into the midfield four.

The Shakers barely got into the home box in the first half, with Riley resorting to a wayward long-range effort, but Flitcroft will have had few complaints having kept it so tight at the back.

After conceding 10 goals in their first four league games, Flitcroft vowed to fix his defence. It already looks like he has.

An early goal at Walsall meant Bury could continue to sit back but if they were to win again on Saturday, they had to start getting forward and Pope's introduction proved crucial.

The hosts had come back out in determined mood, with Lainton having to parry a Woolford volley while Sharp fired over.

But Nigel Adkins then chose to take off Campbell-Ryce, a decision which angered some from the home crowd as the winger had been United's most dangerous player.

And moments later Bury claimed a scrappy opener, with Pope's presence having allowed Bury to exploit the space the hosts left in behind.

United failed to clear two tame headers before Danny Mayor's shot deflected into the path of Pope, who tapped in from close range.

The Blades responded with Neill Collins heading over before Brown tripped fellow substitute Kieran Wallace, with Sharp smashing the spot-kick down the middle.

United kept coming but Lainton and Nathan Cameron, in particular, stood up to everything they threw into the Bury box.

Riley then picked up the ball just inside the home half and advanced up the right channel before unleashing a 25-yard strike into the top corner, much like his stunning effort against Shrewsbury last season.

Adkins said after the game he felt Leon Clarke should have been sent off after a tussle with right-back Kieran Freeman right in front of the dug-out.

The former Wednesday striker, who was booed on his return to Sheffield, was only booked, and as United threw caution to the wind, he latched onto Chris Hussey's ball down the left, shrugged off Jay McEveley and lifted the ball over the keeper to rub salt into the Blades' wounds.

Flitcroft added: “We had to withstand a bit of pressure. I expected that, we're at Bramall Lane, but they couldn't score from open play and our last two goals were fantastic.

“We were a bit slow with working the ball in the first half, I didn't think we had enough impact on the game.

“But Popey made a big difference to the dynamics of the game and the dimensions we played in.

“We got more support around Leon and used Popey really well. We didn't over-use him, but we used him really well, and that's something we've been working so hard on in training.”