But ultimately this match was a tale of four centre-halves, not a former England striker.

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By the time Beattie, Sheffield United's record signing and scorer of 22 goals during his debut season at Bramall Lane, confirmed his recovery from a recent knee operation by making an unexpected appearance as a second-half substitute, the respective defences had already seized complete control.

With Ugo Ehiogu and Matthew Kilgallon providing an impenetrable barrier between a potentially-dangerous Cardiff City attack and Paddy Kenny's goal, Ross McCormack and Jay Bothroyd were reduced to foraging for scraps around the opposition area.

At the other end, Roger Johnson and Darren Purse were also imperious against a United side which had scored six times in their previous two league outings.

"That was a battle but you're always going to be in one of those against another team expected to be in the top six at the end of the season," Ehiogu said.

"I'm in the best spell of form since I came here and that's because I've had my first pre-season in six years.

"This is probably the first one in that time I've been injury-free and that's made a massive difference.

"We're quietly confident that, if we can keep everyone available, then we'll be challenging for the honours.

"But with the teams coming down keeping the crux of their squads together, then of course it's going to be difficult.
"We've definitely got the capability, though."

Especially, Ehiogu acknowledged, with a fully-refreshed Beattie.
"It's always good when you've got your top-drawer players ready. You see the benefits of that," he said.

"We've got to give Beatts a month before he's totally ready.
"There's a lot of expectancy on him but he handles it well.

"When things are fairly well balanced and matched, like they were out there, then he can bring that little bit of something, be it a shot on the turn or a free-kick, that makes the difference."

Beattie did his best to divert the course of the match during a lively 10-minute cameo and, after taking the field to rapturous applause, was immediately involved in the move which resulted in a late penalty appeal for Darius Henderson.

Playing less than 48 hours after United manager Kevin Blackwell had categorically stated he was not fit enough to take part, Beattie worked himself into position inside the Cardiff box after receiving the ball from Gary Speed before inviting his strike partner to apply the coup de grace.

Henderson, however, was left prostrate on the turf after being felled by Johnson but, despite a vociferous appeal, referee Colin Webster ignored the Lane striker's pleas.

"It looked like it might have been one," Ehiogo said. "If it had happened early on then we might have got it.

"But it didn't and they're often a lot harder to get before the end."
Had Henderson, who appeared most likely to break the deadlock, been successful then Beattie, almost certain to have taken responsibility for dispatching the spot-kick, would have enjoyed an opportunity to affect the outcome of an intriguing match.

But the unsung heroes, Ehiogu and Johnson in particular, deserved to take the acclaim.

Indeed, the final scoreline was a fitting tribute to their commanding performances rather than a reflection of any offensive shortcomings on either teams' part.

"I thought Ugo was magnificent and Matthew Kilgallon alongside him looked immaculate," Blackwell said.

"They had all the answers and, to be fair, Johnson and Purse had them at the other end too.

"Ugo rolled back the years.

"He's someone who has played at the very highest level and he's playing exactly like that now."

With Chris Morgan available for selection again after being diagnosed with concussion, Ehiogu's presence in the starting line-up confirms there are no untouchables in Blackwell's squad.

However, his decision to deliberately mislead when questioned on Beattie's condition earlier in the week, combined with the £4 million marksman's prowess, means suggestions that the most valuable performer in United's ranks will be forced to bide his time on the bench must now be viewed with suspicion.

Beattie's appearance certainly appears to have brought the best out of Henderson who continues to build a compelling case for inclusion alongside the 30-year-old.

News that United's reward for last week's Carling Cup victory at Huddersfield is a third-round tie at Arsenal later this month clearly did nothing to distract Blackwell's most expensive acquisition of the summer.

Having opened his United account at The Galpharm Stadium, Henderson immediately set about trying to double his tally, spurning a glorious opportunity to do exactly that midway through the first half when he headed wide following smart work by Billy Sharp.

Cardiff, forced to contend with a mounting casualty list and the submission of hostile bids for Johnson and Joe Ledley just hours before kick-off, also had potential distractions aplenty.

But Blackwell's counterpart, Dave Jones', decision to adopt a compact, counter-attacking game-plan paid dividends and meant that when United's applied some intense pressure during the closing stages they were unable to produce a final, killer ball.


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