Having gone behind to Obafemi Martins' 17th-minute volley the Blades got themselves back on level terms through substitute Christian Nade's strike.

However, when Steven Taylor out-jumped Leigh Bromby to head home a corner with 10 minutes to go there was no way back for Warnock's side, who failed to take a number of decent chances during the game.

"I'm sick as the old proverbial," said the Blades boss.

"At the moment you can't put the bitterness away - you can almost taste because you know how important these home games are.

"Heads are down in the dressing room - wouldn't expect anything else.

"You can't ask any more as a manager when your players give everything but it's disappointing that Newcastle haven't really had to work for their goals.

"You don't need me to tell you that their second goal is a straightforward corner kick.

"It took us all that time to claw our way back in and to concede again just a simple goal it is disappointing."

Without leading scorer Rob Hulse, who is out for the season with a broken leg, Sheffield United looked toothless for long periods.

Chris Lucketti had two good headers which he failed to make the most of with Michael Tonge and Nade also going close.

However, Warnock bemoaned his side's inability to take their chances.

"When we equalised I could see us winning it. At 1-1 I thought they were for the beating and to concede an elementary goal is really a kick in the teeth," he added.

"I think we have had five or six great chances. It just shows what a fine line it is at the top level. If you don't take your opportunities you get punished."

Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder felt his side proved a point to critics.

"If people are honest with themselves they did not expect that to happen today," he said.

"I believe it was only inside our dressing room that we believed we could come here and win.

"People have looked at us and thought, at times away from home, we are not hard enough.

"That gave them the motivation to come out and give a fighting performance."

Newcastle could have had the match wrapped up earlier than they did after Antoine Sibierski missed an open goal after United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny went walkabout.

However, Roeder felt his team responded well to the setback of conceding an equaliser.

"I think the players answered a lot of questions today. We let Sheffield United off the hook with Sibierski missing the chance to make it 2-0 and run out comfortable winners but thankfully the player I thought was very good today Steven Taylor deserved to get the winner," he added.

"We had a couple of players meetings this week where I just had to remind them about a few things.

"I just think some of them had lost a bit of confidence. It doesn't matter whether you are an England player or play in the second division, we are all human beings and I think a little bit of self-doubt had crept in."