Shaun Goater's goal drought came to an end yesterday when he helped fire Manchester City to the top of the league.

City beat Sheffield United 3-1 at Bramall Lane in Division One, Goater getting the opening goal just a day after being given a vote of confidence by manager Kevin Keegan.

Goater, who now has 24 goals, had not scored for over three weeks and remarkably did not get on the scoresheet when City beat promotion rivals Burnley 5-1 on Saturday.

With the return from injury of Paulo Wanchope, Keegan has the luxury of choosing from three strikers and the Costa Rican, Goater and Darren Huckerby know they have to keep hitting the back of the net if they are to stay in the starting 11 picture.

Referring to the fact that Goater had not scored in four games prior to yesterday's match with the Blades, Keegan said: “I am not bothered about Shaun scoring goals every match but I do think that his contribution in the last three or four games has not been as good as it could be.

“On Saturday (against Burnley) it was right back to its best. That he didn't score doesn't matter, they can share them out.

“There are others who can take the burden. Paulo and Darren are in form and in Eyal (Berkovic) and Ali (Bernabia) we have goals in us from midfield.”

After having two efforts ruled out for fouls in the first-half yesterday, City needed only ten minutes after the break to take the lead.

Wanchope nodded a Kevin Horlock left wing free-kick down and Goater made no mistake from two-yards.

On 68 minutes Berkovic finished off a beautifully worked City move to double their advantage. The Israeli midfielder freed Richard Dunne down the right wing and carried on running while the defender cut the ball back from the right by-line.

Sensing the midfielder fast approaching behind him, Goater stepped over the ball, allowing it to run on to Berkovic, who hammered it home for his second goal in a week.

United pulled one back but with them committed to attack, Shaun Wright-Phillips, only playing because of an injury to Benarbia, broke clear and played a long one-two with Wanchope before placing the ball to the goalkeeper's left from 12 yards.

The result gives City a two point lead over second-placed Burnley who have a game in hand after their match against Bradford City was called off due to bad weather.

In other games West Bromwich Albion thrashed Stockport 4-0 and Millwall beat Watford 4-1. Barnsley and Grimsby played out a goalless draw while Birmingham drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest.

Half of the 12 Division One matches were postponed.