Marcus Williams, Izzy Iriekpen, Kenny Milne and Cliff Byrne formed the back four, Grant McCann and Matt Sparrow played in the center, with Hurst and Thomspon on the flanks. Hayes and Forte started up front.
On the bench for United were new signings Gary Hooper and Michael Lea, Andrew Wright, Peter Winn, Jake Picton, Ian Morris, Ben May and academy duo Niall Canavan and Ross Hyslop.
United, although looking pretty solid at the back had little to offer in attack. The half's best chance fell to Jonothan Forte who lofted the ball over from six yards.
Billy Sharp and Gary Speed both went close with shots from the edge of the area, but Iron keeper Josh Lillis was rarely troubled, with most of the visitors play coming in and around the center circle.
Ian Morris replaced Grant McCann at half time.
The visitors did take a deserved lead just two minutes into the second half when new signing Darius Henderson whipped in an excellent ball from the right, that was glanced home by Webber giving Lillis no chance from close range.
Kevan Hurst had United's best chance of the half, firing into the side netting with a vicious drive from 20 yards before the Blades could have doubled their lead when Henderson skipped round Lillis only for the United keeper to recover and block the oncoming shot with his legs.
United introduced a new strike partnership in the form of Ben May and Gary Hooper, and looked more lively. Morris added more bite into central midfield and Hooper showed some neat touches almost resembleant to those United fans saw of Billy Sharp in a United shirt.
The Blades extended their lead with minutes to go, Henderson capitalised on Iriekpen's hesitancy and fired home a sweet effort on the turn.
Adkins introduced Michael Lea, Peter Winn and Andy Wright for the closing stages but it was too late for any of them to make any real impact.
Scunthorpe United: Lillis, Byrne, Iriekpen, Milne, Williams (Lea), Thompson (Winn), Sparrow (Wright), McCann (Morris), Hurst, Hayes (May), Forte (Hooper)
Substitutes not used: Picton, Wright, Canavan, Hyslop.
Sheffield United: Kenny, Naysmith, Morgan, Stead, Speed, Kilgallon, Tonge, Gillespie, Sharp, Geary, Quinn.
Substitutes: Henderson, Webber, Jihai, Bennett, Montgomery, Armstrong, Naughton.
Attendance: 2,507 (836 away).