Sheffield United solidified their position at the top of the Championship on Saturday with a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Wayne Rooney’s struggling Plymouth, while Leeds United faltered with a draw at Preston.
Chris Wilder’s side took the lead in the 19th minute through a stunning volley from Gustavo Hamer, before Kieffer Moore sealed the win with a late penalty.
“Plymouth were undoubtedly the better side in the first half. They moved us about, pressed us better, and had the better chances,” admitted Sheffield United boss Wilder.
“Our quality wasn’t good, and we gave the ball away cheaply. No excuses; we weren’t great in that first half. But we felt a lot more comfortable in the second half. There wasn’t any complacency or arrogance from us, and we had the better moments without being entirely over the line until the penalty,” he added.
The victory puts the Blades three points ahead of Leeds United, who needed a stoppage-time equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw at Preston.
Brad Potts had given Preston the lead in the first half, but Leeds’ persistent pressure paid off in the 93rd minute when Mateo Joseph’s effort deflected off Preston defender Jack Whatmough for an own goal.
“To score the goal in added time, especially in this way, after we took so many risks and made so many changes, feels like a valuable and priceless point, particularly in an away game,” said Leeds boss Daniel Farke.
“It’s a good point on the board in a tough place. Preston defended really well,” he added.
In other Championship action, Sunderland staged a remarkable comeback to overturn a 2-0 deficit and claim a 3-2 victory at Swansea, with Jobe Bellingham completing the turnaround.
Blackburn Rovers kept their play-off hopes alive with a 2-0 win over Luton Town, who were reduced to 10 men.
Elsewhere, Neil Harris’s tenure as Millwall manager ended on a sour note with a 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough, who moved up to sixth thanks to an early goal from Emmanuel Latte Lath.
QPR’s resurgence continued with a 1-1 draw at Bristol City, while Frank Lampard’s Coventry City came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory over Hull City.
Stoke City and Cardiff City played out a 2-2 draw, while Sheffield Wednesday fought back to defeat Oxford United 3-1.
