Norwich City 1-2 Sheffield United
- Published
Sheffield United recorded their first league win since Boxing Day
Sheffield United held on for victory at Norwich City to remain in the final Championship play-off place.
James Wilson gave the Blades an early lead with a goal on his full debut.
Clayton Donaldson increased their advantage after a mistake in the home defence, only for Ivo Pinto to head home and give the Canaries hope.
Nelson Oliveira fired over as the hosts went in search of an equaliser, but the visitors kept them at bay for a first league win since Boxing Day.
Norwich boss Daniel Farke made just one change to the side that started Wednesday's FA Cup third-round replay at Chelsea which went to extra-time and penalties.
He may have been regretting that decision when Manchester United loanee Wilson finished well for his first league goal since May 2016 in only the sixth minute.
Alex Tettey, the one change from Wednesday night's defeat, teed up Donaldson for United's second with a dreadfully under-hit backpass before Pinto headed in James Maddison's corner.
Despite piling on late pressure Norwich could not find a leveller and remain 13th, nine points outside the play-offs.
Norwich City boss Daniel Farke told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"The performance is hard to judge. When you have such a game after a tough week, it's quite important to play without a mistake. Today, after five minutes, we gave away a totally unnecessary corner kick. And then it is like it is.
"Then you feel the tiredness. In the first thirty minutes, we were really struggling, but in the last 15 minutes of the first-half, we found our game and put pressure on them.
"I got the feeling in the second-half we could go on and perhaps turn the game again, but an unlucky situation leads to a 2-0 and then it's really hard after this week."
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"People talk about getting the first goal, so it was important. It gave us a lift and settled us down.
"I thought we went on to dominate the first-half especially and we were a little bit disappointed we didn't stretch the lead before half-time.
"I thought we played well in the first-half. I thought we dominated the game and dictated. I understood Norwich played 120 minutes on Wednesday night but it was still up to us to get about them, and we did."