Middlesbrough 2-0 Sheffield United: Boro impress with win over in-form Blades
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Paddy McNair's first-half strike was his first goal for Middlesbrough in more than six months
Middlesbrough ended Sheffield United's excellent run of form with a fine 2-0 win in the Championship.
Recalled Boro striker Duncan Watmore took just eight minutes to vindicate Neil Warnock's selection as he fired into the top corner left-footed from 15 yards.
Iliman Ndiaye struck the post for the Blades after half an hour and the visitors were made to rue the miss as seven minutes later Paddy McNair blasted in Boro's second from 20 yards out.
The hosts did well to limit United to half-chances in the second period as they recorded just their second Championship win in eight matches.
Boro move up to 11th in the table, leapfrogging 12th-placed United on goal difference.
Before kick-off the focus was on the Blades, who - having scored 12 goals in their past four matches and taken 10 points from a possible 12 - appeared to be back on track in their aim for a swift return to the Premier League.
Conversely, the hosts had won just one of their past seven Championship games but it was Boro who started the brightest, and they were rewarded as great play between Marc Bola and Matt Crooks set up Watmore for the opener, before the former Sunderland forward headed wide a few minutes later.
United tried to grow into the game as the first half wore on - Billy Sharp having a couple of chances, while Ndiaye blasted against the near post after wonderfully controlling George Baldock's long ball.
But the hosts had the better of the midfield battles and it was no surprise when Crooks - who had been banned for the game until his red card from Saturday was rescinded - was again the provider for his side's second, laying off Andraz Sporar's ball into McNair's path after the Blades had again lost possession.
Slavisa Jokanovic brought on David McGoldrick at half time, but Boro blunted the Blades for much of the second period - Sol Bamba clearing Ben Osborn's goalbound effort while Morgan Gibbs-White's deflected shot was all United had to show until the 80th minute, when McGoldrick had a half-volley from the edge of the box saved by a diving Joe Lumley.
Bamba blocked another goalbound McGoldrick effort with six minutes to go while Billy Sharp had a shot deflected over by Lee Peltier shortly after as Boro deservedly came away with all three points.
Middlesbrough manager Neil Warnock told BBC Radio Tees:
"I thought it was a great performance from start to finish.
"We worked very hard on Sunday when I told them what the team was going to be, the only thing I didn't know was where Duncan was going to be playing because we didn't know about Crooksy.
"I know Sol got the man of the match tonight, but it could have been any of one to 11, I thought they were all outstanding tonight to beat a good side, but I thought we deserved that tonight."
Sheffield United manager Slavisa Jokanovic told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"We didn't perform well tonight, in the end Boro were more solid, more aggressive, quickest and a stronger team than us.
"We started really slowly, they started to win a lot of the challenges and second phases, they ran the quickest and we made a few mistakes at the beginning.
"We improved a little bit, we started to try and run a bit more, we created some chances, but unfortunately we weren't in the situations to score some goals and get back into the game."