Queens Park Rangers 1-3 Sheffield United: Blades recover for deserved victory
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Sheffield United peppered the QPR goal before Iliman Ndiaye's equaliser
A roaring second-half performance saw Sheffield United come from behind to beat Queens Park Rangers and ensure their bid for a Championship play-off place will remain in their hands going into the final day.
In Mark Warburton's last home game as R's boss, his side led after a low-key first half through Charlie Austin's header from Albert Adomah's cross from deep.
However, the sixth-placed Blades came out re-energised after the break, going close on several occasions before Iliman Ndiaye eventually levelled from close-range following some pinball action in the QPR box.
The visitors continued to dominate and deservedly led when former R's defender Jack Robinson powered home a header from a clever free-kick routine, with substitute Conor Hourihane volleying in a third in stoppage time.
Victory in the capital, Sheffield United's first on their travels since February, means they are now five points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
Boro host Stoke on Saturday and if they, eighth-placed Blackburn and Millwall, in ninth, all fail to win, the Blades will be guaranteed a play-off spot with a game to spare.
The visitors were utterly relentless from the get-go in the second half at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, with the home side left hanging on before Ndiaye's deserved equaliser.
Morgan Gibbs-White saw a prodded effort cleared off the line and an effort off his shoulder hit the inside of the post, while QPR keeper Murphy Mahoney made a great one-handed save to deny Robinson.
The R's announced on Thursday that manager Warburton will leave at the end of his contract this summer.
His side, who could have theoretically kept their own play-off hopes alive with a win, did manage to mount some late attacks to try to salvage a point.
Jimmy Dunne saw an effort thunder back off the crossbar with Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham well beaten.
Undimmed, the away side went to the other end and put the game to bed as Hourihane slammed home on the volley after fine work from Norway international midfielder Sander Berge.
Paul Heckingbottom's men end the regular season with a home game against champions-elect Fulham, while QPR, who have won just three of their past 17 matches, travel to Swansea.
QPR boss Mark Warburton:
"The crowd have been fantastic. It's very gratefully received and never taken for granted.
"For three years they've been outstanding. The support they've given us has been first class throughout and I can only speak with the highest praise for QPR fans.
"A manager's job is to leave a club in a better place. I'm very happy with the reception from the fans and the comments that they've made which suggests they are happy with the progress made."
Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom:
"Big win. Big performance.
"We looked a good side in the first half but not like winners. We controlled the game but weren't ruthless. QPR got in our box twice and ended up scoring.
"It's about what happens in both boxes. Everything that happens in between is propaganda, isn't it? Fluff.
"We want to pass the ball and move it quickly. But we want a group of players who can score at one end and keep clean sheets at the other.