Anel Ahmedhodzic's first goal for Sheffield United was his first in three years.
Anel Ahmedhodzic scored one and made one as Sheffield United squeezed home against 10-man Sunderland.
The game turned on a two-minute passage just past the half-hour mark when Sunderland were reduced to 10 men - and the Blades took the lead.
Dan Neil was dismissed by referee James Linington for dragging down James McAtee on the edge of the box and the hosts cashed in when Ahmedhodzic rose highest to powerfully head home Oliver Norwood's inswinging left-wing corner. It was the Swedish-born Bosnia-Herzegovina defender's first goal in three years.
Summer signing Ahmedhodzic then set up the second goal as the Sunderland defence were pulled apart.
Norwood's pass, intended for Sander Berge, was dummied into the path of Ahmedhodzic - and his pullback from close to the right byline set up Max Lowe's neat right-foot finish at the near post.
Sunderland got one back on 55 minutes when John Egan's poor pass to McAtee was intercepted by Jay Matete and Ross Stewart seized on the loose ball, playing in Lynden Gooch, who Gooch, who chipped home past Wes Foderingham from outside the box.
But the visitors could not find another way through as Paul Heckingbottom's Blades held on for their second win in four games this season.
In fact, they could have won by more. Berge went close to restoring United's two-goal lead, when his shot was deflected on to the left post - and substitute Oli McBurnie was an immediate threat when he came on.
He hit an angled shot straight at Anthony Patterson, who then made a good save to keep out Norwood's well-struck curling effort, before twice more thwarting McBurnie.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsSheff Utd
Formation 3-4-1-2
18Foderingham15Ahmedhodzic12Egan33Norrington-Davies2Baldock8Berge16Norwood13Lowe28McAtee7Brewster29Ndiaye
- 18Foderingham15Ahmedhodzic12Egan33Norrington-Davies2Baldock8Berge16Norwood13Lowe28McAteeSubstituted forFleckat 66'minutes7BrewsterSubstituted forKhadraat 66'minutes29NdiayeSubstituted forMcBurnieat 74'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 4Fleck6Basham9McBurnie11Khadra22Doyle36Jebbison37Amissah
Sunderland
Formation 3-4-1-2
1Patterson13O'Nien6Batth3Cirkin11Gooch24Neil8Embleton20Clarke21Pritchard9Simms14Stewart
- 1Patterson13O'NienBooked at 65mins6BatthSubstituted forAleseat 86'minutes3Cirkin11GoochBooked at 72mins24NeilBooked at 31mins8EmbletonSubstituted forHumeat 54'minutes20ClarkeSubstituted forDiamondat 86'minutes21PritchardSubstituted forWrightat 54'minutesBooked at 90mins9SimmsSubstituted forMateteat 54'minutesBooked at 90mins14Stewart
Substitutes
- 10Roberts12Bass23Diamond26Wright27Matete32Hume42Alese
Referee:James LiningtonAttendance:28,197Match StatsHome TeamSheff UtdAway TeamSunderlandPossessionHome61%Away39%ShotsHome22Away4Shots on TargetHome7Away2CornersHome13Away3FoulsHome7Away13Live TextPost update
Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Sunderland 1.
90'+8'Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Sunderland 1.
90'+7'Booking
Bailey Wright (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+7'Post update
Reda Khadra (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90'+7'Post update
Foul by Bailey Wright (Sunderland).
90'+6'Post update
Offside, Sunderland. Bailey Wright tries a through ball, but Ajibola Alese is caught offside.
90'+4'Booking
Jay Matete (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Reda Khadra (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Jay Matete (Sunderland).
90'+4'Booking
Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United).
90'+4'Post update
Anthony Patterson (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt blocked. Reda Khadra (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt saved. John Egan (Sheffield United) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross.
90'+3'Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Anthony Patterson.
90'+3'Post update
Attempt saved. Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Reda Khadra.
90'+2'Post update
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Anel Ahmedhodzic.
90'+1'Post update
Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Dangerous play by Ajibola Alese (Sunderland).
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Source: bbc.com