Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Rotherham United 0.
Sheff UtdSheffield United1RotherhamRotherham United0
A last-minute Ben Davies penalty earned Sheffield United victory over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham.
With one eye on their FA Cup semi-final against Hull on Sunday, Blades manager Nigel Clough made eight changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Leyton Orient.
And his young side won it at the death, when Davies slotted home from the spot after Millers defender Craig Morgan clattered Harry Maguire.
The result brought to an end Rotherham's 16 game unbeaten run.
It also means Steve Evans's side are now nine points off the automatic promotion places, after second-place Brentford beat Crawley.
Sheffield United remain 11th, eight points off the play-off places with five games left to play.
It was in-form Rotherham who had the best efforts on goal in the first half, but James Tavernier and Tom Hitchcock were both denied by keeper George Long.
Alex Revell then headed straight at Long and also put a thumping drive wide.
The visitors had two penalty appeals waved away just after the restart and in the end it was the Blades who found the winner.
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 25Long
- 28Freeman
- 6Hill
- 14McGinn
- 5Maguire
- 32Kennedy
- 22DaviesBooked at 90mins
- 42DimaioSubstituted forCoadyat 87'minutes
- 18Paynter
- 11BaxterSubstituted forReedat 74'minutes
- 3HarrisBooked at 40minsSubstituted forKhanat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Brayford
- 17Coady
- 21Scougall
- 23Murphy
- 29Khan
- 34Willis
- 38Reed
Rotherham
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Collin
- 27Tavernier
- 3Skarz
- 36Smallwood
- 20MorganBooked at 89mins
- 4Arnason
- 22Agard
- 15MilsomBooked at 6minsSubstituted forO'Connorat 52'minutes
- 9Revell
- 35HitchcockSubstituted forThomasat 74'minutes
- 18PringleSubstituted forVuckicat 83'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shearer
- 2Brindley
- 5Davis
- 10O'Connor
- 26Thomas
- 28Vuckic
- 37Adams
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
- Attendance:
- 21,529
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamRotherham
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Rotherham United 0.
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield United 1, Rotherham United 0. Ben Davies (Sheffield United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Booking
Craig Morgan (Rotherham United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Penalty Sheffield United. Harry Maguire draws a foul in the penalty area.
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Penalty conceded by Craig Morgan (Rotherham United) after a foul in the penalty area.
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Conor Coady (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Richard Smallwood (Rotherham United).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Conor Coady replaces Connor Dimaio.
Post update
Kieran Freeman (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Michael O'Connor (Rotherham United).
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Haris Vuckic replaces Ben Pringle.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by James Tavernier.
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Attempt missed. Ben Davies (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
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Foul by Kieran Freeman (Sheffield United).
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Ben Pringle (Rotherham United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Rotherham United. Wes Thomas replaces Tom Hitchcock.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Louis Reed replaces Jose Baxter.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jose Baxter (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Otis Khan (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
