Match ends, Sheffield United 3, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Sheff UtdSheffield United3BlackburnBlackburn Rovers0
Sheffield United scored three times in the last 20 minutes to see off Blackburn and move to within two points of third place in the Championship.
After both sides received a second-half red card, Blades skipper Billy Sharp hooked in to break the stalemate before firing past David Raya to double their lead.
David McGoldrick chested in a third from John Fleck's cross to seal the result, in a game which was closer than the scoreline suggested.
Chris Basham was given a second yellow for United for handball and Richie Smallwood a straight red for Rovers for a challenge on Sharp, both while the game was still goalless.
Chris Wilder's Blades stayed fourth but moved six points clear of seventh-placed Birmingham, while Blackburn dropped to 15th after losing three consecutive league games for the first time since April 2017.
Rovers were denied by the post in the first half from Charlie Mulgrew's free-kick and Enda Stevens thumped against the bar for the hosts.
Sharp now has 15 league goals this season, topping the 13 he scored for the Yorkshire side last term.
United named an unchanged side for the fourth game running though the visitors made seven changes - including dropping top scorer Bradley Dack to the bench - and his arrival as a substitute could not help them take anything from the match.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:
"I've got to compliment the opposition for the way they attacked the game in the first half. They freshened it up, had energy on the pitch and it was a bit of a grind for us.
"They were as good a team for 45 minutes as there's been at Bramall Lane. They were positive and we found it a bit of a struggle.
"The outcome of the game, especially when we went down to 10 men…no one would have seen the result coming."
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray:
"It was an Intense football match, two teams who were at it. Sadly I would say the officials had the biggest impact on the game today.
"I think the referee mismanaged the game. He's come from the Premier League to the Championship, thought he'd have a nice easy day and he's guessed his way through the match with his decisions.
"He's upset the stadium, upset our bench and I think he had the biggest impact on the game.
"The last 20 minutes we need to be better. The sending off of Smallwood…I think psychologically and mentally we have to deal with that better from being in total control when it was 11 v 10 to 10 v 10 - they dealt with it better than we did."
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Henderson
- 6BashamBooked at 51mins
- 12EganBooked at 50mins
- 5O'Connell
- 2Baldock
- 16NorwoodBooked at 33mins
- 4Fleck
- 3Stevens
- 21DuffySubstituted forCouttsat 56'minutes
- 17McGoldrickBooked at 85minsSubstituted forWashingtonat 87'minutes
- 10SharpBooked at 70minsSubstituted forClarkeat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Clarke
- 15Coutts
- 19Stearman
- 22Johnson
- 25Moore
- 28Cranie
- 39Washington
Blackburn
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Raya
- 31Bennett
- 26Lenihan
- 14Mulgrew
- 3Williams
- 4Reed
- 6SmallwoodBooked at 71mins
- 45PalmerBooked at 59minsSubstituted forArmstrongat 69'minutes
- 27Travis
- 8Rothwell
- 19BreretonSubstituted forDackat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Rodwell
- 7Armstrong
- 10Graham
- 13Leutwiler
- 23Dack
- 25Downing
- 29Evans
- Referee:
- Anthony Taylor
- Attendance:
- 27,384
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamBlackburn
- Possession
- Home44%
- Away56%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home18
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 3, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Conor Washington (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Leon Clarke following a fast break.
Post update
Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Leon Clarke (Sheffield United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Leon Clarke (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Charlie Mulgrew.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Leon Clarke replaces Billy Sharp.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Conor Washington replaces David McGoldrick.
Booking
David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by David McGoldrick (Sheffield United).
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield United 3, Blackburn Rovers 0. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) with an attempt from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by John Fleck.
Post update
Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Jack O'Connell.
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield United 2, Blackburn Rovers 0. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Enda Stevens with a through ball.
Post update
Charlie Mulgrew (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by David McGoldrick (Sheffield United).
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield United 1, Blackburn Rovers 0. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by David McGoldrick with a headed pass.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Elliott Bennett (Blackburn Rovers) because of an injury.
