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The Blades were made to work the hardest for their three points, overcoming play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough 3-1 with a win at Bramall Lane that left Michael Carrick's men seventh in the table.

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi opened the scoring just past the half hour after a mix-up between Mark Travers and Ryan Giles, though Delano Burgzorg equalised on the stroke of half-time from the penalty spot.

However, Ben Brereton Diaz edged the host side back ahead with 15 minutes remaining before Anel Ahmedhodzic's late header sealed an impressive victory over a spirited Boro side.

The win left United second in the table, two points behind Leeds United and two ahead of third-placed Burnley, which ran out comfortable 2-0 victor against Hull City at Turf Moor.

Bashir Humphreys arrowed past Ivor Pandur for a lovely third-minute opener, his first goal for the club, before Zian Flemming doubled their lead 18 minutes later as the defeat left struggling Hull 22nd.

Sunderland remains in the chasing pack, too, staying in fourth and two points behind Burnley after sweeping aside Luton Town, which dropped to the bottom of the Championship after a 2-0 defeat.

Loan star Enzo Le Fee scored his first goal for the club with a delightful curling finish 13 minutes in, before in-form striker Wilson Isidor wrapped up a comfortable victory just before the hour at the Stadium of Light.

Luton would have stayed 23rd in the table with this defeat, if not for Ryan Hardie's two-goal heroics helping Plymouth Argyle to a 5-1 hammering of Millwall at Home Park.

Hardie, who scored the winner in the FA Cup scalp of Liverpool, once again netted from the penalty spot after Joe Bryan's own goal, before the striker scored another in the second half.

Mustapha Bundu and Nikola Katic also got on the scoresheet for the rampant host, with Bryan's 80th-minute finish at the right end proving a mere consolation in a thrashing for Alex Neil's side.

At the other end of the table, Blackburn Rovers grabbed a 2-0 win away at fellow play-off chasers West Brom, despite the ongoing speculation surrounding John Eustace's future.

Blackburn boss Eustace was absent at the Hawthorns, with his move to relegation-threatened Derby County expected soon, though that did not deter his side from climbing into fifth, one place above West Brom.

A double from Makhtar Gueye did the damage in the second half as Blackburn scored an early blow against their fellow top-six hopefuls, leaving them a point ahead of Tony Mowbray's side.

Elsewhere, Bristol City overcame Stoke City with a 2-0 win, while Sheffield Wednesday battled to a 1-0 away victory over Swansea City.