Middlesbrough has ascended to the top of the Championship after delivering a remarkable first-half display that secured them a 2-1 victory against Sheffield United.
Key goals from Tommy Conway and Riley McGree in the first half proved crucial, enabling Boro to pull two points ahead of Coventry after their sixth consecutive win.
Patrick Bamford offered Sheffield United a glimmer of hope with a goal midway through the second half. However, their chances were diminished when debutant Joe Rothwell received a red card with ten minutes remaining, preventing them from equalizing.
Blades midfielder Gus Hamer had an early curling shot saved by goalkeeper Sol Brynn, but it was Middlesbrough that took control, creating several threatening attacks that penetrated the home defense.
Hayden Hackney delivered a promising ball to Conway on the left side of the penalty area, but the striker squandered the chance by shooting wide.
Adilson Malanda had a header saved by Michael Cooper, while Morgan Whittaker also found himself in scoring positions, first heading straight at Cooper and then seeing his follow-up shot whiz past the far post.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute, thanks to a well-coordinated effort between Luke Ayling, Whittaker, and McGree, which set up Conway for a fine finish.
Hackney almost extended Boro’s lead, narrowly missing the right post, before Bamford came close to equalizing with a chance created by Hamer, only to fire slightly wide.
Brynn came to Middlesbrough’s aid with an excellent save against Hamer’s powerful shot, while Cooper answered for Sheffield United by turning Whittaker’s attempt wide.
The visitors doubled their lead just before halftime when Hackney’s drive struck Cooper’s right post, allowing McGree to react quickest and head the loose ball into an unprotected net.
As Sheffield United sought an early second-half goal to spark their comeback, a tempting cross from Callum O’Hare just eluded the onrushing Bamford.
Bamford finally got on the scoresheet in the 73rd minute, skillfully controlling Hamer’s ball into the area before slotting it past Brynn from 12 yards.
Rothwell, who had come on as a substitute at the beginning of the second half, was sent off in the 80th minute for a reckless challenge on Alan Browne, effectively ending any remaining hopes for the Blades.