First-half goals from Tommy Conway and Riley McGree saw Middlesbrough move top of the Championship with a 2-1 away victory at Sheffield United.
Conway fired Middlesbrough ahead through his 19th-minute finish from McGree’s pass, before the latter headed Boro’s second goal in after a scruffy block onto the left post rebounded into his path.
Patrick Bamford pulled a consolatory goal back for Chris Wilder’s Blades after he swept in from Gustavo Hamer’s 73rd-minute pass.
Sheffield Utd eventually finished a man down after substitute, Joe Rothwell was red carded for a reckless 80th-minute slide into Alan Browne.
The result left Wilder’s Blades sat 16th in the table, whilst Middlesbrough climbed onto the summit of the Championship.
Aware that victory would move them onto the summit ahead of their blockbuster showdown away at Coventry on Monday 16 February, Middlesbrough had to ride their luck initially as their ex striker, Bamford saw a fifth-minute shot blocked despite having been offside.
Sydie Peck then saw his 10th-minute shot deflected wide before Boro settled as Morgan Whittaker saw a 14th-minute shot saved, only for him to then fire wide across goal after he met McGree’s deflection of a Sheffield Utd clearance.
Middlesbrough soon broke the deadlock from a 19th-minute overhead kick which fell at the feet of Whittaker, but he teed up McGree who played Conway through to fire his shot into the left corner to put the visitors on course for the summit.
Conway almost their lead a minute later but he flicked Callum Brittain’s curled cross wide of the left corner.
Hayden Hackney then curled wide in the 29th minute but Middlesbrough got a slice of luck a minute later, as a Sheffield Utd long ball into the box from Hamer was fired wide by Bamford unmarked near the right corner in an end-to-end opening half hour.
Hamer then forced a low 32nd-minute save from Sol Brynn as both teams continued to trade chances, whilst Whittaker fired a 41st-minute shot wide of the near-right corner for Boro.
Any hope that Sheffield Utd held of going in a goal down were extinguished deep in the 44th minute after Hackney intercepted Michael Cooper’s goal-kick and took aim, which forced Cooper to deflect via the left post into the air for McGree to head into the empty net to extend Boro’s lead at half time.
Both teams continued their fast and furious end-to-end intensity in the second half as Callum O’Hare wasted two early chances for the Blades, whilst Whittaker saw two shots denied.
Sheffield Utd eventually found their way back into the game after substitute, Kalvin Phillips teed up Hamer to slip Bamford through to smash in past Brynn to reduce the Blades’ deficit in the 73rd minute.
Tyrese Campbell then saw his shot blocked by Brynn just two minutes later as the hosts began to find late momentum.
Sheffield Utd’s hopes of a late comeback however were dealt a blow after Rothwell was red carded in the 80th minute on debut after he slid recklessly into Boro’s Alan Browne, as the latter broke forward on an attack towards the left flank.
Boro eventually saw the game out to move back top of the table for the first time since late September 2025, whilst Sheffield Utd remained eight points off the last play-off spot – currently occupied by Wrexham – as Japhet Tanganga put a last-gasp header wide.
What’s Next?
Sheffield Utd visit relegation-battling Portsmouth on Saturday 14 February in a 3pm GMT kick-off at Fratton Park.
Middlesbrough head to Coventry in a blockbuster top-of-table showdown at the CBS Arena on Monday 16 February at 8pm.
Teams
Sheffield Utd: Michael Cooper, Femi Seriki, Japhet Tanganga, Tyler Bindon, Harrison Burrows (Hjelde 84′), Oli Arblaster (Rothwell 46′), Sydie Peck (Phillips 67′), Andre Brooks, Callum O’Hare (Campbell 67′), Gustavo Hamer, Patrick Bamford
Substitutes: Tyrese Campbell, Tom Cannon, Adam Davies, Leo Hjelde, Ki-Jana Hoever, Mark McGuiness, Chiedozie Ogbene, Kalvin Phillips, Joe Rothwell
Middlesbrough: Sol Brynn, Callum Brittain, Luke Ayling, Adilson Malanda, Matt Targett, Alan Browne, Aidan Morris (Sarmiento 88′), Hayden Hackney, Morgan Whittaker (Strelec 78′), Tommy Conway (Fry 78′), Riley McGree (Gilbert 67′)
Substitutes: Dael Fry, Alex Gilbert, Sontje Hansen, Cruz Ibeh, Finlay Munroe, Jeremy Sarmiento, David Strelec, Kaly Sene, Joe Wildsmith
Referee – Gavin Ward
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