Sheffield United took a huge step towards a return to the Premier League as they recorded a hard-fought 1-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road.
A second-half effort from James McAtee, which the hosts felt should have been ruled out for offside, settled a scrappy encounter which produced few thrills and spills – but yielded a priceless victory for the visitors.
With Middlesbrough losing at Neil Warnock’s Huddersfield, the Blades are now six points clear of their nearest rivals with a game in hand and in pole position to join runaway leaders Burnley in the top flight next season.
For Norwich it was a fourth game without a win and their play-off hopes are now hanging by a thread with just seven games to go.
A keenly contested and, at times, fiery first half produced few clear-cut chances, with neither goalkeeper having a difficult save to make.
The Blades went closest to breaking the deadlock, with a couple of Tommy Doyle corners producing the best moments of a disappointing opening 45 minutes.
Sander Berge sent a free header just wide on 17 minutes and 10 minutes before the break Anel Ahmedhodzic was desperately unlucky when his effort came back off the crossbar, with Angus Gunn well beaten.
At the other end, Max Aarons had optimistic appeals for a penalty waved away after a darting run into the box and Marquinhos fired just wide following a clever corner routine, but both defences were largely on top.
Norwich made a bright to start to the second period, with a low Marquinhos cross causing Wes Foderingham his first anxious moment, the keeper relieved to see his block being hacked to safety.
But it was the visitors who finally got their noses in front in controversial fashion just past hour mark, with a goal that Norwich felt was converted from an offside position.
When Iliman Ndiaye’s ball into the danger area was flicked on by Max Lowe, it found McAtee in acres of space in the six-yard box to guide to ball home, with referee Darren Bond ignoring the appeals of the hosts and allowing the effort to stand.
Young striker Abu Kamara was brought on for his debut as the Canaries looked for a way back into the game, but it was the visitors who went close to doubling their advantage on 74 minutes when George Baldock’s strike thumped against the angle of post and crossbar, with Lowe unable to convert the rebound.
Norwich kept going and a low drive from Marquinhos forced an overdue save from Foderingham in injury time, but the Blades saw out of the game for a crucial three points.
