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Sheffield United's Gus Hamer scored the Blades' opener Sheffield United opened up a three-point gap over Leeds at the top of the Championship after beating Wayne Rooney's struggling Plymouth at Bramall Lane. Chris Wilder's side had been given a helping hand by ex-Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom, whose Preston held Leeds to a draw at Deepdale earlier on Saturday. And despite a largely unconvincing display, a first-half strike from Gus Hamer and a late penalty converted by Kieffer Moore proved enough to secure the victory. No-one has scored against the Blades at Bramall Lane since Lyndon Dykes for QPR on 17 August as the South Yorkshire side have now won nine home games in a row without conceding. Plymouth remain without a win on the road in 11 games and stay just a point above the bottom of the table in 23rd place. Despite this being one of the Blades' least convincing performances victory further embellished their outstanding home record this campaign. It also extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches stretching back to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough on 23 October. It is to Plymouth's credit that despite an early blow through Hamer's peach of a half volley from the edge of the box,  they never gave up trying to find a way back into the game. Rami Al Hajj, Darko Gyabi and Mustapha Bundu all found ex-Plymouth keeper Michael Cooper in fine form during a first half in which the visitors carved out more openings than the league leaders. Wilder had looked less than happy as he paced from the dugout at half-time but they showed no discernible improvement early in the second half. It led to the hosts making a triple change 10 minutes into it with Sam Mc Callum, Moore and Jamie Shackleton introduced. But it was Lewis Gibson who went closest to equalising when he hit the post with a header on 55 minutes before Bundu, Al Hajj and Ryan Hardie were again denied by Cooper. It took a penalty two minutes from time, converted by Moore after Tom Davies was felled by Brendon Galloway, to finally remove hope from the visitors. Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield: "It was a hard watch for me and I imagine it was a hard watch for everybody else. But we took the big moments but they were better than us in the first half. "It shows the intensity of Championship football and how demanding it is especially off the back of Sunday afternoon, Wednesday night and coming back in getting a quick turnaround to Saturday. "Three games in six days is punishing the teams at the top of the division. I don't get it. We've not got the biggest of squads and we are stretched a bit at the moment. "There was a lack of energy on the pitch in the first half and they were the better team first half so we were delighted to get that second goal and calm everybody down. We go on yet again preserving an incredible home record that will now go past Christmas Day. " Plymouth boss Wayne Rooney told BBC Radio Devon: "We are disappointed with the result and I didn't feel we deserved to lose the game, but that's what Sheffield United are - a very efficient team who are good in both boxes and that's what they did again today. "I thought a lot of our play was good and the lads put a shift in but we missed opportunities. Performance-wise good but the result was disappointing. "It was a better performance and I think everyone could see that. There was a very good reaction to going a goal down and then I felt as the game was going on I felt we could get something out of it. "It opened up a little bit towards the end, they get a penalty and the game was done. "We had some good opportunities, half ones and [Lewis] Gibson hits the post so there are lots of positives from the game but disappointed with the result. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 14th December 2024 at 17: 20 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Chris Wilder Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Wayne Rooney Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Chris Wilder Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Wayne Rooney Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last five league games against Plymouth Argyle (W4 D1), with this their first league meeting since a 4-3 win for the Blades in February 2010. Plymouth Argyle have lost 14 of their last 16 away league games against Sheffield United (W1 D1), conceding 2. 2 goals on average during that run. Sheffield United have won each of their last eight league games at Bramall Lane without conceding; the last side in the top four tiers to win nine such games in succession were Chelsea in November 2010. Plymouth are winless in their last 12 away league games (D2 L10), and have conceded at least four goals in their last two matches on the road; the last Championship side to do so in three successive such games were Bolton Wanderers in February 2015. Among all Championship managers to have managed 50+ away games since 2004-05, Plymouth’s Wayne Rooney has lost the highest percentage of those (38/57 – 67%), while he has the joint-lowest goals-per-game away from home, along with Paul Sturrock (0. 67 goals per game). Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Plymouth Argyle 0. Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Plymouth Argyle 0. Offside, Plymouth Argyle. Andre Gray is caught offside. Foul by Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle). Sam Mc Callum (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Frederick Issaka (Plymouth Argyle). Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Bali Mumba (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Rhys Norrington-Davies (Sheffield United). Attempt missed. Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kieffer Moore. Fourth official has announced 6 minutes of added time. Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhys Norrington-Davies replaces Tom Davies. Goal! Sheffield United 2, Plymouth Argyle 0. Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal. Penalty conceded by Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle) after a foul in the penalty area. Penalty Sheffield United. Tom Davies draws a foul in the penalty area. Substitution, Sheffield United. Rhian Brewster replaces Callum O'Hare. Foul by Kornél Szucs (Plymouth Argyle). Kieffer Moore (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing. Offside, Sheffield United. Callum O'Hare is caught offside. Attempt missed. Jack Robinson (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Gustavo Hamer with a cross following a corner. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.