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Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's sixth goal of the season put Sheffield United ahead Sheffield United sealed a deserved late win over Middlesbrough at Bramall Lane to move back within two points of Championship leaders Leeds United. The Blades led when Boro defender Ryan Giles tangled with his own goalkeeper Mark Travers after challenging Callum O'Hare, gifting the ball to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi to fire in. The visitors levelled before half-time against the run of play when Blades defender Jack Robinson was penalised for pulling down George Edmundson at a corner kick and Delano Burgzorg smashed home from the penalty spot. Sydie Peck's defence-splitting pass sent Ben Brereton Diaz away to dink a finish over Travers to restore the lead, and Anel Ahmedhodzic then nodded a third into an empty net when the Boro keeper failed to collect Harrison Burrows' corner. A sixth win in seven league matches keeps United in second, three points ahead of third-placed Burnley, while four league defeats from five drops Middlesbrough down to ninth, three points outside the play-off places. Chris Wilder had accused his side of arrogance in a lacklustre win over Portsmouth on Saturday, and a fired-up United were soon on the front foot and cranking up the pressure. Travers twice denied powerful first-half efforts from Rak-Sakyi, and the Boro stopper also did well to scramble across and punch Gustavo Hamer's inswinging near-post corner kick off his line. The livewire Hamer curled a low 20-yard drive inches past the right-hand post and was the architect for Rak-Sakyi's second goal in as many games with a brilliant run and defence-splitting pass for O'Hare. It took Boro 40 minutes to test home keeper Cooper as he turned away Hayden Hackney's low drive, but moments later the visitors did peg back the Blades. Tempers flared after referee Matt Donohue's penalty award as Robinson argued Edmundson also had a firm hold on his shirt, but despite the delay Burgzorg coolly netted for the third successive match. Boro debutant Kelechi Iheanacho poked the ball into the net but was flagged for a clear offside in a disjointed start to the second half before the home side gradually upped the tempo. Rav van den Berg pulled off a superb last-ditch challenge to deny O'Hare before Brereton's second goal since rejoining the Blades finally calmed home nerves. Burgzorg's fizzing strike forced a fingertip save from Cooper as Middlesbrough hunted a second equaliser in a frantic finale, in which Hamer limped off with a hamstring problem. Campbell then wasted a two-on-one chance when he shot straight at Travers instead of squaring to Brereton Diaz to walk the ball in, but Ahmedhodzic spared him any potential blushes. Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield: "We reviewed and reflected after the weekend and they've come roaring back, so I'm delighted. "They've taken on board how we wanted to play. That was more us tonight, there was a real good feel about us. "We had to regroup and reset after the ridiculous decision for the penalty. There'd be five or 10 penalties a game if that was the case. "The decision rocked us a little bit for five minutes, but we reset in the changing room at half-time and we had to keep our cool and discipline and still play, and we did that, so I'm delighted. " Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: "We didn't start the game particularly great, we got back in the game well. I thought the second half was in the balance for a good spell but it got away from us in the end. "They were not good goals to give away, moments that turn the game, and that was the story really. "Credit to them, they've done things well enough to win the game. We could have done things better to stop the goals, that's pretty obvious, and they are the moments that have turned things in the wrong direction against us of late and we need to flip it back. "There's always the next game, there's always the next result, there's always the next opportunity to do that, but we can't keep saying the same things. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 12th February 2025 at 21: 57 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: Michael Carrick Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Chris Wilder Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Michael Carrick Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Sheffield United have won six of their last eight home league games against Middlesbrough (L2), though did lose this exact fixture 3-1 when it was last played in February 2023. After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 in October, Middlesbrough will be looking to record just a second league double over Sheffield United since the 1987-88 season (also 2010-11).   Sheffield United lost their last midweek home game in the Championship (0-2 v Burnley in December), after having won each of the previous four without conceding a single goal. Middlesbrough have lost three of their last four league games (W1), more than they had in their previous 13 combined, while they’ve lost each of their last two. They haven’t lost three in a row since December 2023. Delano Burgzorg has scored in each of his last two Championship appearances, scoring as many goals in those games (2) as he had in his previous 31 Championship games combined. Match ends, Sheffield United 3, Middlesbrough 1. Second Half ends, Sheffield United 3, Middlesbrough 1. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Luke Ayling. Foul by Marcus Forss (Middlesbrough). Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Foul by Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough). Tom Davies (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing. Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. Substitution, Sheffield United. Hamza Choudhury replaces Sydie Peck. Substitution, Sheffield United. Tom Davies replaces Harrison Burrows. Substitution, Middlesbrough. Marcus Forss replaces Aidan Morris. Goal! Sheffield United 3, Middlesbrough 1. Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Harrison Burrows with a cross following a corner. Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by George Edmundson. Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick on the left wing. Foul by Vinicius Souza (Sheffield United). Attempt saved. Delano Burgzorg (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by George Edmundson. Attempt saved. Tyrese Campbell (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Callum O'Hare. Substitution, Sheffield United. Sam Mc Callum replaces Gustavo Hamer because of an injury. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United). Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.