Middlesbrough overtakes Frank Lampard’s Coventry to claim the Championship lead.
Middlesbrough ascended to the top of the Championship following a commendable first-half display that secured them a 2-1 win against Sheffield United.
Goals from Tommy Conway and Riley McGree in the first 45 minutes were pivotal, placing Boro two points ahead of Coventry at the summit after their sixth consecutive victory.
Sheffield United’s Patrick Bamford provided a glimmer of hope with a goal midway through the second half, but their challenge was complicated when debutant Joe Rothwell received a red card 10 minutes before the end, preventing them from equalizing.
Blades midfielder Gus Hamer had an early curling attempt saved by goalkeeper Sol Brynn before Middlesbrough seized control, executing several incisive attacking plays that penetrated the home defense multiple times.
Hayden Hackney delivered a well-placed ball to Conway on the left side of the area, but the striker will have been frustrated with his attempt from a favorable position, sending his shot wide.
Adilson Malanda had a header denied by Michael Cooper, and Morgan Whittaker also found himself in scoring positions, heading directly at Cooper and then seeing his shot skim past the far post.
The opening goal arrived in the 19th minute when Luke Ayling, Whittaker, and McGree worked together to set up Conway, who finished expertly.
Hackney nearly extended Boro’s lead, shooting just inches wide of Cooper’s right post before Bamford had a significant opportunity to level the score, controlling a brilliant pass from Hamer and firing narrowly off target.
– EFL Championship table
Brynn came to Middlesbrough’s aid with an outstanding save to deny Hamer’s well-placed shot, while Cooper responded for Sheffield United, expertly diverting Whittaker’s attempt wide.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the closing moments of the half when Hackney’s strike hit Cooper’s right post, the ball rebounding up, and McGree was quickest to react, heading the loose ball into the unprotected net.
As the home team sought an early second-half goal to spark a comeback, an inviting cross from Callum O’Hare was just out of reach for the waiting Bamford.
Bamford did manage to score in the 73rd minute, controlling a superb pass into the area from Hamer before beating Brynn from 12 yards out.
Rothwell, who entered as a substitute at the beginning of the second half, was issued a red card in the 80th minute for a reckless challenge on Alan Browne, effectively extinguishing any remaining hopes of salvaging a result from the match.
