Sheffield United kept their slim hopes of snatching a play-off place alive with a controlled 2-0 win away to injury-hit Queens Park Rangers, as Callum O'Hare and Tyrese Campbell struck before the interval to send the visitors back to winning ways.
United were on top from the first whistle and punished some woeful Rangers defending twice in the opening 33 minutes, O'Hare finishing at the far post before Campbell thumped in a long-range effort following a Jonathan Varane error. QPR improved after a bold half-time reshuffle and saw a Richard Kone header ruled out, but the Blades were generally comfortable as they protected their lead and consigned Rangers to a third defeat in four home matches, just days after the west London side had been thrashed 5-0 at Southampton in midweek.
Clinical Blades punish Rangers' fragile defence
The pattern was set early on, with Sheffield United asserting control and Rangers struggling to get out. The visitors' bright start was rewarded in the 13th minute. Tahith Chong exchanged passes with Sydie Peck on the right and the Curaçao international whipped a cross into the box. As Jake Clarke-Salter slid in to try to cut it out, the ball deflected off the QPR defender and fell invitingly to the unmarked O'Hare at the far post, where he made no mistake to claim his ninth goal of the season.