McAtee goal moves nervy Blades closer to promotion

Substitute James McAtee scored the crucial goal with 13 minutes remaining

Sheffield United moved a step closer to automatic promotion from the Championship as James McAtee's second-half strike earned a nervy win over Bristol City.

The visitors had been the better side in an opening half in which Harry Cornick saw a shot saved, while the Blades failed to muster an effort on goal.

But Paul Heckingbottom's side improved in the second half and the pressure told.

Victory moved Sheffield United eight points clear of third-placed Luton, who visit Reading on Wednesday, with four games remaining.

The visitors settled well and made several early openings, with Anel Ahmedhodzic forced into a well-timed tackle to deny Sam Bell as he burst in behind.

Cornick then had an even better opening but drilled his shot straight at Sheffield United goalkeeper Adam Davies from inside the penalty area.

Bell saw his penalty claims waved away as he went down under a Blades challenge and the young striker also saw a header deflected behind after 16 minutes in a busy opening period.

The hosts were struggling to create and when they did get a sight of goal on the half-hour, Oli McBurnie failed to attack Jack Robinson's cross with enough conviction and his header drifted harmlessly wide of Max O'Leary's goal.

N'Diaye then got on the end of a well-worked move five minutes later but O'Leary rushed out to avert the danger to leave the home fans frustrated at the break.

Harry Cornick's 12th-minute shot was the only effort on target in the first half

Heckingbottom made a change, sending on McAtee in place of John Fleck, with the former registering the Blades' first shot on goal two minutes into the second period, but it was easily dealt with by O'Leary.

The hosts had another half-chance after 55 minutes when a corner dropped to McBurnie but Cornick did enough to block his attempt.

Sander Berge then curled an effort over the bar shortly after the hour mark as the Blades tried to crank up the pressure.

They finally made the breakthrough when N'Diaye found McAtee inside the penalty area and his left-footed effort flew across O'Leary and into the far corner.

Bristol City faded as the game went on but remained a danger on the counter-attack and the Blades spurned a big late chance to make the game more comfortable when Daniel Jebbison missed the target from point-blank range.