Sheffield United forward Ben Brereton Diaz celebratesGetty Images

Ben Brereton Diaz has won 45 caps for Chile

Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales

Sheffield United extended their unbeaten Championship run to three matches with a gritty victory over Wrexham at Bramall Lane.

Ben Brereton Diaz netted the only goal of the contest on 30 minutes as the Blades rose to 10th in the table courtesy of their fifth league win of the campaign.

Following an uninspiring first half showing, Wrexham improved after the restart but ended the contest with just one tame effort on target in the final minute of the contest.

The Red Dragons stay 17th having suffered successive league defeats for the first time this season.

Sheffield United started on the front foot as Jordan Ayew and Sydie Peck had early chances, though neither managed to trouble goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Wrexham's only opening of the first half fell to Lewis O'Brien whose driven shot was well blocked by Sheffield United captain Japhet Tanganga.

The hosts went in front on the half hour mark as Patterson could only palm Ayew's curling shot into the path of Brereton Diaz who fired into the net from close range - his first goal of the campaign.

It was no less than the home side deserved, and Chris Wilder was left furious moments later when his side were not awarded a penalty after Harrison Burrows went down in the box under a challenge from Wrexham skipper Dom Hyam.

Sam Smith and Max Cleworth were sent on for the second half, and Phil Parkinson's men finally showed signs of life in attack as former Blades striker Kieffer Moore lifted an effort over the crossbar.

They were relieved to see Ben Sheaf produce a stunning last-ditch challenge to prevent Ayew from unleashing a shot at goal after latching on to goalkeeper Michael Cooper's sublime long ball.

But, in truth, there was little to separate the teams in the second half as Wilder's side - who saw Peck fire at Patterson in added time before Smith's tame header was saved - held on for a crucial victory to reduce the gap to the play-off spots to just a point.

Analysis: Blades show defensive nous as Wrexham's lack of creativity evident

Only Blackburn Rovers (39) have dropped more points from winning positions than Sheffield United (34) since the start of last season in the Championship.

And having twice lost against Wrexham last term after going in front on both occasions, Wilder will have been hugely impressed by his side's defensive effort this time around.

They dominated much of the first half, and even after Wrexham started to come to life in the second half, the Blades looked rock solid throughout.

It ensured they kept a fifth clean sheet of the campaign in the league to maintain their charge up the table.

The visitors were without attackers Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead and Callum O'Hare in South Yorkshire, and it certainly showed.

The away side ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) figure of just 0.6 - with their only effort on target coming from Smith in the last minute of added time.

Since the start of last season's Championship, Wrexham's win rate drops from 40.4% to 27.3% when Windass is not involved.

Their points-per-game figure also falls from 1.53 to 1.18 without last season's top scorer Windass.

It has swiftly become evident that they desperately need to find another way of carrying a threat in the final third without the aforementioned forward's talents.

Post-match reaction

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"A deserved win, the best team won the game in my opinion.

"I asked our players to ignite the fanbase, and I think they did with their intent and the approach.

"I thought we played some really good football."

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson told BBC Radio Wales:

"However you play, it's about 11 v 11, winning your individual duels and coming out on top of the player you're against.

"I'll always look at myself and my contributions, I'm the manager and obviously it's a significant one.

"But equally, I said to the lads, the first 45 minutes, we made them look a really good side.

"We've got to be very honest and self-analytical individually about our own performances and make sure that when we turn up on Wednesday night (against Middlesbrough) that we are ready to go toe-to-toe with a top team."

Player of the match

K. Phillips
7.40
27 K. Phillips
7.40
11 R. Donovan
7.05
14 H. Burrows
6.40
15 L. Kitching
6.36
22 B. Brereton
6.33
1 M. Cooper
6.31
42 S. Peck
6.24
10 J. Ayew
6.18
19 T. Chong
5.92
5 J. Tanganga
5.90
38 F. Seriki
5.85
8 H. Choudhury
5.72
25 M. McGuinness
5.52
9 T. Cannon
5.40
4 O. Arblaster
5.30
23 T. Campbell
5.00
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