Sheffield United maintained their impressive home form by coming from behind to beat Oxford 3-1 and move seven points clear of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.
Sydie Peck cancelled out Myles Peart-Harris’ early opener for Oxford before the break and second-half goals from Andre Brooks and Chiedozie Ogbene sealed the Blades’ sixth win in their last seven league games at Bramall Lane.
The Blades’ win against boss Chris Wilder’s former club continued their climb towards the top half of the table and also lifted them to within eight points of the top six with 16 games to play.
They introduced new deadline-day signings Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell to the crowd before kick off, but neither deal was completed in time for them to make the squad.
Fellow deadline-day recruit Leo Hjelde – also a former Leeds player – was on the bench, but Blades’ optimism briefly made way for frustration as the visitors were gifted a 13th-minute lead.
Blades goalkeeper Michael Cooper made a hash of what should have been a routine save, spilling U’s skipper Cameron Brannagan’s 25-yard shot and Brentford loanee Peart-Harris converted the rebound.
Wilder’s side made a positive response and home fans were incensed when Femi Seriki went down in the penalty area after his shirt was pulled, only for referee Anthony Backhouse to wave play on.
Gus Hamer fired narrowly wide from outside the box, Brooks’ effort was blocked and Tyler Bindon headed over as the Blades chased an equaliser.
That arrived in style four minutes before the interval when Oli Arblaster’s lofted pass was collected wide on the right by Harrison Burrows and his low cut-back was met by Peck’s measured finish.
Hamer showed why he remains a class above when his audacious curling effort from outside the box clipped the crossbar as the Blades finished on top at half-time.
Seriki was alert to a dangerous cross from Oxford’s Tottenham loanee Will Lankshear soon after the restart, but the home side resumed in control and they took a 66th-minute lead.
Tom Cannon skipped round Oxford left-back Ciaron Brown’s clumsy challenge and picked out Brooks in the box and the winger brilliantly made space inside the area before rifling home a left-footed finish.
The 22-year-old, who appeared to have suffered a nasty bout of cramp moments earlier, was replaced by Ogbene minutes later.
Wilder’s side put the game to bed in the 83rd minute when Ipswich loanee Ogbene raced into the area on to Hamer’s superb diagonal pass and kept his composure to fire home his first goal for the club.
Hjelde, on loan from Sunderland, made his debut in the closing stages as the Blades consigned Oxford to a 15th league defeat of the season, which leaves them five points from Blackburn in 21st place.
