Harrison Burrows scored both goals as Sheffield United moved back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a dominant 2-0 win against Norwich.
Tom Davies back-heeled the ball into the path of Rhian Brewster whose low drive was deflected wide, as the Blades started in the ascendancy.
Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn then had to get down low to his right to save Gustavo Hamer’s shot.
Brewster saw another effort deflect wide from inside the area, while Sam McCallum screwed a shot off-target from a good position.
Sheffield United’s Harrison Burrows (left) celebrates with team-mates after scoring their side’s first goal of the game
Burrows opened the scoring in the 22nd minute following a defensive lapse from Shane Duffy, chesting the ball down before firing in a shot which hit both posts before crossing the line.
Hamer went close to scoring a spectacular second. Winning possession around the halfway line, he spotted Gunn just off his line and tried his luck, with the keeper scrambling back to tip the ball over.
Brewster – looking for his first goal at Bramall Lane in nearly three years – was thwarted again by a deflection before the break and Gunn had to be alert to save from Callum O’Hare.
Harrison scored his and United’s second goal of the afternoon from the penalty spot on the hour.
Ben Chrisene fouled McCallum inside the area and the resulting penalty saw Harrison fire low past Gunn.
O’Hare went close to scoring with a deflected shot which was well saved by Gunn, who flicked the ball over the crossbar, and the Blades playmaker was unlucky again to see an effort deflect wide.
Tyrese Campbell made his return for the home side, coming on as a late replacement for Davies.
In time added on, Norwich’s Callum Doyle put a rising shot over, while at the other end Hamer stretched to reach a cross but was unable to direct his far-post effort on target.
Burrows, looking to complete his hat-trick, put a shot wide shortly before the full-time whistle.
The managers
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:
“I thought it was good against a team pretty similar to us, missing some players but on a decent run as well. So a dangerous game for us, some good players, but I thought we got everything right, pretty much.
“The shape of the team out of possession was good. We knew that the two centre-halves would have a lot of the ball and try and build through the goalkeeper, so we had to be disciplined in that.
“We defended really well, back to clean sheets, which is huge for us.
“The timings of the goals were good. To get the first one, second one settled us down and I was delighted in terms of the attitude of the team after that. They looked as if they were really enjoying the afternoon.”
Norwich’s Johannes Hoff Thorup:
“Competitiveness. I think that’s the biggest difference tonight. I think we expected to be able to dominate the game on the ball because that’s also what we see from Sheffield. It’s not that important for them to have the ball a lot, so we expected that.
“But I think the biggest difference was taking care of the moments where you’re in and around the box, creating good chances.
“I think first half we are in many good situations, we have many good opportunities but we don’t take care of them.”
