Sheffield United 2 Burton Albion 0: Blades jump up to seventh in Championship table thanks to goals from Enda Stevens and David Brooks
Chris Wilder's side netted in either half to inflict further woe on Nigel Clough's men at Bramall Lane
DAVID BROOKS showed why Tottenham have made him a £20million summer target by sealing a vital win for Sheffield United.
The Blades were clinging to a one-goal lead courtesy of Enda Stevens in the 29th minute.
Brooks, 20, then slotted home a super strike just three minutes after replacing James Wilson in the 61st minute.
It was Brooks’ third goal of the season and hoisted the Bramall Lane outfit to seventh — just two points behind Middlesbrough, who occupy the final play-off slot.
Nigel Clough’s Burton went into this clash two points adrift of safety, while the Blades were seeking a victory to boost their promotion push.
But it took a fine save from Jamal Blackman to deny Albion a 14th minute lead. United’s keeper flung himself full stretch to turn Lloyd Dyer’s rising drive away for a corner.
But it was the hosts who surged in front just before the half-hour mark when Stevens buried a close-range drive from George Baldock’s low cross.
It did little to take the tension out of what was a nervy display by boss Chris Wilder’s team.
And they were fortunate to go in at the break still leading a Burton outfit who always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
Burton’s Hope Akpan had a clever flick deflected behind by Jack O’Connell on 43 minutes.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Blackman then conjured up another super save to keep out Dyer on the stroke of half-time.
Skipper Billy Sharp had notched five goals in his previous seven outings for United, but he fired wide at the far post from strike partner Wilson’s raking 49th-minute cross.
Just five minutes later, Brewers’ Darren Bent squandered an even easier chance by heading Jacob Davenport’s corner wide.
But on 64 minutes supersub Brooks eased the Blades’ nerves by picking up Mark Duffy’s through-ball and firing in.