Reading 0-1 Sheffield United: Iliman Ndiaye strike hands Blades vital victory

Reading 0-1 Sheffield United: Iliman Ndiaye strikes to give the Blades a vital victory as they go seven points above Middlesbrough in the race for the second automatic promotion spot

Sheffield United battled to a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Reading on Tuesday
Iliman Ndiaye scored the winning goal on the hour mark for the visiting Blades
They are second in the table and have a seven-point gap over Middlesbrough

By Press Association Sport Staff

Sheffield United maintained their grip on second spot in the Sky Bet Championship after a 1-0 win at Reading.

lliman Ndiaye’s second-half strike earned the Blades a crucial victory in the race for promotion.

Victory leaves the Blades 10 points behind runaway leaders Burnley and seven above third-placed Middlesbrough.

Reading were dangerous, with Andy Carroll a nuisance, and Tom Ince came the closest for the Royals in the first half.

But Ndiaye linked well with Oli McBurnie on the hour to score against the run of play and seal the points for the visitors.

Sheffield United moved seven points clear in the race for an automatic promotion spot

Iliman Ndiaye scored the decisive goal on the hour mark to give the Blades the victory

Ndiaye’s goal comes a week after he scored the winning goal against Tottenham in the FA Cup

Daryl Dike maintained West Brom’s promotion hopes as they beat struggling Wigan 1-0.

The striker scored his sixth goal of the season when he nodded in after Jayson Molumby’s shot had been turned onto the crossbar by Ben Amos.

Wigan goalkeeper Amos also turned a Dike shot onto a post and Jed Wallace and John Swift hit the woodwork for the hosts.

Victory left the Baggies ninth in the Championship and four points adrift of the top six.

Huddersfield climbed off the bottom and above the Latics on goal difference after a 0-0 draw with Bristol City.

Robins boss Nigel Pearson marked his 600th game in management but could not find a victory to celebrate the milestone with.

The Terriers remain in the bottom three and are six points from safety, with City 13th in the table