Sunderland got here out on high in a breathless Championship encounter to maintain them inside touching distance of the automated promotion locations after beating Sheffield United 2-1.

Kieffer Moore missed from the spot simply 13 minutes in to present the Blades an early benefit on a day that had seen each Leeds United and Burnley drop factors.

Eliezer Mayenda punished that missed alternative with a cool end past Michael Cooper, capitalising on a mistake by Jack Robinson to place the Black Cats forward.

The opening objective sparked a manic eight minutes on the Stadium of Mild, with Luke O’Nien then placing by way of his personal web to degree up the competition.

Wilson Isidor then restored Sunderland’s benefit within the thirty fifth minute, skipping previous Anel Ahmedhodzic earlier than curling the ball fantastically into the far-right nook.

The Blades had extra of the play after the break however had been unable to discover a leveller as Rhian Brewster shot huge and the house facet survived a late goalmouth scramble.

Sunderland have now scored 116 league targets in New Yr’s Day video games, with solely Bolton Wanderers (123) and Newcastle United (117) scoring extra in Soccer League historical past.

The end result means Sunderland stay fourth however at the moment are solely two factors behind second-placed Burnley, whereas the Blades, who went into Christmas three factors clear on the high of the desk, are three factors behind table-toppers Leeds.

On the MKM Stadium, Alex Gilbert’s objective in second-half stoppage time earned Middlesbrough a dramatic late victory over lowly Hull Metropolis.

With Boro seemingly heading for a fourth consecutive draw, Delano Burgzorg raced down the left and teed up fellow substitute Gilbert, who netted from shut vary.

Following a gap 45 minutes that noticed simply two efforts on track, Hayden Hackney went closest to opening the scoring when his effort crashed in opposition to the submit after the break.

Finn Azaz and Burgzorg additionally went shut for Michael Carrick’s facet earlier than they finally breached Hull’s defence to kickstart 2025 by transferring as much as fifth within the desk.

Middlesbrough accomplished a league double over Hull for the second time within the final three seasons, having additionally overwhelmed them residence and away within the 2022-23 marketing campaign.

Hull, in the meantime, stay within the backside three regardless of displaying indicators of enchancment because the current arrival of recent head coach, Ruben Selles.