Sheffield United took a huge step towards the Championship play-off final as they swept aside 10-man Bristol City 3-0 in the semi-final first leg at Ashton Gate.
A run of two wins in their last seven games saw the Blades miss out on automatic promotion, but they rediscovered their form on Thursday to take a commanding lead back to Bramall Lane.
Joe Williams went agonisingly close to giving Bristol a first-half lead when he rattled the crossbar, but their hopes were dealt a huge blow after Rob Dickie was sent off for bringing down Kieffer Moore in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.
Harrison Burrows confidently dispatched the resulting penalty and the visitors controlled matters thereafter.
Burrows was involved again as Chris Wilder’s men made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute, his low cross finding its way to Andre Brooks, whose shot proved too powerful for Max O’Leary to keep out.
Six minutes later Callum O’Hare gave Bristol a mountain to climb in their away leg, flicking in from point-blank range to put the Blades on the cusp of a Wembley final with either Sunderland or Coventry City.
