29th March Tranmere Rovers 0 Sheffield United 1 (Attendance: 9,145)

Blades Line-up: Long, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, McDonald, Kitson, Collins, Forte (Poleon 89), Robson, McMahon.
Unused: Westlake, Higginbotham, Porter, Ironside, McFadzean, Coyne.

Booked: Flynn 38, Maguire 40.

Scorer: Taylor 42 (og).

Man Of The Match: Dave Kitson.

Tranmere: Fon Williams, Holmes, Taylor, Palmer, Bakayogo, Power, Gibson, Bell-Baggie (McGurk 65), Sidibe, Akpa Akpro, McGinty.
Unused: Goodison, Harrison, Stockton, Kay, O'Hallorgan, Mooney.

Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne and Wear).

Sheffield United's dreams of automatic promotion were boosted after Ash Taylor's own-goal gave them a 1-0 win against Tranmere.

The Blades never looked threatened by Rovers as they produced a classic away performance, while Barry Robson and Ryan Flynn both went close.

Jonathan Forte had the game's clearest opportunity in the 24th minute, playing a neat one-two with Dave Kitson, but stand-in skipper Owain fon Williams was equal to his effort.

The Blades took the lead minutes before the break, with Tony McMahon's ambitious free-kick taking a huge deflection off Taylor as he tried to clear and flying past fon Williams.

Both sides were cagey after the restart, with only on-loan Manchester United man Sean McGinty testing George Long for Rovers.

Flynn nearly sealed all three points for United, but his fiercely struck effort five minutes from time smashed against fon Williams' bar and away to safety.

Robson went even closer a minute later, but former Rochdale goalkeeper fon Williams tipped his superb strike over the bar.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Tranmere: Long 6, McMahon 7, Hill 7, Maguire 7, Collins 7, Doyle 7, McDonald 6, Robson 8, Flynn 7, Kitson 8, Forte 7.

16th March Stevenage 4 Sheffield United 0 (Attendance: 3,483)

Blades Line-up: Long, McMahon, Hill, Collins, Maguire, Doyle, McDonald, Flynn (Forte 45), Murphy (McFadzean 10), Robson, Kitson.
Unused: Coyne, Westlake, Higginbotham, Porter, Poleon.

Booked: Robson 71.

Man Of The Match: Callum McFadzean.

Stevenage: Arnold, Hills, Grant, Dunne, Haber (Beleck 75), Akins (Hoskins 86), Roberts, Mahon, Comminges, Lopez (Tansey 80), N'Gala.
Unused: Day, Freeman, Iro, Shroot.

Booked: Dunne 78.

Scorers: Lopez 41, 50, 64, Akins 69.

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).

Promotion-chasing Sheffield United slumped to their first defeat in eight games as Dani Lopez's hat-trick fired Stevenage to a 4-0 win.

Lopez, who was only recalled from a loan spell at League Two Barnet earlier this week due to injuries at Stevenage, was the class act as he scored once in the first half and twice after the break, with Lucas Akins adding the fourth.

The Spanish striker, who began his career playing in the youth team at Atletico Madrid, scored in the 41st, 50th and 64th minutes as his side won for only the second time in 10 games.

Lopez's opener, the first goal Sheffield United have conceded in seven games, came when he turned Neill Collins inside the box and finished coolly past goalkeeper George Long.

Lopez then attempted an audacious curled effort from 20 yards which Long did well to tip over.

Gavin Mahon was the architect of Stevenage's second goal, playing a ball through a static Blades defence for Lopez to finish.

United pushed to get back on level terms as Callum McFadzean and Harry Maguire both went close with headers.

But it was Lopez who was next to find the net, scoring against the run of play as he fired in from the edge of the penalty area.

And it got even better for the hosts just four minutes later as Lucas Akins added a fourth with an individual run and shot.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Stevenage: Long 5, McMahon 5, Hill 5, Collins 5, Maguire 5, Doyle 6, McDonald 5, Flynn 5, Forte 5, Murphy 5, McFadzean 7, Robson 6, Kitson 6.

9th March Sheffield United 0 MK Dons 0 (Attendance: 17,936)

Blades Line-up: Long, McMahon, Hill, Collins, Maguire, Doyle, McDonald, Flynn, Murphy (Forte 62), Robson (Poleon 83), Kitson.
Unused: Coyne, Westlake, Higginbotham, Ironside, McFadzean.

Booked: Maguire 38.

Man Of The Match: Dave Kitson.

MK Dons:: McLoughlin, Lewington, Williams, Potter, Bowditch, Smith (Bamford 58), Chicksen, Lowe, (Gleeson 69) Powell (Doumbe 32), Lines, Kay.
Unused: Otsemobor, McLeod, Flanagan, Baldock.

Booked: Bamford 76.

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

United lost ground in the League One title race after they were held to a 0-0 draw by MK Dons at Bramall Lane.

The Blades had the better of a scrappy encounter but failed to make the breakthrough as their unbeaten run stretched to seven games.

Barry Robson tested Dons goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin from long distance in the sixth minute before the Scottish midfielder crossed for striker Dave Kitson to nod narrowly over the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

The Dons offered little going forward and Anthony Kay's tame looping header five minutes after the break was as close as they came to a goal.

Blades substitute Jonathan Forte wasted the best chance of the game with 20 minutes remaining. He raced clear on goal from Kevin McDonald's pass only to see his effort take the slightest of touches off McLoughlin and roll wide.

The visitors thought they should have had a penalty in the 76th minute but Dons substitute Patrick Bamford was rightly booked for diving after he went down easily in the penalty area when through on goal.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. MK Dons: Long 6, McMahon 7, Hill 7, Collins 7, Maguire 7, Doyle 7, McDonald 6, Flynn 7, Murphy 7, Forte 6, Robson 8, Kitson 8, Poleon 6

2nd March Oldham Athletic 0 Sheffield United 2 (Attendance: 6,426)

Blades Line-up: Long, McMahon, Hill, Collins, Maguire, Doyle, McDonald, Flynn, Robson, Kitson, Poleon (McFadzean 71).

Unused: Coyne, Westlake, Ironside, De Girolamo, Whitehouse, Cresswell .

Booked: Doyle 33, McDonald 74, Kitson 87.

Scorers: Doyle 57, Kitson 86.

Man Of The Match: Michael Doyle.

Oldham: Cisak, Brown (Iwelumo 78), Grounds, Wesolowski (Obita 65), M'Voto, Tarkowski, Croft, Furman, Simpson, Smith, Baxter.
Unused: Iwelumo, Murray, Taylor, Millar, Jacob, Winchester

Booked: Yves Mvoto 18, Simpson 35. Baxter 83.

Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).

United boosted their automatic promotion bid with a hard-earned 2-0 victory at Oldham.

Michael Doyle and Dave Kitson were on target for the Blades, who have now kept five consecutive clean sheets. United had the better of the first-half chances, with Harry Maguire heading off target and also forcing a reaction save from Oldham keeper Alex Cisak.

Jose Baxter was a threat for Oldham, but his two efforts from the edge of the box flew narrowly over.
United went in front after 57 minutes when Dominic Poleon's shot was half-saved by Cisak and the rebound was converted by Doyle from 12 yards.

Oldham almost levelled but Matt Smith headed Lee Croft's cross inches wide before seeing his 18-yard shot palmed out by George Long.

United sealed the points after 86 minutes when Cisak charged off his line and failed to gather Tony McMahon's free-kick, giving Kitson the chance to head into an empty net from 14 yards.

Blades Player Performance Ratings v. Oldham: Long 7, McMahon 7, Hill 7, Collins 7, Maguire 8, Doyle 8, McDonald 7, Flynn 6, Robson 7, Kitson 7, Poleon 7, McFadzean 6.