The Blades began in an edgy fashion, but Iliman Ndiaye’s second-half header sealed a big three points in the race for the top six. Sander Berge also hit the post while the Blades had a couple of penalty appeals turned down – one by the returning skipper Billy Sharp, who received a standing ovation on his return to the side after a hamstring injury.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on an afternoon that play-off rivals Middlesbrough, Luton Town and Millwall all drew, putting United in a good position in the table with just two games of the regular Championship season to play …
![His first-throw in, after some fanfare, landed on the top of the Cardiff net but after that, he was virtually faultless. Put his head in where it hurt, cleared everything and looked to play too](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNiMDM0OGY2LWVlZmQtNDRmNS05ZDVkLWViZTlmNjg4MDExZDowMjg3ODdiMS01ODI5LTQ5NzMtOGU0OS00YmJhMWM2Njg4OWE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Jack Robinson 7
His first-throw in, after some fanfare, landed on the top of the Cardiff net but after that, he was virtually faultless. Put his head in where it hurt, cleared everything and looked to play too Photo: Andrew Yates
![Was indebted to a great challenge by Robinson in the first half after Drameh beat him down the right, but did well in the second to time his tackle perfectly as City looked to break just after the Blades went ahead. Saw late appeals for a penalty waved away](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNkMGRhYTI3LTgyZTYtNDQzNC04NTQxLWVmYzlmZDA4M2MwOToxMmE0ZTAzMy02NjU2LTQxMDYtYWExMy02NWE3Y2ExYTAyYmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Enda Stevens 7
Was indebted to a great challenge by Robinson in the first half after Drameh beat him down the right, but did well in the second to time his tackle perfectly as City looked to break just after the Blades went ahead. Saw late appeals for a penalty waved away Photo: Darren Staples
![Brilliant pass to Gibbs-White in injury time almost led to a second, but Berge's shot bounced back off the post. Booked for a late challenge on Colwill but was otherwise faultless, setting the tone for United in midfield as he so often does](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmYyNmY3Njg5LTI4Y2MtNGI4OS05YzgyLTgzZDA0MDMzMWQxYzphMjgyYjRmZi1iNTc4LTQxYTItYjdhMy1hYTMxNWQ3YmM1YjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Ollie Norwood 7.5
Brilliant pass to Gibbs-White in injury time almost led to a second, but Berge's shot bounced back off the post. Booked for a late challenge on Colwill but was otherwise faultless, setting the tone for United in midfield as he so often does Photo: Simon Bellis
![Showed yet more signs of the Fleck of old as he snapped into tackles and drove forward with the ball](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjcxZWI4OTg4LWNlZmQtNGU0NS1hOWNjLTNhZjA0OGI3M2QwZToyMTAxNDAwZi1iMDBhLTRkMGUtYWVmOC0xNGViYzJmMmNjMzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. John Fleck 7
Showed yet more signs of the Fleck of old as he snapped into tackles and drove forward with the ball Photo: Andrew Yates