Aden Flint’s late strike helps Bristol City pull away from Sheffield United

Bristol City closed the gap on the Championship’s top two with a remarkable win over Sheffield United, sealed by Aden Flint’s 91st-minute winner.

The Blades hit the woodwork four times in an entertaining contest between third and fourth and had dominated until John Fleck’s sending off on the hour. Mark Duffy was the first to find the frame of the goal with a curling free-kick after 20 minutes and 15 minutes later Billy Sharp saw a first-time effort ping away off the bar.

United were denied for a third time in the opening half two minutes later when Sharp’s header from an inswinging corner was brilliantly turned on to the crossbar by Frank Fielding in the Bristol City goal.

The home side’s failure to take advantage of their dominance was punished two minutes before half-time. Jamie Paterson picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and thrashed a scorching effort past Simon Moore to give the visitors the lead.

Three minutes into the second half, though, the Blades were back level, with Leon Clarke, the Championship’s leading scorer, slamming home his 14th of the season with a fizzing effort that left Fielding with no chance.

Before the hour, United had hit the woodwork for a fourth time – Duffy again finding the post with a superb effort from distance – but had also been reduced to 10 men after Fleck’s reckless two-footed lunge on Korey Smith, who was helped off the field and substituted shortly after.

That changed the tone of the game and it took a fine Moore save to keep out Marlon Pack’s effort before Josh Brownhill’s goalbound effort was deflected narrowly wide. But with time running out, Bobby Reid’s cross found Flint at the far post and the centre-half made no mistake from close range.

“I thought Sheffield United were outstanding and they were certainly the better side for the first 55 to 60 minutes. I had to change the shape three times,” said Bristol City’s manager, Lee Johnson. “My boys stuck in. Once they went down to 10 men, I thought we controlled the game.”

The victory takes City to within three points of second-placed Cardiff City, while United’s winless run now stretches to four matches.

“It’s a cruel game at times. I didn’t think we deserved the defeat. I thought we did more than enough to win against a really good side that’s going well,” said Sheffield United’s manager, Chris Wilder.

“I was delighted with the reaction from last Saturday (a 3-1 defeat at Millwall). I think we showed everybody in this division that we’re a decent side when we play as I know we can and we’re a match for anyone.

“Things aren’t really going for us but we’ve just got to keep going. Sometimes fortune doesn’t favour the brave.”