Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick believes his side were rewarded for a “good performance” after beating Sheffield United 1-0.
A strong display from Boro saw Emmanuel Latte Lath find an 80th-minute breakthrough, heading home from Finn Azaz’s cross.
Captain Luke Ayling made a superb goal-line clearance from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s shot in the first half to keep his side in the game and Boro went on to have several chances with Ben Doak, Riley McGree and Tommy Conway all coming close.
Carrick said: “I thought they started well, caused us a few issues and a little bit in between.
“Didn’t quite hit that rhythm and bit of control we were looking for, we had to deal with a few little bits.
“If anything it’s a really good sign for me that we did have that, which in some way could have made it even more difficult, but we had that belief and confidence to carry on and get back to what we’re doing.
“I’m just really pleased for the boys that they got rewarded for such a good performance and the good football we’ve been playing with and without the ball, it was a good night for us.”
The result comes following two straight defeats to Watford and Bristol City and Boro are now only two points away from the play-off places.
Latte Lath started the game on the bench after being dropped, but struck just three minutes after being brought on and Carrick expressed his delight for the striker.
He said: “I felt Emmanuel coming off the bench fresh and sharp like he did would have a big benefit for us tonight and was given the opportunity to make the difference.
“I’m totally delighted for him, it’s an important goal for us and the team.
“A great ball in from Finn, I thought on the front foot and attacking-wise as a team we were good, the boys can gain a lot from that.
“Emmanuel is going to take a massive push from that and so he should, it was great to see him get the rewards from all his hard work that maybe he hasn’t always had what he’s deserved.”
Defeat was a disappointing return to the Riverside Stadium for Blades boss Chris Wilder, who previously managed Middlesbrough for just under a year.
The Blades slipped to fifth following back-to-back defeats to Leeds and Boro.
He said: “They just connected better in the final third than we did. They had chances, possibly more chances than we did, but it quite easily could’ve been a result for us.
“Two of the toughest places to get a result, back-to-back, we’ve not got what we would’ve liked to have out of the last two games.
“We keep working at it, they’re a really good side and we’ve lost, in my opinion, a pretty tight game.
“We’ve lost two games, maybe two tougher games than they’ve lost, and we have to go and get a result we want on Saturday against Stoke.”
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