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David McGoldrick has scored 15 league goals for Sheffield United since his switch from Ipswich Town last summer

Sheffield United took a giant step towards winning promotion to the Premier League with a comfortable victory at mid-table Hull City.

The Blades are now three points clear of third-placed Leeds United after Marcelo Bielsa's side were beaten by Brentford in Monday's late kick-off.

With a superior goal difference, one victory from their remaining two fixtures - against Ipswich Town and Stoke City - is likely to be enough to confirm Sheffield United's promotion.

David McGoldrick was left unmarked to powerfully head in John Fleck's outswinging corner to give the Blades an early lead against Hull, and the Republic of Ireland international doubled their advantage with a stunning 25-yard effort midway through the first half.

Enda Stevens headed in fellow full-back George Baldock's cross three minutes before half-time to put Chris Wilder's side in firm control.

Sheffield United had regained the upper hand in the race for the top two on Good Friday, going second on goal difference after they beat Nottingham Forest and Leeds lost at home to 10-man Wigan.

And the Blades took advantage of kicking off earlier than their Yorkshire rivals to extend their unbeaten run to five matches and boost their goal difference to +35, 11 better than Leeds.

Despite again being without captain and top scorer Billy Sharp because of a hamstring problem, United made easy work of a Hull side who came into the match unbeaten in 12 home league games.

McGoldrick's early header settled any possible nerves at the KCOM Stadium and the forward then netted the 100th league goal of his career with a fine strike from outside the box.

Hull's top scorer Jarrod Bowen forced visiting keeper Dean Henderson into a save in the final 10 minutes as the Tigers slipped to a third successive defeat.

Hull City manager Nigel Adkins told BBC Radio Humberside:

"They've gone and won the game - they've had four attempts at goal. In my opinion, therein lies the situation.

"I have had a brief dialogue with the owner [Assem Allam]. We are going to sit down and talk [about a new contract to stay on as manager] on Thursday.

"We have two important games to go, I want us to do well in them. We were tipped for relegation at the start of the season."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"It's a great win for us, I'm absolutely delighted. Our ex-manager [Nigel Adkins, Wilder's predecessor] was never going to make it easy for us.

"We just keep rolling on. We needed a big weekend of football and Friday [when United's beat Nottingham Forest 2-0] really set us up.

"We have to go and get the next win and we'll go after it on Saturday."