Sheffield United kept their slim hopes of automatic promotion alive with a victory that piled the pressure on relegation-threatened Cardiff.

Gustavo Hamer's instinctive first-half strike gave the hosts the lead, the Championship Player of the Season candidate poking home after Tyrese Campbell's shot was deflected into his path.

Brazilian Hamer also hit the woodwork with a free-kick as the Blades had the better of the goalmouth action in a tense contest.

Cardiff battled throughout but lacked the quality to get back into the game and their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Ben Brereton Diaz fired wide from close range three minutes from time.

The win halted a three-game losing streak that has seen Chris Wilder's men slip behind Leeds United and Burnley in the race for the top two.

They remain third with three games in hand, but five points adrift of leaders Leeds and the Clarets, who they visit in a crucial clash on Monday.

While United are chasing a return to the Premier League, Cardiff are in danger of going the other way, having won just one of their last nine games.

Luton's win at Derby saw the Welsh club drop to 23rd in the table, although they are still just one point adrift of safety.