Anel Ahmedhodzic scored one and made one as Sheffield United squeezed home against 10-man Sunderland.
The game turned on a two-minute passage just past the half-hour mark when Sunderland were reduced to 10 men - and the Blades took the lead.
Dan Neil was dismissed for dragging down James McAtee on the edge of the box - and the hosts cashed in.
Ahmedhodzic rose highest to powerfully head home Oliver Norwood's inswinging left-wing corner, for the Swedish-born Bosnia-Herzegovina defender's first goal in three years.
Summer signing Ahmedhodzic then set up the second goal as the Sunderland defence were pulled apart - his pull-back from close to the byline set up Max Lowe's neat right-foot finish at the near post.