Sheffield United continued their excellent resurgence in the Championship by thumping out-of-form Stoke City.

Mark McGuinness headed them into an early lead from a corner before Femi Seriki's excellent strike and Patrick Bamford's headed effort gave the Blades a 3-0 half-time lead for the second game running.

The Potters, who have now lost four of their past five games, never threatened to mount a comeback but Divin Mubama did draw a good save from Michael Cooper in the home goal.

Sydie Peck put the seal on things from the spot with his third goal in successive matches after Andre Brooks was brought down in the area.

A fourth successive victory for Chris Wilder's men, who lost 11 of their first 14 matches, moves them five points clear of the relegation zone and they are now eight points off the top six.

Stoke drop to sixth and are six points behind second-placed Middlesbrough.

After recovering from their dismal start to the season the Blades are starting to show the kind of form and performances that saw them finish third in the Championship last season.

They took the lead at Bramall Lane when McGuinness thundered home a powerful header unchallenged from Gus Hamer's corner kick.

If Stoke boss Mark Robins was unhappy with his side's marking for the first goal he would have been even angrier at how they dealt with the second.

Another corner was headed away at the near post as far as Seriki on the edge of the area and he was able to take a touch before curling a fine goal beyond Viktor Johansson for his first for the club.

Seriki turned provider for the home side's third as he latched on to Peck's precise ball over the top down the right and sent in a cross that Bamford headed in for his second in four appearances.

Despite their poor recent run and this shellacking in South Yorkshire, Stoke still have the meanest defence in the Championship with 18 goals conceded in 19 matches.

However, this was a day to forget and their misery was compounded when Peck scored for the third match in succession, having never scored a senior goal before last month.

Sheffield United welcome struggling Norwich City on Tuesday looking to build on this great run of form and their joint biggest ever win over Stoke.

Meanwhile, the Potters face another tough away task as they visit Ipswich, who beat league leaders Coventry 3-0, on Wednesday.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We always knew we'd have to be good today but there's been a feeling that this was moving forward.

"You can do all the blocks and all the runs but the basic is a good delivery and go and attack it and I'm delighted for Mark [McGuinness].

"When we were getting criticised and we weren't winning games of football I knew we were nudging it forward. It took a bit of time but the bit in the middle has been pretty good.

"Both boxes decide games against dangerous opposition and we needed to be close to or at our best to get any kind of result. It looks favourable from our point of view and we'll take that but we've had to earn the right to win a game of football."

Stoke City boss Mark Robins told BBC Radio Stoke:

"It's a disappointing result and a disappointing performance from the first set play.

"Don't overreact is my first thought even though it wasn't anything near where we want to be or need to be. I've spoken all season about the unwritten contract between us and the supporters and we fell way below that.

"We need to lick our wounds and make sure this doesn't happen again.

"I know exactly what's happened and it's an easy one to sort out as long as you want to go and head the ball and don't get pushed around.

"It's a chastening afternoon. It hurts, it stings but it's part of football.

"It is what it is. You always feel for the supporters who paid their money and travelled and they were brilliant because they were applauding us and I don't think we deserved that. I think we deserved a slap but we've certainly had one from Sheffield United."