Patrick Bamford scored and was later sent off as Sheffield United claimed a much-needed win to dent Ipswich Town's Championship promotion push.

The home side, who started the day three points clear of the relegation zone, took the lead when Callum O'Hare finished expertly after a rapid counter-attack and Andre Brooks' deflected strike made it 2-0 just before the break.

Jack Clarke's penalty got the third-placed visitors back in the game after Mark McGuinness's handball but Bamford's clinical strike quickly restored the two-goal advantage.

The one-time England striker was then sent off for the first time in his career for a dive as he looked to go around Town goalkeeper Christian Walton.

Kieran McKenna's side are now five points behind second-placed Middlesbrough, albeit with a game in hand, and eight behind leaders Coventry.

The Blades are six points above the bottom three and nine off the play-off places.

Both managers made wholesale changes from their midweek outings, with Chris Wilder making six alterations from the side that began the 1-0 loss at Southampton while McKenna made five from the 2-0 win over Bristol City.

In an open beginning both sides had chances, with Michael Cooper saving well from Sindre Egelli and Walton keeping out efforts from O'Hare and Gus Hamer.

Cooper made further saves from George Hirst and Sammie Szmodics as the away side looked to be getting on top but from a Town corner the home side took the lead.

Ben Mee hacked the ball clear, Clarke inadvertently directed the ball to Hamer and his expertly-weighted pass released O'Hare, who finished well under pressure for a eighth of the season.

That got the home fans up and they were delighted when Brooks made it two in time added on at the end of the half after Walton had parried efforts from both Bamford and Femi Seriki.

McKenna made a triple change 10 minutes into the second half and his side were back in the game five minutes later when Clarke hammered a penalty in off the post.

However, hopes of a comeback were soon dashed as Hamer got his second assist of the day with another excellent first-time ball and Bamford finished with aplomb.

Bamford, who was captaining the side for the first time after joining in November, then sullied his and the home side's day with a red card after two quick bookings.

He will now miss their trip to promotion-chasing Millwall next Saturday, while Ipswich will look to get over this blip at home to out-of-sorts Preston on the same afternoon.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"The feel of today was exactly how I want Bramall Lane always. It was edgy, it was spiky and we played well.

"We went toe-to-toe with a decent side and I believe we deserved the win.

"There's a lot of noise out there and all we can do is do our best and represent the club in the best way and put a shift in.

"I thought we got everything absolutely spot on. How we set the game plan up in terms of the press and how we managed the game... It's been a good afternoon for us."

On Bamford's red card: "It's disappointing. I don't think it was a booking over on the far side. Just manage the game and understand what it's about."

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk:

"I think we had some big moments up until the first goal. They had one or two but we had two or three really where we should go 1-0 up.

"We know that completely changes the complexion of the day and then we've gifted them the first goal really. It's a really, really bad one from us.

"It comes from our set-piece after we've just had a big chance to go one up.

"That was a big blow and then we didn't find enough to get to half-time.

"Second half we had a go, we get a goal back and I really fancy us from there. Really frustrated of course, from a long ball we don't deal with, we go to 3-1.

"And from there it was just too much to come back into. A disappointing day."