After shipping 23 goals in their last five home matches, Sheffield United were happy to cede possession to Fulham in the early stages.
Ultimately, Chris Wilder seemed pleased with his side’s resilience, with Antonee Robinson’s unthreatening 25-yard strike into the arms of Ivo Grbić, the visitors’ only sight of goal in the first 25 minutes.
Yet, Sheffield United had little to show in the attacking third, due to their ultra-defensive setup.
The Blades’ Anel Ahmedhodžić eventually managed to squirm a shot towards goal, but the attempt needed more force to test Bernd Leno.
Usual service then resumed, and Fulham suddenly increased the tempo and nearly broke the Blades’ rearguard before HT.
Rodrigo Muniz wrestled free from his two markers and toe-poked towards goal, only for Grbić’s fingertip save to deny the Brazilian as Sheffield United went into the break with a first-half clean sheet at Bramall Lane – a first since early December.
Marco Silva’s outfit came out in the second half with greater urgency to strike and the Cottagers had a string of chances.
Muniz first the post with a looping header, while Saša Lukić and Alex Iwobi saw close-range shots blocked by the steely Blades backline.
Just before the hour mark, Sheffield United capitalised on Tosin Adarabioyo’s loose touch in midfield, allowing Ollie McBurine to break forward and whip an inch-perfect low cross to Brereton Díaz, who fired into the net to end the Blades’ three-match goalless run at home.
The South Yorkshire cheers were quickly silenced, however, as João Palhinha was left unmarked in the penalty area to head past Grbić from Andreas Pereira’s corner.
It didn’t take long for the Bramall Lane faithful to roar again with Brereton Díaz cutting back for McBurnie to finish inside the six-yard area.
Seconds later though, Ben Brereton Díaz had the home crowd back on their feet by bundling in Gustavo Hamer’s inch-perfect cross.
Sheffield United were on cloud nine, but their fans still had to sit through a tense finale, when Fulham substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid hammered a 20-yard strike in off the post.
True to their form as relegation certainties, heartbreak came with practically the final kick as Muniz showed why he is the Premier League’s highest scorer since February after acrobatically sending an overhead kick high into the net past a rooted Grbić.
Another setback for Sheffield United leaves the Yorkshire side seven points from Premier League safety, as defensive issues continue to plague Wilder’s outfit.
It was a gritty comeback from Fulham, as two moments of quality late on helped the West Londoners to keep their top-half push rolling on.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ben Brereton Díaz (Sheffield United)
