Derby County suffer a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day.

Harry Wilson fired in his ninth goal of the season with his free-kick to draw level following Billy Sharp’s goal just before half-time.

Goals from David McGoldrick and Leon Clarke lifted the Blades to the victory to start the second half of the season as the Rams moved to sixth in the Sky Bet Championship table.

It was a tight affair from the beginning with both sides coming close to grabbing the opening goal within the first two minutes. David McGoldrick shifted on to his right foot before firing wide then straight down the other end, Mason Mount was denied from close range by Dean Henderson with his effort from a tight angle.

On ten minutes, Scott Carson pulled out an incredible one-handed save when Enda Stevens whipped the ball to the far post for Sharp to nod on but somehow, the Derby ‘keeper got to it.

With half an hour gone, Wilson managed to get around Henderson down the right side of the box to take aim, but George Baldock cleared the effort off the line. Wilson was again in the action as the Rams look to break the deadlock. His free-kick effort glided towards the far post and Blades’ defender Chris Basham directed his header just wide.

The home side took the lead with five minutes left in the half. Jack O’Conner worked down the left side to cross into Sharp who snuck his shot past Carson at the far post.

Five minutes into the second-half and the Blades came close to doubling their lead but it was the Rams’ counter-attack that set up their equaliser.

McGoldrick took advantage of a mistake at the back but as he collided with Fikayo Tomori the ball hit the post and Derby took it straight down the other end where Mount won a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Wilson rifled his effort towards the top corner and it knocked the crossbar on its way in for the Welshman’s fourth goal from a free-kick for the Rams.

The Blades took the lead again in the 64th minute when McGoldrick lobbed over Carson for his shot to bounce in.

Their third came with five minutes to go when Blades’ substitute Clarke nodded in from United’s free-kick.

Sheffield United: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell, Baldock, Norwood, Duffy (Clarke, 79), Fleck, Stevens; Sharp (C), McGoldrick

Unused Subs: Coutts, Stearman, Johnson, Moore, Cranie Washington

Derby County: Carson; Bogle, Keogh (C), Tomori, Wisdom (Waghorn 85); Mount, Huddlestone (Evans, 69), Bryson; Jozefzoon (Nugent, 69), Marriott, Wilson

Unused Subs: Pearce, Roos, Holmes, Bird