Neil Warnock's Sheffield United side are back on track for the play-offs after securing an impressive derby win over local rivals Rotherham.
In a fiery opening half, United's livewire Steve Kabba caused Rotherham early problems with his lightning pace.
He outpaced Rotherham defender Chris Swailes as the rain fell on a soaking Millmoor pitch in the second minute but his angled shot was into the side netting.
But it was another blistering break by Kabba that led to United taking the lead after 16 minutes.
Swailes was trailing again and lunged in with a hasty tackle in the box sending Kabba crashing down . It was left to midfielder Michael Brown to drive in the resulting penalty in front of the travelling fans.
Although the high-octane derby clash hardly needed any extra edge the goal sparked more full-blooded challenges.
And as the foul count mounted referee Alan Kaye booked four Rotherham players and one from United as the game threatened to reaching boiling point in front of the TV cameras.
United might have added a second goal in the 29th minute when Dean Windass spun cleverly and shot from 15 yards but Mike Pollitt matched it with a superb reflex save diving to his left.
Seconds before the break Rotherham had their best chance of an equaliser. John Mullin's corner was headed goalwards by Alan Lee but was blocked on the line and Chris Sedgwick's follow-up shot was cleared.
United's extra quality shone through in the second half and they stretched their lead in the 63rd minute, three minutes after a freak deflection had almost crept past Blades keeper Paddy Kenny at the other end.
Peter Ndlovu pounced on a half-cleared ball on the left and fired in a fierce low shot that brought another fine save from Pollitt but Kabba reacted first and smashed in his follow-up shot.
Ten minutes from the end Rotherham claimed their consolation goal when striker Lee went down in the area under a challenge from Robert Page. Lee took the penalty himself and fired home his 14th goal of the season.
Seconds from the end Rotherham's former United midfielder Curtis Woodhouse came close to a dream equaliser but hit his shot wide.