Stoke City dented Sheffield United's play-off hopes with a narrow home win.
Morgan Gibbs-White had two decent opportunities for the Blades in the first half but sent his efforts wide under pressure from home defenders.
The hosts had created very little before Josh Tymon's cross was put through his own goal by United defender John Egan.
Paul Heckingbottom's men searched for a late equaliser but Ben Osborn's dipping effort that went just wide was as close as they came.
Defeat saw the Bramall Lane side drop down to eighth in the table, one point behind sixth-placed Blackburn with a game in hand.