Wimbledon kept their hopes of a First Division play-off place alive with victory at Bramall Lane.

Dons midfielder Andy Roberts scored the only goal of the game a minute into the second half.

The Blades have now gone five games without a win to virtually end any outside chance of promotion.

Peter Ndlovu's 75th-minute shot against the post was the home side's best opportunity of the game.

Wimbledon hung on for victory and are now seven points behind sixth-placed Preston with a game in hand.

Both teams struggled in an uneventful first half. United went close on 24 minutes when Darren Bullock headed over a Bobby Ford free-kick from close range.

While Ndlovu fired wide from 25 yards after intercepting a loose Trond Andersen pass, at the other end Wimbledon went close to breaking the deadlock on 37 minutes.

Gareth Ainsworth's tight angled attempt deflected onto the post after United keeper Frank Talia failed to handle a Neal Ardley ball into the box. Midfielder Kevin Cooper could only blast the rebound wide of goal from 12-yards.

A minute before the break United's Ford hit a first-time drive wide of the keeper's right hand post from 22 yards out.

But it was the visitors who took the lead early in the second half. Roberts met Ardley's dangerous free-kick to head past a stranded Talia from six yards.

Midway through the second half the Dons went close to doubling their lead when Cooper's run at goal ended in a fierce drive from the midfield, which went a yard wide from the top corner.

United pressed forward and came close to scoring an equaliser through Ndlovu. The Zimbabwean international found space to fire a 20-yard effort against Kelvin Davis' left hand post.

Ndlovu again caused the Dons problems, but fired wide of target minutes later.

United substitute Andy Morrison headed over a Ford free-kick late on, as United's chance of winning a point faded as the final whistle drew nearer.

Wimbledon surged forward with a minute of the game remaining. Substitute Wayne Gray wasted a great chance to wrap up the win by firing wide from 18 yards.

Teams

Sheff Utd: Talia, Kozluk, Murphy, Curle, Uhlenbeek (Morrison 62), Devlin, Bullock (Tonge 68), Ford, Ndlovu, Asaba, Suffo (Thomas 64).

Subs Not Used: Montgomery, Kelly.

Booked: Ndlovu.

Wimbledon: Davis, Cunningham, Holloway, Williams, Kimble, Ardley, Roberts, Ainsworth (Gray 66), Andersen, Nielsen, Cooper.

Subs Not Used: Heald, Agyemang, Willmott, Hawkins.

Booked: Holloway.

Goals: Roberts 46.

Att: 14,527

Ref: M Fletcher (Warley).