A stoppage time winner against promoted Leicester at Bramall Lane gave Sheffield United three hard-earned points.
And with Ipswich losing against Rotherham later in the day, the Blades assured themselves of a place in the play-offs.
Neil Warnock's players fought back after conceding a goal inside four minutes to thoroughly outplay a City side hampered by the dismissal of Callum Davidson.
The Blades snatched victory in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Carl Asaba scored his second goal of the match from point-blank range.
A fiercely competitive first 45 minutes had seen two controversial goals - both allowed to stand by referee Andy D'Urso - but United's outstanding second-half display, when the Foxes were rarely in the game, should now ensure their involvement in the play-offs.
Muzzy Izzet's goal against Brighton on Saturday had set Leicester up for the 2-0 victory which finally sealed promotion to the Barclaycard Premiership, but the midfielder was missing at Bramall Lane with a gashed knee.
Manager Micky Adams brought in striker Brian Deane to replace the Turkish international, moving Trevor Benjamin onto the left wing, and the switch could hardly have worked any better as the Foxes grabbed the lead in the fourth minute.
Benjamin, who appeared to catch Peter Ndlovu with his elbow during the build-up, curled a cross to the far post where Deane was left unmarked to hammer a low shot across goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and into the net.
The early strike unsettled United but Dean Windass almost took advantage of their first opportunity after 12 minutes, volleying Michael Tonge's corner narrowly wide of the post.
And two minutes later, the hosts pulled themselves back into the match following an excellent run from Tonge.
The former Manchester United player picked up the ball just inside the Leicester half and dribbled into the box before a precise cut-back found Asaba, who forced a close-range shot through Ian Walker's legs.
The goal angered City, who claimed the ball had gone out for a throw-in prior to Asaba's finish, and Andy Impey was booked for dissent by D'Urso.
Warnock's side continued to pose problems for Leicester and Michael Brown should have added a second goal in the 27th minute when he ran clear of the visitors' back line but whipped a powerful shot over the crossbar.
Deane then scuffed a volley wide from a good position and 60 seconds before half-time City were denied the lead by the woodwork.
James Scowcroft was given space outside the box and fired a low shot goalwards which beat Kenny but deflected off the outside of the post.
However, Leicester were rescued in the same fashion immediately after the break when Ndlovu ran on to Asaba's header and beat Walker with a stunning volley which rattled the post.
The effort deserved a goal but City's problems soon deepened when Davidson - booked in the first half for a foul on Brown - was dismissed in the 56th minute after clattering the same player with a needless challenge.
The sending off left Adams' players chasing the ball but United's pressure failed to create many decent opportunities, with Brown wasting the best - a free-kick from the edge of the box - by firing against the wall.
But after Steve Kabba had headed a wonderful chance wide in stoppage time, Shaun Murphy's knock down was clipped over the line by Asaba.
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