WATCH the EFL Championship LIVE on beIN SPORTS | Sign up to take advantage of our 7-day FREE TRIAL here | AU | NZ

Mark McGuinness's 10th-minute header put the Blades in front before two goals in four minutes from Femi Seriki and Patrick Bamford had the game all but won by half-time. 

Further gloss was added to the scoreline 13 minutes from time when Ashley Phillips fouled Andre Brooks, with Sydie Peck stepping up to dispatch the resulting penalty.

It is now four wins on the spin for Wilder's team, which moved up to 18th on the table and is just eight points behind Stoke, which occupies the final play-off position after 19 games.

"We always knew we'd have to be good today but there's been a feeling that this was moving forward," Blades boss Wilder said.

"You can do all the blocks and all the runs but the basic is a good delivery and go and attack it and I'm delighted for Mark [McGuinness].

"When we were getting criticised and we weren't winning games of football I knew we were nudging it forward. It took a bit of time but the bit in the middle has been pretty good.

"Both boxes decide games against dangerous opposition and we needed to be close to or at our best to get any kind of result. It looks favourable from our point of view and we'll take that but we've had to earn the right to win a game of football."

Stoke boss Mark Robins said he thought his side got what it deserved with the heavy defeat.

"Don't overreact is my first thought even though it wasn't anything near where we want to be or need to be. I've spoken all season about the unwritten contract between us and the supporters and we fell way below that," he said.

"It's a chastening afternoon. It hurts, it stings but it's part of football.

"You always feel for the supporters who paid their money and travelled and they were brilliant because they were applauding us and I don't think we deserved that.

"I think we deserved a slap and we've certainly had one from Sheffield United."