The points were shared at Bramall Lane as Sheffield United fought back to draw 1-1 against 10 man Derby County.
The Blades trailed for much of the game after Bobby Clark opened the scoring on the 37th minute, but Patrick Bamford’s equaliser on the 79th minute rescued a point for Chris Wilder’s side.
Sheffield United came into this game in 11th place, just two points off the playoff positions, and looking to return to winning ways following a last-minute 3-2 defeat away to Portsmouth. However, they struggled for most of the match to break down a Derby team sitting 23rd in the Championship and without a win in their previous 7 games.
The visitors came into this game with several players missing through injury, including captain Lewis Travis. The injuries meant John Eustace’s defence had right back Ryan Nyambe playing centre back, and left winger Ryan Hedges filling in at left back.
The hosts struggled to create much going forward in the first half, with an uninspiring attacking display allowing Derby’s makeshift defence to keep them at bay. Their best chance of the half came from a Kalvin Phillips effort outside the box, but his looping long shot was batted away by Derby’s returning goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Derby threatened going forward, with a cross from Joe Ward cleared into the path of Clark, whose snapshot was turned behind by Michael Cooper for a corner.
The Rams came close to taking the lead when Clark played Carlton Morris through on goal, but Cooper denied the striker in a one on one.
They eventually opened the scoring after 37 minutes courtesy of Clark. Sammie Szmodics played in the overlapping Ryan Hedges, whose shot struck the post before falling to Clark who fired the ball into an empty net.
Sheffield United went into the tunnel to a chorus of boos, with little improvement after the break. However, the game changed as Dion Sanderson was given a second yellow card after 66 minutes for a foul on Femi Seriki, leaving the visitors down to 10 men and without a natural centre back on the pitch.
The dismissal sent the rest of the match in the Blades’ favour, with Derby forced to focus on defending their lead as the hosts looked to take advantage of the extra man.
Wilder made the decision to chase the game more, as he brought on 19 year old winger Romelle Donovan, whose pace and direct running gave his side a new attacking option out wide.
Donovan tested Zetterstrom from distance, forcing the goalkeeper to push the effort behind for a corner.
United continued to push forward, and their pressure paid off in the 79th minute. Donovan’s cross curled past everyone apart from Patrick Bamford, who bundled the ball over the line to equalise. However, the striker took a knock to the shoulder in the process and was forced off after his goal, with Tyrese Campbell coming on.
Romelle Donovan continued to cause problems for the visitors, playing Campbell through on goal before the forward squared the ball across the goalmouth, but no Blade player was there to finish.
Campbell came close again when he controlled Donovan’s cross and fired towards goal, only for Zetterstrom to react sharply and tip the ball onto the crossbar.
Sheffield United continued to push forward in added time, with a Kalvin Phillips free-kick finding Sydie Peck, whose effort was saved by Zetterstrom before a goalmouth scramble came to nothing.
In a post-match press conference, Chris Wilder said “The form has been pretty good since we got to the international break, and there was an opportunity to be ruthless in our approach but it was one we didn’t take.”
Sheffield United will be looking to build consistency in their promotion push as they host Wrexham, while Derby will be looking to put an end to their winless run away at Millwall.
