Billy on the spot, injuries and Olliewood - Heroes and villains from Sheffield United's draw with Fulham

The Blades were all over the visitors in the first half, but couldn't find the breakthrough and were almost punished when Ademola Lookman netted for Fulham, who were vastly improved after the break, in the second half.

But Billy Sharp's penalty ensured United a share of the spoils, giving both sides their first point of the Premier League season.

Sharp was certainly one of the heroes for the Blades on the day, but who joins him in that category - and who were the villains?

King Billy

Let's start here. The boyhood Blade and club skipper came off the bench to notch his 99th league goal for the club, in front of the Kop where he used to watch games from as a boy.

"It was a special moment for me," Sharp admitted afterwards, "but without the fans it wasn’t half what it should have been. Can’t wait for the Lane to be packed again."

As someone who has scored at the Kop end of Bramall Lane before [not that I talk about it much], I know it's a great feeling. But at the same time, my experience isn't a little bit tainted by the knowledge that there *should* have been 30,000 there to share the special moment.

Sharp will hope that his 100th league goal for his club will come sooner rather than later; ideally at Anfield this weekend.

But something tells me that if it comes further down the line, when the world is back to something like normal and football fans are trusted to congregate like those who go to the theatre are, he wouldn't mind scoring it in front of a packed Bramall Lane either...

Aleksandar Mitrović

It feels a bit 'kick a man while he's down' to describe Mitrović as a Blades hero but after his display yesterday, it's probably justified.

The Serbian striker is a class act, a striker I would love to see in a Blades shirt. But let's be kind and say he didn't have an afternoon to remember yesterday.

Missing a number of golden chances - as, to be fair, United did too - is bad enough. But then to miss a penalty, clipping the top of the crossbar and almost sending the ball onto London Road, and then giving one away at the other end for the equaliser just compounded his misery.

Oli McBurnie

Twice Chris Basham put the ball on a plate for the Scottish international striker; once he directed the ball wide, and the other he headed pretty much straight at Alphonse Areola.

A similar chance in the second half ended in the same fashion, even if an offside flag would have ruled it out anyway, and although the striker kept plugging away, he will know as well as anyone that United can't afford such profligacy if they are to turn around their start to the campaign.

Sander Berge

On Twitter before the game, a Blades fan disagreed with my picks in the 'Being the Boss' series, where I chose the team I would have selected against Fulham. One choice in particular irked him; Berge on the right of United's midfield three.

The Norwegian was described as not having an attacking sense in him, and this isn't digging out the fan in particular. It's a game of opinions, after all.

But, in the first half particularly, Berge showed the qualities that can make him a success in that role. For a man who is about eight feet tall, he is deceptively quick when he drives forward with the ball, and the way he fended off Tom Cairney while still running with it at his feet was sublime.

Like the rest of United's midfield, he faded in the second half as Fulham began to gradually wrestle control. But with the man I'll mention next back alongside him, Berge seemed to affect the game more and even if the 'No.6' role is perhaps his natural position, he has shown enough so far this season to suggest that he could make more than a fist of the No.8 as well.

The other Ollie

Back on the teamsheet; United back to their fluid best (in the first 45 minutes, at least).

Again, the caveat should be added that his second half display was not as fluid as his first, but the same can be said for the majority of his teammates.

Speaking personally, it was great to see Ollie Norwood back out there and dictating play in midfield. His short passing was crisp, setting up an own-goal that was eventually ruled out for offside with an intelligent ball to Berge and creating another chance with a nice reverse-pass inside to split open the Fulham block.

Although only one of his four Olliewood passes were successful, his overall success rate for the game was up at 88 per cent - the best of United's midfield - and it seemed, from my vantage point at least, that United were more comfortable going forward at times, knowing that Norwood was providing cover behind them.

Aaron Ramsdale

Getting better by the game. His save from Lookman, after he had spilled a cross, showed great reactions, reflexes and also bravery, and one from Cairney - down low to his left to stop a shot going into the bottom corner - was sublime.

He had no chance whatsoever with the goal, and kept United in the game to enable them to earn a point.

The injury gods

Almost the entire left side of United's team is out injured - Lowe, O'Connell, Fleck. Any chance of a break?

Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of Blades coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details HERE. Your support is much appreciated. Chris Holt, Football Editor