Scores on the doors from our man at Pride Park as Sheffield United sign off a poor season with a welcome win on the final day

Sheffield United came from behind at Pride Park to sign off a poor season on a high note, and help deny Derby County a final-day dash at the play-offs. The Blades finish the season on 60 points, a respectable total considering they had none from their first five league games.

It has been a frustrating campaign for all involved but United at least sent their fans into the summer with something to hold onto, with goals from Tom Cannon and Sydie Peck earning the points after Sam Szmodics’ early opener.

Derby had to win to have a chance of gatecrashing the top six and were quick out of the blocks, roared on by a loud home support. Szmodics should have scored inside 90 seconds before eventually tapping home from close range.

But United stayed in the game and took their moments when they came, with sub Danny Ings being denied a third from close range by Jacob Zetterstrom in the Derby goal. Here’s how we rated United’s players on the day...

Adam Davies 6

The United goalkeeper was quickly into his work inside the first 30 seconds as he was forced to address an effort from Ward down to his left as Derby looked to race out of the blocks, with Szmodics opening the scoring after squandering a one-on-one inside a minute and a half.

There was a let-off for the United goalkeeper when he took a second or two too long on the ball under pressure and had to resort to a rushed outside-of-the-boot kick out that fortunately didn’t fall to a Derby man for a tap-in, although he was a lot more composed in what he had to do from that part on.

Even if he did provoke frustration from his manager on the touchline after turning down two opportunities to throw out and start a quick United break, instead deciding to punt long to Hamer who was being wrestled by his marker. Showed good bravery late on to get to the ball ahead of Salvesen, taking a whack in the process

Femi Seriki 5

Back in the starting XI at Hoever’s expense and had a tough afternoon defensively against the likes of Banel and Szmodics, who should have put his side ahead even earlier than he did when he broke down the United right but curled wide.

He tried to get forward when he could but had mixed success, making way for Hoever as part of a triple United change soon after they dragged themselves level

Japhet Tanganga 6

The United captain was involved in a running battle with the burly Morris all afternoon and it boiled over into a flashpoint between the two in the first half, which resulted in a lot of pushing and shoving and shirt-pulling before two words from ref Nield calmed it down for a while.

But it continued to simmer and Tanganga was booked for one silly foul too many on the Derby No.9. Morris may have won that battle but it was Tanganga and United that won the war in the end

Mark McGuinness 5

Kept Derby at bay with a good early tackle as the home side looked poised to break the deadlock, although the chance came from the defender’s own poor header under no pressure whatsoever.

Won a fair bit in the air as you’d imagine - including a big late header as Derby loaded the ball into the box in earch of an equaliser - but his lack of mobility will be an issue if United want to push for promotion next term

Harrison Burrows 6

Got in decent positions a few times down the left to trouble Derby with some decent delivery, which he sometimes found and sometimes didn’t. ooked late in the first half for a slightly mistimed challenge on former teammate Brereton Diaz as the pair contested a bouncing ball, with the former Blade’s reaction probably making up ref Nield’s mind.

But it was a generally positive display from the left-back, another who United have earmarked for a big campaign next term after dropping off his time around, and was almost capped with a goal late on but his driven effort flashed wide of the Derby goal

Oliver Arblaster 6

Another good hour in the tank for the midfielder, who has been earmarked for a big role next season after undergoing a vital pre-season. There were some more good signs of his rhythm returning here, and a superb block in the first half prevented Ozoh testing Davies. Made way for Rothwell

Sydie Peck 8

Like most in a United shirt he was under the pump in the first half and had to be alert defensively to track the run of Brereton Diaz as he looked to race through on goal against his own club. But he was as composed on the ball as he was combative off it, and put United in front with a lovely curling effort into the far corner.

That capped a top display from the young man but didn’t define it. He was already in the running for the Blades’ star man but the goal energised him even more and he looked in the mood for more, fashioning a couple of chances for himself before Ings took over and forced a save from Zetterstrom.

Even in injury time he was still snapping into tackles, ludicrously punished with a free-kick for a brilliant challenge when already on the deck from an earlier one, before seeing a late deflected effort saved after good work from Chong.

He was on his knees in exhaustion at the end, showing what this meant to him and like most, he is set for a big summer - whether that’s at Bramall Lane or elsewhere. Displays like this, though, only reiterate what a talent he is. He is destined for big things, wherever that may be.

Callum O’Hare 6

Ran his blood to water as ever but the chance just never seemed to fall to him, summed up when Hoever looked to have picked out his clever run at 2-1 but Langas just got enough of a touch on the ball to deflect it towards his goalkeeper Zetterstrom. Replaced to a good ovation by Riedewald

Gus Hamer 7

If this is to be his last game in a United shirt, which remains a distinct possibility, then he didn’t go out with a bang as such, more an understated display of what a good footballer he is. He tested Zetterstrom with a free-kick for United’s first chance of the game.

But his most important contribution was running onto the end of Ward’s under-hit backpass and squaring unselfishly to Bamford for Cannon’s goal, getting another asisst for Peck’s goal before he blew up and was replaced by Ings with around 20 minutes to go

Tom Cannon 7

Came into the side up front alongside Bamford but was left chasing shadows for much of the first half as Derby dominated. But to his credit he stayed in the game and got his reward with a composed finish into the corner to drag United level, after Hamer and then Bamford capitalised on Ward’s mistake.

Patrick Bamford 7

A display of guile and experience from the former England man who, like Cannon, had little to work with in the first half but came to the fore in the second. There was unselfish play to set up Cannon’s goal after the chance opened up after Ward’s mistake, and he could have had another assist when he picked out sub Ings’ run but Zetterstrom denied him well from close range

Subs: Danny Ings

A decent cameo off the bench in which he nearly scored and played his part in seeing out the win, using every ounce of his experience

Tahith Chong

Booked for showing his rustration after a good run swhich saw him beat two players was crudely ended, and he almost had an assist when he won the ball back up high and squared for Peck whose deflected effort was saved

Also used: Hoever, Rothwell, Riedewald