Sheffield United rounded off a crucial three-game week with only their second point as they came from behind to draw at Birmingham City this afternoon, despite playing the majority of the game with 10 men. The game turned midway through the first half when Femi Seriki was sent off.
To compound United’s frustration the Blues then went ahead from the resulting free-kick but United didn’t cave and dragged themselves level on the stroke of half-time, when the returning Patrick Bamford rounded James Beadle to score.
The Blades could have levelled earlier had Sydie Peck converted a bizarre penalty conceded by ex-Blade Jack Robinson while the home side hit the woodwork four times in a clash full of incident, if not goals.
Here’s how we rated the Blades at St. Andrew’s...
5. Harrison Burrows 6.5
The left-back had to be alert to the danger early on when Birmingham worked a nice move and he was on hand to clear the danger, but his biggest contribution to the game came later when he chipped a lovely pass to meet the run of Bamford for the Blades' equaliser. He was perhaps a tad lucky not to be punished further for a cheap foul on Stansfield as Ducksch stepped up and hit the crossbar from the resulting free-kick - the fourth time Birmingham were denied by the woodwork this afternoon | UGC Photo: UGC
6. Sydie Peck 4
The young man saw plenty of the ball in midfield early on and then had the chance to get the 10-man Blades back in the game from the penalty spot in bizarre circumstances, after former Blade Robinson picked the ball up in open play - probably thinking it was a goal-kick. After an age the game got back under way and maybe the delay got in Peck's head a little as he didn't connect well with the spot kick, and Beadle saved down to his right to rather sum up the Blades' first-half fortunes before Bamford pounced | UGC Photo: UGC
7. Jairo Riedewald 5
A solid rather than spectacular display in the middle of the park from the Dutchman, who couldn't repeat his key role at Norwich on Wednesday but did make a few vital blocks and interceptions, a couple of times putting himself in the right place at the right time to snuff out a Birmingham cut back. That is skill and experience rather than just luck. Replaced later on by the returning Tom Davies | UGC Photo: UGC
8. Andre Brooks 5
There were a few dangerous opportunities but on the whole Brooks didn't look his normal dangerous self down the right, although the early loss of his partner in crime Seriki probably didn't help in that respect. Replaced by Soumare late on | UGC Photo: UGC