Sheffield United leave Millwall with encouragement but one lingering regret as boss outlines approach to crucial season phase

They could have lost it, perhaps should have won it and ultimately had to settle for a point from a typically tough trip down to The Den. But while the history books may record a 1-1 scoreline between Sheffield United and Millwall on Saturday afternoon, it won’t tell the story.

This was as entertaining a game as many have seen in the entire Championship season, two teams desperate for points but having to share them after absolutely going at each other all afternoon. United had the better chances, two falling to the in-form Callum O’Hare, and conceded the equaliser about two minutes after going ahead through the excellent Andre Brooks.

Around those flashpoints there were innumerable shows of character and grit and those other intangible qualities that are nevertheless so, so important. This was not a day for anyone in midfield as the ball whizzed around the park but skipper for the day Sydie Peck gave no inch, especially in a late challenge with former Wednesday man and Lions debut-maker Barry Bannan.

Tom Cannon left absolutely everything out there as he led the line on his own, allowing United to partner O’Hare, Gus Hamer and Brooks together, and at the end was moving like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz as cramp set in. Brooks continues to grow by the game while centre-halves Tyler Bindon and Mark McGuinness stood up to Millwall’s threats for the most part.

A trip to The Den is never easy but it was made even more difficult for United by the sight of their teammate Sam McCallum being stretchered off with a serious-looking ankle injury. A side with a weaker mentality could have caved after that but United stayed in the game and were perhaps unfortunate not to be rewarded with three points.

The two best chances after Brooks’ opener fell to the man they would have wanted them to, the dangerous O’Hare. The first one was a header he skewed off target via his bandaged head, a remnant of last weekend’s blow to that area against Ipswich.

Sheffield United leave Millwall with encouragement but one lingering regret as boss outlines approach to crucial season phase

But the second was meat and drink for a player of his quality, really, when Femi Seriki’s cross fell into his path about five yards out. He tried to open up his body to finish and got it horribly wrong, the ball skewing in the opposite direction instead.

The initial feel at full-time was that this was a good point but when the team bus finds its way back to Sheffield and boss Chris Wilder puts his head on the pillow tonight, he may privately rue the big moments of the game at each end.

The gap to sixth-placed Wrexham now stands at 11 points, after the Welshmen became the latest side to win at Hillsborough this term, and United will know that they have to string together a pretty significant run sooner rather than later if they are to make the late-season dash up the table that is still tantalisingly within their grasp.

“It was possibly the most enjoyable game we’ve had all season,” was Wilder’s verdict after full-time. “You enjoy wins and whatever, but from the first minute it was game on for our boys.

“I said to them before the game, I always think it's a sign of a good player in the Championship if they play well here and if the team plays well here. I believe we were coming to arguably the hardest away fixture that we could have at this particular moment.

“We knew what was coming but we went toe-to-toe with them. I think there will always be home supporters who won't be happy about the result but I think, taking the result out of it, it was a top game with two good sides going toe-to-toe.

“We were a touch disappointed because we got the ball into some really good areas and couldn’t find that last little bit that ultimately changes the direction and emotion of the game and gives you an opportunity to win. That is my slight, slight criticism of our team today.

“I can't go away thinking we should have done this, should have done that. A bit unlucky here, a bit unlucky there. You get what you deserve. I think we deserved a result today. We were a bit greedy that we wanted three points but we have to start putting runs together if we want to climb the table.

“Our home form's been good. The away form has been sort of up and down but hopefully consistency over the last two games will give the boys a lot of belief and encouragement. Because I thought they showed a lot of personality and belief and honesty in their performance today.