Sheffield United had to settle for a share of the spoils against Derby County at Bramall Lane this afternoon as the 10 men Rams denied the Blades’ late push for a winner. The Blades trailed to Bobby Clark’s opener in the first half.
But the game changed when Dion Sanderson saw red after two bookings and United sensed blood after Patrick Bamford’s equaliser, pushing for a winner. Tyrese Campbell saw a shot pushed onto the bar by Jacob Zetterstrom before he denied Sydie Peck superbly in injury time.
Tahith Chong, Harrison Burrows and Campbell again all went close to a winner that would have lifted the roof off Bramall Lane but it never arrived and it was Derby fans who were happier at full time.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on the day...
5. Harrison Burrows 6
Foul throws at any level should be a criminal offence and especially so in the second tier of English football, but Burrows was penalised for one in the first half. Apart from that there were some moments of danger created by his left foot from good crossing positions and another 90+ minutes under his belt won't hurt either. Could have scored late on on the rebound but Zetterstrom saved after blocking Peck's effort superbly | ugc
6. Kalvin Phillips 6
Had United's only shot of note in the first half when he sent an effort which dipped and bobbled and forced Zetterstrom to parry away but then also lost his footing at a key time in the build-up to Derby's opener. Earlier he'd absolutely thrown himself in the way of a vicious Clark effort that looked like it would have tested Cooper had it not been stopped and helped keep the back door closed when United threw Kitching and Tanganga forward in search of a winner | UGC
7. Oliver Arblaster 6
Kept his place on the back of his goal last weekend and had an early chance for another here when the ball fell kindly to him on the edge of the box, but he elected to take a touch rather than hit it first time and the chance went begging. A bit later on there was almost a carbon copy of his Ashton Gate strike but this time he was charged down before United gradually lost control of this game, including in the middle of the park. No shortage of effort as he snapped into tackles before he made way for Peck just before the hour | ugc
8. Tahith Chong 6
Kept his place on the right amid a growing clamour from fans for Donovan to start but he looked lively early on, with United looking most dangerous when they whipped balls into the box from both wings from Chong and Burrows. But then they seemed to switch tack and abandon that route, limiting his influence as Derby took charge of the game. Good defending in the second half saw him sprint back and dispossess Szmodics as he looked to break away, before he got in behind for the first real time all afternoon just before the hour but his cross wasn't near any United man in the middle. No lack of ambition and came close to a winner from Campbell's cross but he just couldn't get ahead of his man at the back post | ugc