Sheffield United found themselves 2-1 up within eight minutes at Cardiff City this afternoon but ultimately hung on for a point after a breathless Championship contest. The Blades were 1-0 down inside two minutes when Jack Moylan fired home.
But Tom Cannon’s penalty and Callum O’Hare’s smart finish put them ahead, even if they couldn’t hold out until half-time as Cian Ashford levelled. Michael Cooper was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers and Cardiff hit the bar late on as they pushed for the winner they will feel they deserved.
But United defended resolutely in the face of such pressure, with City finishing with nearly 30 shots at goal, and had chances to win it themselves as they registered a third draw in three Championship games.
Here’s how we rated United’s players in South Wales ...
1. Michael Cooper 7
His hopes of a third successive clean sheet to start the season were dashed inside the first two minutes and although no goalkeeper likes to get beaten at his near post, Moylan's effort did go through a few bodies before flying past Cooper and he did redeem himself a little with a smart save down to his right just minutes later, after the Blades had equalised. He followed it up with two or three more before the break, including a stunner as Bagan looked to find the top corner, but was eventually beaten again when Ashford stuck away the follow up. But when he was called up on after that he did what was needed of him, to help see out the result despite a below-par Blades display for the collective | The Star/Sport image
2. Jamal Baptiste 4.5
Came in at right-back with Seriki injured and Doherty seemingly not fit enough to start two games in a few days, and had a tough start to the game as City targeted United's full-backs and Moylan came in off the left to open the scoring. Things improved a little for the United man from there but it was still a difficult return to Championship action and he shifted inside after the break, with Shackleton taking his place at right-back before Norrington-Davies replaced him just before the hour mark | The Star/Sport Image
3. Japhet Tanganga 5
Solid from the United skipper, with a few key blocks helping to protect Cooper as Cardiff piled on the pressure. Looked to get forward at times too from the right, although he was almost caught out on one occasion | The Star/Sport Image
4. Mark McGuinness 6
Booked as early as the 10th minute after a tussle with the burly Salech, which saw him yellow carded much to his bemusement and left him walking a tightrope for the rest of the game. But that was his only misstep in another solid display in the middle of the back three, a set-up which seems to suit him as it hides some of the deficiencies in his game. An excellent first-half recovery tackle was one highlight, snuffing out the danger as Tanner looked to race away just before the break. He won the ball and the throw-in for good measure as he timed the challenge to perfection | The Star/Sport Image