They were looking for a quick response after Wednesday night’s cup exit at Fleetwood Town while Stoke had won three of their last four, and drawn the other one, with conflicting moods around the clubs before kick-off.
But there was nothing to separate them in a scratchy first half low on any real quality, with neither side testing the opposition ‘keeper with any real seriousness.
United went ahead with the first real bit of quality in the game, as Phillips spotted an opening at the near post as he stood over a free-kick and then found it to perfection, to catch out one of the league’s best goalkeepers in Viktor Johansson.
That, and a mini-melee which saw Liam Kitching and Stoke’s Eric Bocat booked, seemed to spark the game into life somewhat and Stoke dragged themselves level when Jack McGlynn scored from long range.
And there was still time for more drama as Sam Gallagher came off the bench to score a similarly impressive effort in the other top corner of Michael Cooper’s goal, leaving United with nothing to show for their efforts going into the international break.
Here’s how we rated the Blades ...
5. Liam Kitching 5
Perhaps a little fortunate to escape an early booking when he wiped out his man on the halfway line but got it eventually in the second half when he smashed into three tackles like a man possessed. He may be on loan but he's fully committed to this United cause but Bocat took exception and it sparked a mini melee, with Kitching and Bocat both booked for their parts in it | ugc
6. Rhys Norrington-Davies 4.5
A typically aggressive display on his return to one of his former clubs as he snapped into tackles and tried his best to get forward, although United badly lack the attacking spark that Burrows and McCallum offer more naturally down the left. Norrington-Davies is more workmanlike in his approach and maybe that's how it is for United at the moment | ugc
7. Kalvin Phillips 6
At half-time you felt that a tight game just needed a bit of spark and Phillips was the one to provide it after a combination of quick thinking and perfect execution saw him catch out Johansson with a free-kick and put the Blades ahead. That woke up the game somewhat after a sleepy start all round, which saw Phillips booked early on after being adjudged to have blocked a Stoke free-kick by ref Robinson | UGC
8. Sydie Peck 5
Had a go at goal early in the second half after Bamford held up the ball and laid it off, but it went over the bar - but the attacking intent was welcomed by the away fans, who chanted 'We've had a shot' in response. Linked up nicely with Bamford for a Cannon chance soon after he came on for Arblaster and was the closest United player to McGlynn when he smashed the home side level, although it's hard to apportion much blame to any United player and sometimes you just have to applaud the strike. Missed a chance after robbing Gallagher on the edge of the Stoke box and that proved costly soon after when the same man scored the winner for Stoke | ugc