PILKMAN DELIVERS
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CARDIFF left it late to snatch the point which keeps their bid for automatic promotion on track.
They trailed to Leon Clarke’s 28th-minute goal and looked to be going home empty-handed until sub Anthony Pilkington pounced on a loose ball in stoppage time.
Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock was back at the home of his former club for the first time in eight years and it appeared for most of the game that the latest man in the Bramall Lane hot seat, Chris Wilder, would have the last laugh with the Blades dominating from the off.
They deservedly went in front with Clarke’s 16th goal of the season, although there was more than a touch of good fortune about it, his shot deflecting off Sol Bamba from 10 yards and slipping under keeper Neil Etheridge.
The hosts came close to adding a second on the stroke of half-time but Joe Bennett was in the right place to clear Richard Stearman’s header off the line.
United continued the second half where they left off in the first and Lee Evans should have done better when John Fleck’s clever pass found him in acres of space. He dithered and Etheridge was able to smother his shot.
The visitors had rarely troubled Blades keeper Simon Moore but he was a relieved man on 56 minutes when Aron Gunnarsson’s shot fizzed past a post. Moments later Kenneth Zohore was sent scampering into the area but his rising drive was superbly tripped over by Moore.
Sub Clayton Donaldson should then have eased home nerves 15 minutes from time but he could only hit a post after Enda Stevens laid the ball on a plate for him in front of goal.
And, as so often happens in football, that miss came back to haunt United. A minute into added time Pilkington denied the Blades a spot in the play-off positions and maintained City’s grip on second place.