Sheffield United 1-1 Bristol City: FLW report as Blades go top but drop crucial points | OneFootball

Report, ratings, Chris Wilder reaction, Liam Manning comments from Bramall Lane as Sheffield United host Bristol City.

Sheffield United went top of the Championship table tonight but dropped two crucial points, conceding a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Bramall Lane.

Tyrese Campbell's goal just after the hour looked to hand Chris Wilder's side a three-point lead over Leeds United at the top of the table - the striker scoring for a third consecutive game.

However, Mark Sykes struck on the 90th minute to deny them that luxury ahead of the Whites' game with Millwall tomorrow evening, earning the travelling Robins a deserved point.

Sheffield United 1-1 Bristol City

Sykes strikes late to deny Blades

Despite heavy amounts of possession in the first half, Bristol City lacked cutting edge in the final third, and it was Sheffield United forcing Max O'Leary into early work.

The Robins goalkeeper was down well to deny Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Harrison Burrows, whilst a good block from George Tanner denied the former.

However, the half's real big chance fell the way of Sinclair Armstrong, who found himself in a glorious position to convert Joe Williams' hanging cross. His back-post header, though, was clawed away by Michael Cooper - a superb save, but one he shouldn't have been given a chance to make.

Liam Manning's side were nearly made to pay, too, with Tyrese Campbell keeping O'Leary honest with a near-post shot.

Chris Wilder's striker went close at the start of the second half, too, flashing across goal.

Scott Twine had hearts in mouths with a curling effort on the back of that, with Wilder turning to his bench and almost getting an instant impact as Rhian Brewster forced a good Zak Vyner block.

Brewster would turn provider for the game's opening goal, though, laying off Gus Hamer's incisive pass to Campbell, who broke into the penalty area and slipped the ball beyond O'Leary.

Bristol City applied heavy pressure as the game edged towards a conclusion, but were met by committed Sheffield United bodies until the 90th minute.

This time it was Manning's substitutions that combined, as George Earthy's clever pass found the run of Mark Sykes, who finished across Cooper superbly after spinning Jack Robinson.

Harrison Burrows - and the bulk of the 25,000+ in Bramall Lane - thought he should've had a late penalty after tussling with Cameron Pring, with both sides clashing amid the late drama, but Stephen Martin was ultimately unmoved.

Sheffield United v Bristol City attendance

25,070

Player ratings

Sheffield United

Bristol City

Max O'Leary - 7

George Tanner - 7

Rob Dickie - 7

Zak Vyner - 7

Haydon Roberts - 6 (Cameron Pring - n/a)

Jason Knight - 8

Joe Williams - 8

Yu Hirakawa - 7 (George Earthy - 7)

Max Bird - 6 (Mark Sykes - 7)

Scott Twine - 6 (Anis Mehmeti - 7)

Sinclair Armstrong - 6 (Nahki Wells - 6)

Subs (not used)

Stefan Bajic

Sam Bell

Harry Cornick

Marcus McGuane

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Championship table

Sheffield United go top; Bristol City sitting seventh

Chris Wilder reaction

Bristol City deserved a point, says Sheffield United boss

Wilder on Sheffield United's late concession: "When you get to 90 minutes, and you haven't been at your best - we looked leggy and lethargic - when you get that close, that's the disappointing thing about it.

"The goal is disappointing as well. The amount of individual mistakes we made within that goal. First clearance, second clearance, a player trying to flick it around the corner, players running off players, and then they find a finish."

Credit for Bristol City: "I don't think it was anything that they didn't deserve really.

"There were more 5s and 6s than 7s or 8s. If you look at their team, there were more 7s and 8s than 5s and 6s."

Late penalty call: "Nonsense. I don't think there's anything in any of those decisions from a penalty point of view. The referee was consistent. He got everything spot on."

Liam Manning reaction

Manning's assistant, Chris Hogg, spoke to the press

Reaction to the result and performance: "In this league you have to fight and scrap hard for anything you get. It's a pleasing point away from home in what's a difficult place to come.

"The performance was probably the most pleasing bit.

"When you come here you want to control the ball and take away their momentum. What they do well here is put teams under pressure, so that was pleasing. We'd have liked more in terms of quality in the final third, but the boys did a good job of playing how we wanted to play."

On the quality of the equaliser: "Really good.

"The build-up from a coaching point of view is pleasing to see. The patience and some of the quality - George's pass to get Sykesy in is a real highlight in terms of some of the work the boys do on the training ground. George brings his quality on that and it's a good finish. More than deserved at that time in the game."