The Blades had to settle for a point despite dominating much of the game against expensively assembled Stoke City. United had completely outplayed Stoke for most of the game and finally got the goal their domination merited when Leon Clarke bundled home after a superb Oliver Norwood free kick struck the post. However, a free kick at the other end from Joe Allen deceived Dean Henderson to give the visitors a point. It really was a disappointing finish for the home side who really should have been out of sight long before the late Stoke goal.

Wilder made one change to the starting eleven with Leon Clarke getting a start for Billy Sharp and last seasons leading scorer captained the side. Stoke had a starting eleven and bench that has cost an absolute fortune and many players with Premier League experience but came into the side nearer the bottom than the top.

United came out of the traps quicker than they did on Saturday and despite Stoke kicking off, the home side had the first chance within two minutes as Freeman fired over from an O’Connell cross. United dominated the ball early on with Norwood at the heart of the play and Duffy looking busy. Stevens and Freeman were constant threats on both sides of the attack. Fleck had an effort deflected over after good work in the build up saw the ball come across. The best chance came when Norwood played in Duffy who cleverly rolled the ball back but Stevens blazed wildly over with his left foot. He was in a position to the right of the penalty area showing again United’s attacking intent.

Clarke was looking hungry and wrestled off Williams before firing a shot that Butland did well to get down and save low. Stoke had not really threatened but Afobe had one header at Henderson that was comfortable. United were back on the attack and a deep cross from the left from Fleck saw McGoldrick’s header palmed away from close range from Butland.

Another neat move saw several players involved in lovely interchange but Clarke could not finish although he may have been offside if he had scored. McGoldrick then came inside and took a low shot that Butland had to push behind at his neat post just before the break.

United came out the better side and seemed to push Stoke back even more. McGoldrick miskicked when well placed. McClean had a headed effort over from a deep cross but it was all United at this stage. They won a number of corners and free kicks but the delivery did not quite come off. A free kick saw O’Connell try and flick the ball goalward and then a deep corner was cleared soon after a ricochet. Stoke were now hanging on and put Crouch on in an attempt to find an out ball. Clarke and McGoldrick continued to turn the defence around and Stoke were happy at this stage with a 0-0 but the clear chances evaded United until the 70th minute when Clarke was upended leading to a booking from Martins Indi. The free kick was around 25 yards out and fairly central.

Norwood took it and hit a curling effort that looked for all the world like it would nestle into the corner of the net but it struck the post and came out; Egan could not force the initial rebound in but CLARKE was onto it and bundled it home. It was his first goal of the season and a deserved one for his efforts tonight.

After this strangely United started to panic and a number of hacked clearances saw them back under pressure. Ince danced his way through but Henderson saved well. Stoke won a free kick but Ince hit the wall and United now were struggling to keep the ball and were now rather panicky in their play after completely controlling the game up to this point.

Washington and Stearman came on for Duffy and McGoldrick for United but a free kick when Crouch fell under a challenge from Stevens as the home side gave away another cheap free kick.

ALLEN took it and at first you felt he would knock it toward the back post but went for goal and bent it round the wall. It was accurate but seemed to lack power but Henderson could not get across and the ball sneaked into the net to the agony of most inside Bramall Lane. It seemed a keeping error and was really disappointing for United who had done more than enough to win the game. It seemed Stoke had got an unlikely point. Coutts came on for Freeman after the goal as the game entered the last few minutes.

After this both teams tried to create a final change to win it with the long ball up to Crouch seeing a few knocks downs eventually cleared and then Fleck got in and had a shot blocked at the other end with some appeals for hand ball; in the final four minutes of stoppage time with the final action Stevens being booked for bringing down McClean.