United’s promotion bid took a blow when they were held to a draw at St Andrews on Wednesday evening. The Blades were far from their best but led thanks to a powerful Enda Stevens strike but Michael Morrison levelled soon after with a scrappy goal. After this Dean Henderson was the busier keeper as Birmingham looked more likely for a period before United came on late at the end and tried to force a winner, to no avail.

United were still without Jack O’Connell and brought in Martin Cranie replacing Kieran Dowell and Enda Stevens switched to his familiar left wing back role. Gary Madine was back on the bench after suspension. Birmingham also had a key man missing with Maikel Kieftenbeld out for nine months with knee ligament damage. David Davis came in. Jota was still on the bench who started with free scoring former Blade Adams up top.

For the first five minutes United had all the possession and moved it about well and were looking comfortable on the ball without creating much. Baldock won an early set play but the free kick saw Sharp caught offside. Stevens, Fleck and Duffy combined and Stevens was in but opted not to shoot and his cross fell to Sharp who could only hook it over McGoldrick. United continued to push Birmingham back and McGoldrick was influential coming deep to receive the ball.

Stevens burst forward and his cross evaded everyone and then Norwood hit a superb cross field ball as United continued to control things without testing the keeper. Sharp held the ball up but lacked support.

Birmingham slowly came into the game and Adams started to hold the ball up well; from a half chance after Duffy gave it away, the ball was whipped over from Gardner it hit Cranie and Henderson had to scurry backwards to make a last ditch save. In doing so he hurt his elbow but was able to carry on after treatment.

Cranie made a good interception as United started to give the ball away. Norwood then could not clear and Dean sliced over. Davis was harshly booked for a foul on Norwood as the game started to become scrappy.

Duffy has been poor so far but got on the ball and edged it forward and invited the challenge and this led to STEVENS getting away and he took a touch before hitting a fierce shot that flew in past Camp who got a hand on it but could not keep it out.

The lead only lasted four minutes though. An innocuous cross came over to the far post and Baldock opted to go safety first. It led to a corner which Birmingham scored the leveller from. The corner saw Basham lose his man and Gardner headed goal wards. A combination of Norwood and Henderson blocked it but MORRSION hooked it into the far corner of the unguarded net.
After this Birmingham pressed and won another two corners and McGoldrick had to head the final one clear before the half time whistle came.

The second half saw Sharp caught offside twice in close succession and United began the second half as they ended the first; with poor play on the ball and too far off the Birmingham players in possession. Duffy ran into trouble and from the deep cross from Pederson, Jutkiewicz headed wide.

Norwood gave the ball away soon after and Egan had to step in to win it before a rare United break out, Stevens got checked for a free kick as Gardner fouled him. A chance came for United from the free kick when Norwood’s drilled effort as turned goal wards but Jutkiewicz got his toe to it before McGoldrick and Camp had to be smart to keep out a possible own goal.

The next period saw little happen in the way of chances although Adams was continued to cause problems with his running and strength. Changes came for both sides as Dowell and Madine came on for Cranie and Duffy as McGoldrick dropped deeper and Dowell went to left wing back and Stevens tucking inside. Jota came on for Mahoney as Monk tried to counter Wilder’s move.

The sub had an immediate impact as he beat Fleck to it and sent Adams through who hit a dipping first time effort that Henderson did brilliantly to tip away. Soon after this, Birmingham had another chance as Stevens lost it and Jota came inside and hit a low shot that Henderson saved at the near post.

United had been poor second half but Norwood had an effort driven wide before Basham’s cross was flicked away from McGoldrick but off target. Adams was playing on the last man and twice United had to be alert to see things out. At the other end, United won a corner as Basham tried to head back across goal from Stevens cross. Then from a poor Camp clearance, Norwood tried to knock it back. Slowly United started to have a spell in the game but often they were undone by poor passing when it mattered. Sharp nearly got in on a through ball but the defender did well. Fleck then drove goal wards but it was cleared.

Craig Gardner came on to join his brother for Davis as the game entered the final **** minutes of the game. Adams then nearly got in as Egan was struggling with his constant energy. United were now throwing men forward and they won a corner as the game entered the final minute but McGoldrick headed just over as the United fans held their breath behind the goal. The game went into three minutes of stoppage time and United were not really going for it and won another late corner after good work from Madine but Egan’s header was comfortable for Camp. The final whistle went not long after this and it was a point for both sides which probably helps Birmingham more than United.