United’s promotion hopes took a major blow when they failed to beat relegation threatened Millwall at Bramall Lane. With Leeds beating city rivals Wednesday; the Blades now are three points behind their Yorkshire rivals. It was the second consecutive home game without a win as a jittery United could not see the game out and the Lions scored a late goal to take a deserved point just minutes after they had missed a penalty. To further compound things United lost two key men to injury, in Sharp and Basham and another Egan to suspension.

Jack O’Connell was back in the side and Freeman preferred to Baldock as Wilder kept faith with McGoldrick and Sharp with Duffy behind them. Millwall had been playing with just one-man up front with Blades fan Lee Gregory supported by Ben Thompson for a Millwall team fighting for their lives.

United started the game on top and a cross from the right skimmed Stevens head but was well wide. Duffy had a weak low shot but Millwall were keeping a solid shape and restricting United to very few openings. The football was too slow and deliberate and Millwall just kept moving across to restrict any real chances. Millwall had the first chance when Ferguson’s cross was fired wide from Pearce. Basham took a knock and tried to carry on but clearly could not continue and had to be replaced. Boldly, Wilder decided to put Madine on and ended up with a formation with Madine and Sharp up top and McGoldrick and Duffy as the two advanced midfielders and a flat back four.

This change in shape did not seem to work and the game became scrappy for a period and United could not get any momentum at all. McGoldrick looked the main threat and he came inside twice to fashion a half chance but the ball was cleared. The same man then cut inside and hit a curling effort not far off target. Stevens was the other main United threat with one cross blocked and another effort deflected wide after a lay off from Sharp.

The game had been poor and United could not really penetrate at all. Millwall had offered little as an attacking threat but were able to stem the few half chances United had quite easily. The half time whistle came not long after Madine had looped a header over.

After the break United increased the tempo attacking the Kop end. McGoldrick and Madine had shots blocked that led to a corner after the final effort deflected over. This increased energy saw United make the break through. McGoldrick made the break with the through ball and Fleck got in and darted behind. He went past his man and unselfishly squared it across to the waiting MADINE who converted easily to send the crowd wild.

Buoyed by this United came again and Millwall looked panicky for a period but the final pass was not good enough and slowly the away side came out. They won three corners in a row and Freeman had to make a block before Wallace and Fleck were both booked for cynical fouls. Sharp pulled up and was struggling and Cranie came on as united went back to a more familiar formation. Big Elliott came on for the away side and they attempted to hit him at every opportunity. Wallace fired an effort narrowly wide as Coutts came on for Duffy with 20 minutes to play.

McGoldrick made an opening but fired over but it was mainly the away side attacking. One ball in dropped and was cleared at the last ditch. Elliott won a series of headers and one shot from the angle was pushed away and United had to clear. It was backs to the walls jobs but with 5 to play, they conceded a penalty

Another unopposed cross was met by Elliott who turned the headed past Henderson and Egan got back but used his hand to turn it away and the penalty was given. Egan was given his marching orders and United suddenly had both injuries and a suspension looming over them. The substitute Marshall took it but his kick hit the bar and went behind and United survived. They still had three minutes of time too see out though.

Even before this time elapsed Henderson had to save twice more at close range and United were really struggling to see the game out. The game entered five additional minutes and it seemed like United had done enough but disaster struck.

The game entered the final minute of stoppage time and McGoldrick looked to get away but his appeals for a foul were waved away and Millwall sent the ball forward again down the right-hand side.

The ball was pulled back and Elliott won another header that Henderson pushed away but COOPER reacted first to nod home calmly. The Millwall players and fans celebrated wildly. In truth it had been coming but it was late heartbreak. United took the kick off but the full-time whistle came soon after and as United players slumped to the floor they knew what a big moment it could be. They hoped for a favour from city rivals Wednesday but it was not to be as Leeds took the initiative in the promotion race.