Sheffield United vs Millwall. Sky Bet Championship.
Bramall LaneAttendance27,454.
Saturday 14 April 2018 20:59, UK
Veteran striker Steve Morison struck his fifth goal of the season for Millwall as they came back to draw 1-1 against fellow play-off hopefuls Sheffield United.
The opening goal did not come until the 74th minute when Leon Clarke added another to his ever-growing tally but the home side were caught sleeping and Morison equalised instantly to grab his side a point.
Both sides boasted impressive records going into the game, with the visitors unbeaten in the league since New Year's Day and Sheffield United unbeaten at home since late January.
The draw will be more frustrating for the hosts though - their fourth in the last six games - and sees their hopes of making the play-offs dented yet again.
United nearly gifted Millwall the perfect start when John Lundstram misplaced a pass straight to Morison inside his own half. Luckily for the midfielder, his team-mate Richard Stearman reacted quickly to stop Morison going through on goal.
After notching a superb double in midweek, Lee Evans went within inches of curling in another from distance after some nice play between Enda Stevens and John Fleck on the left-hand side.
Fleck was next to have a go after a slaloming run through the visiting midfield opened space up on the edge of the box, but he was forced to shoot off his weaker right foot and it was straight at Jordan Archer.
United boss Chris Wilder then brought on Mark Duffy at half-time and the substitute nearly cost his side when his back-pass to Jamal Blackman was short and intercepted by Lee Gregory. The striker took it round Blackman but could not hit the target from a very tight angle.
Both goalkeepers then produced stunning saves to keep the game goalless. First, it was Archer with a fine reaction save to deny George Baldock from six yards before Blackman showed off his own quick reactions by pushing a Shaun Williams header behind for a corner.
The game exploded into life when Sheffield United opened the scoring, with Evans whipping in a cross to Jack O'Connell who headed it back across goal to in-form striker Clarke, who made no mistake from inside the six-yard box.
But that lead lasted only a minute as Millwall stunned Bramall Lane, Jake Cooper playing a long ball towards frontman Morison, who took the ball down and calmly slotted past Blackman to equalise in front of the travelling fans.
Home captain Billy Sharp was thrown on to help try and win the game and he went within inches of doing so but his close-range header was met by Archer before his defenders cleared the danger.
Chris Wilder: You've not gone on that run without having something about you and we knew that.
"They were playing with a lot of confidence which the run brings and they're a tough team to beat. They get a lot of people behind the ball.
"Going the other way, the front two are a real good pair and they've got some good players. They've recruited well and they're playing with a freedom and a confidence so we always knew it was going to be a real difficult game.
"But we believed that if we played the way that we can, that we can win this game and obviously sticking our noses in front in a tight game after 70-odd minutes, was the position we wanted to be in."
Neil Harris: "It was a point gained for us, definitely.
"First and foremost, credit to both sides. A fantastic atmosphere here, I used to love playing at Bramall Lane and that today was a great, great atmosphere at this level.
"And two sides with so much at stake, still managed to produce some really good moments of football. But it's a good point for us because it keeps the distance between us and Sheffield United.
"Also to be one goal down here and then to come back so quick, that means it's an excellent point."
