How the lads faired against the Blades.

Rovers

FRIEDEL: What a save! His acrobatic effort to keep out Rob Kuzlok's first half thunderbolt was world class...7

CURTIS: Does this guy ever have a bad game? A model of consistency once again, whether it's part of a three or a four...8

SHORT: Needed to stand up and be counted as the Blades bombarded Rovers' box with a series of crosses and long throws...8

BERG: Had something of a bitter-sweet night, scoring at one end before a rare mistake contributed to Ndlovu's equaliser...7

FLITCROFT: Not the dominant force he was against Burnley as United condensed the space in midfield...6

DUNN: Looked off colour by his own high standards. Never really got going as we know he can...6

MAHON: Got better as the game wore on despite having to chop and change positions...7

BERKOVIC: Put a chance on a plate for Dunn with one piece of magic but generally struggled to escape the attentions of his marker...6

GILLESPIE: Looked to be flying in the opening 20 minutes before abruptly making his exit...7

JANSEN: Nearly won it with a shot which came back off the post on a night when he got little protection off the match officials...6

BENT: Had a rare off day. Maybe guilty of trying too hard against his former club...6

SUBS:

JOHNSON: Looked short of match fitness...5

BJORNEBYE: Did a job down the left...6

HIGNETT: Made a cameo appearance.

Blades

TRACEY: Got up the Blackburn End's nose with some first half theatrics...6

KOZLUK: Denied a wonder goal by Friedel...7

MURPHY: A no-nonsense performer at the back...7

CURLE: Used every trick in the book to keep Jansen quiet...8

NDLOVU: Capped a lively performance with an excellent equaliser...7

DEVLIN: Supplied a constant stream of crosses...7

FORD: A real terrier in midfield...7

ASABA: A quiet game by his standards...6

UHLENBEEK: Got away with murder down the left...5

BULLOCK: Kept the lid on Berkovic...7

MONTGOMERY: Whipped over a few dangerous centres...6

Goal attempts...Rovers 15 Sheff United 5

Shots on target...Rovers 7 Sheff United 2

Woodwork...Rovers 1 Sheff United 0

Offsides...Rovers 1 Sheff United 3

Corners...Rovers 10 Sheff United 3

Free kicks...Rovers 12 Sheff United 14

Attendance...26,276

Referee...Mr M S Pike (Cumbria) 5

Bookings...Rovers; None Sheff United; Ford (foul)

Sendings off...None

04 Mins Rovers make the perfect start as Henning Berg rises to head home Alan Mahon's right-wing cross following a short freekick

23 United create their first chance as Paul Devlin heads wide from a Peter Ndlovu cross

24 Graeme Souness is forced into an early substitution as Keith Gillespie is replaced by Damien Johnson

24 Brad Friedel makes a stunning save to tip over a Rob Kozluk blockbuster

39 John Curtis bursts down the right and crosses for Marcus Bent but his header flies narrowly wide of the target

43 David Dunn shoots wide after a piece of magic by Eyal Berkovic on the edge of the box

67 Matt Jansen can't believe his luck when his shot comes back off the inside of the post following great work by Mahon and Bent

74 Disaster strikes as Berg's header drops to Peter Ndlovu 18 yards out and his right-foot volley flies into the top corner

81 Jansen has a late chance to snatch a winner but he fires well over following a neat knock down from Bent