STEVE Cotterill is taking plenty of positives from his first meaningful 90 minutes as Burnley boss.

Micah Hyde almost gave Cotterill a dream winning start by scoring on his competitive debut to put the new-look Clarets in control over Sheffield United.

However, the Blades bossed large parts of the game after that early strike and Andy Gray cancelled out Hyde's strike to ensure the war of the Roses ended all square.

And Cotterill reflected on a satisfactory draw against a team he believes will be challenging for Coca Cola Championship honours 45 more league games down the line.

The Clarets chief said: "The first game brought a new manager and new expectations and you are ripe for a kicking in those circumstances, so there are plenty of positives I can take out of the game.

"Overall, it's a feeling of satisfaction to get a point. Sheffield United are a good side and we rode our luck at times. We worked ever so hard in one instance when it was like a pinball in our six-yard box, but we managed to get bodies in the way and show good spirit."

Sheffield United's equaliser was a bone of contention with Cotterill, who was unhappy at the manner in which the Blades grabbed their lifeline.

Richard Chaplow was penalised for jumping to try to interfere with Leigh Bromby's long throw and, from the retake, Gray pounced to head past Danny Coyne form close range.

"It was a bit silly really," lamented Cotterill. "Graham Branch had already been warned about jumping up in front of the lad and we've gone and done exactly the same thing again when Danny Coyne has the ball in his hands.

"We got punished, they have scored from it and we are disappointed, but having said that, if Sheffield United had gone away from here with nothing, that wouldn't have been fair and I would say we are more pleased with a point than they are."

Cotterill added: "We never really got going in the second half and we just didn't get enough going forward out of Ian Moore and Graham Branch.

"We wanted to play a little more like a 4-3-3, but they flattened out a little bit and were too deep.

"In the end we just felt we needed to be a bit more solid, go man for man and play out the rest of the game. We didn't look as though we were going to win the game late on and the fact I put Lee Roche on at home and they put Ashley Ward on away (from home) tells a little tale in itself.

"But overall I'm happy.

"The fans turned out in force and they were terrific.

"It's just a pity we didn't give them a little bit more to shout about. But hopefully as time goes on we can."