Sheffield United 1-1 Bristol City: Blades pegged back by late equaliser

Sheffield United returned to the top of the Championship league table after drawing with Bristol City. Nevertheless, Bristol City's late goal in the match prevented Sheffield United from taking all three points.

Tyreese Campbell's 10th goal of the season briefly put Sheffield United three points ahead of Leeds United. However, Mark Sykes, a second-half substitute, scored in the 90th minute to frustrate Chris Wilder's team, leaving them only one point ahead, opening the door for Leeds United to regain the top spot in Wednesday night's home game against Millwall. In the intense final stages of the match, Sheffield United's two penalty appeals in stoppage time were rejected, causing emotional reactions from the players as they missed crucial opportunities.

For Bristol City, the draw means they remain in seventh place but have narrowed the gap with Coventry, who currently hold the last playoff spot by two points. Given the form of both teams, the away side's 90th-minute winner in the match at Ashton Gate in November, and Rob Dickie's late red card for the Robins, the intensity and close nature of this match was perhaps not surprising.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio, "We were slow and tired, lacking energy. They caused us problems, stretching our attacking line, while we defended too deep. We still created the best chances – I think we had three or four really good chances – so the control of the game was in their hands, the best chances were in ours. After 55-60 minutes, we got more energy and control, got ourselves in front, and from then on we were okay, but not good enough to get another two or three. We should have done better."

Bristol City assistant coach Chris Hogg told BBC Radio, "When you see the performance and some of the qualities we showed, I think it was a good away performance. I thought we were very good on the ball in the first half, it's a difficult place to come, we had a couple of chances, but the final touch or quality wasn't quite there. What was pleasing, I think, was when you see us go behind, you see the reaction. We just continued to play the way that gives us joy in the game, the way we set up before the game, pass it, use it and attack specific spaces. I think it was a well-deserved draw."