Thumping aerial challenges left Jay Bothroyd, Ross McCormack, Joe Ledley and Roger Johnson on the deck and requiring treatment to head injuries with the former having to leave the field with a cut eyebrow.

Even Ehiogu could not land the knockout blow, however, although he went as close as anyone with a near-post header which flashed just over the bar.

Wherever you looked, there was stalemate in this intriguing rather than exciting contest and it was Ehiogu and his fellow centre-backs who were the heavyweight performers.

Ehiogu, in fact, belied his 35 years with a performance which showed why Middlesbrough had once paid £8m for his services from Aston Villa.

"I've got a slight headache and I was a bit dizzy in the last 15 minutes but we knew we would be in for a battle against a team that expects to be in the top six come the end of the season. You have to match 'em," said Ehiogu.

"The centre halves had an important part to play today. I was involved in quite a few incidents but it was not done on purpose, it was one of those things."

Ironically, Ehiogu, whose partnership with Matt Kilgallon restricted Cardiff to just one clear opportunity – Bothroyd shooting straight at Paddy Kenny – got his chance recently when concussion ruled out club captain Chris Morgan.

And the defender was quick to pay credit to manager Kevin Blackwell. "It's nice to know that when you come in and do well you will get a nice little run but we have so many games coming up after the international break that the squad is going to be needed.

"It's probably been the first pre-season I have had in five or six years when I have been injury-free. Pre-season is massive, most players will tell you that."

"Ugo looked back to his very best and we're talking about a lad who has played at the very highest level - that's how well he played," said his manager.

The former England defender says he will be disappointed if the Blades do not finish in the top six but admitted that in such a game as Saturday's when the sides effectively cancelled each other out "it takes that something little bit extra" to tilt the balance.

Blackwell agreed and hence his late decision to bring last season's top scorer James Beattie off the bench for the last 10 minutes following minor knee surgery in the summer. "He was able to do one or two bits of finishing in training that were first-class and showed he was fit enough to do it.

"I wanted to win the game and I hoped he would be the man to finish it off given the opportunity and he almost did.

"He's back, he's fit and I'm delighted but it was also a psychological thank-you to him and to show that he can put in another fortnight's work and come back in for the Derby game having already got back on the pitch.

"The lads love Beats but he knows he has to wait his turn but the great thing is I have the options there on the bench. I can change things and that's the excitement of it. I think today I have proved that point. It was very tight but I still went for it by sending on David Cotterill, Danny Webber and Beats – you can't get more attacking than that."

Unfortunately for the Blades, Cardiff's central duo of £4m-rated Johnson and Darren Purse were as effective as their opposite numbers and only offered one chance, too, Billy Sharp holding off the former to clip a first-half cross on the turn which Darius Henderson headed wide from eight yards.

Six minutes from time, the Kop bayed for a penalty when Henderson went down from Kevin McNaughton's challenge after Beattie had cleverly headed inside a chip down the middle from Gary Speed but referee Colin Webster waved play on.

"Darius does not seem to get penalties because he's such a big strong unit. If it had been in the first 20 minutes we might have got it but in the last 10 unless it's stonewall then the ref's not going to give it," said Ehiogu.

Regarding the transfer deadline at midnight, Blackwell added: "I hope nothing happens. We absolutely love working together as a set of players and staff. I don't think we need any major changes at the moment."



Sheffield United: Kenny, Jihai, Ehiogu, Kilgallon, Naysmith; Halford (Cotterill 68), Tonge (Webber 90), Speed, Quinn; Sharp (Beattie 80), Henderson. Unused substitutes: Morgan, spring.

Cardiff City: Heaton, McNaughton, Purse, R Johnson, Comminges; Whittingham, Ledley, McPhail, Parry; Bothroyd (E Johnson 86), McCormack (Thompson 90). Unused substitutes: Enkelman, Gyepes, Blake.

Referee: C Webster (Tyne and Wear).