Sheffield United 1 Birmingham City 1: Clarke earns Blades point

Sheffield Utd players applaud the fans. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Sheffield United were held to their first draw in the Championship after Birmingham City took a point away from Bramall Lane.

Jeremie Boga had given the Blues a surprise lead, only for Leon Clarke to net his 13th goal of the season in the second half to share the spoils.

It was United's 19th game of the season, but their first draw.

The Blades were back in action following their amazing 5-4 defeat to Fulham in midweek.

Leon Clarke of Sheffield Utd scores the equalising goal. Picture: Simon Bellis/Sportimage

Chris Wilder named an unchanged side, with former Blade Che Adams on the bench for City, on his first return to Bramall Lane.

Striker Clarke went close with an early header for United.

But the Blues were thankful to defender Harlee Dean when he threw himself in front of John Lundstram's fierce shot after 20 minutes.

And the Blades midfielder was at it again, moments later, when his long-range strike was parried away by goalkeeper David Stockdale.

In-form Clarke then fired wide, as United upped the tempo, but the Blades were hit with a sucker punch on 38 minutes.

Boga - the on-loan Chelsea youngster who had threatened early with a tricky run - drilled home a long-range effort which gave Blades keeper Jamal Blackman got a hand to but couldn't keep out.

The second-half was a lot tighter, with City looking solid in defence.

Chances were harder to engineer, Lundstram firing wide from long-range as frustration started to creep in.

Stockdale did well to palm away Chris Basham's dangerous cross, but the City keeper could do nothing to stop Clarke drilling home the equaliser on 70 minutes.

Substitute David Brooks played his part, and when the ball fell for Clarke, he fired in for his ninth goal in last four games.