Sheffield United 0 QPR 0: Blades struggles continue as patchy performance not enough for win at Bramall Lane

A home fixture against a bottom-half side presented an opportunity for the Blades to pick up some much-needed points and move closer to safety.

However, a patchy performance was not enough to clinch three points as QPR pocketed one to take back to London.

The draw was Sheffield United’s first of the season, with the end of a three-game losing streak a consolation of sorts for Chris Wilder’s men.

First half

QPR started with the most urgency as Sheffield United looked scattergun in the opening minutes. A single pass managed to slice through the Blades midfield and find Karamoko Dembele, who saw his cross ricochet off Richard Kone and go wide.

The hosts soon settled, gently knocking on the door as tension inside Bramall Lane started to ease somewhat.

Jairo Riedewald fizzed a pass into Tyrese Campbell, who played a neat one-two with Callum O’Hare, but miscued his effort on goal.

Ben Mee then latched on to a loose ball and rifled wide as the Blades started to find their feet.

QPR were happy for the Blades to enjoy possession far from danger, sitting in a compact structure and waiting for the hosts to try a killer pass. On the ball, the visitors looked to shift wide to their tricky wideman and Dembele was sought out regularly.

The wide threat remained and in contrast, Sheffield United looked narrow with Brooks and O’Hare not exactly touchline-huggers.

Femi Seriki and Sam McCallum did have a licence to get forward from full-back and it was then they bombed on that Sheffield United looked dangerous. The former flew down the right and send a teasing delivery across the face of goal, only to see it elude on-rushing attackers.

A huge chance was handed to the hosts 33 minutes in and provided a rare moment of excitement for the Bramall Lane faithful. Campbell capitalised on a defensive mix-up to clip a lofted cross into the box for Danny Ings to attack. The experienced marksman launched himself at the ball, but saw his effort pushed over by Ben Hamer.

QPR had done the Blades a favour and it was almost immediately returned, as a wayward Japhet Tanganga pass put the visitors on the front foot. The ball was worked to Nicolas Madsen, who stung the palms of Michael Cooper.

The affair continued to liven up with the interval approaching and Sheffield United went agonisingly close through Riedewald and McCallum. Both headed towards goal at close range but the former’s effort was deflected and the latter’s was hooked off the line.

Campbell had the final chance of the opening 45 minutes, peeling away down the centre and sending a left-footed drive wide of the post.

Second half

Sheffield United had ended the first half strong and fans were keen to see momentum maintained. However, it was QPR who flew out of the traps and first came close to breaking the deadlock.

Dembele raced away down the right and cut inside, unleashing a thunderous strike that found the wrong side of the post.

The way in which the Blades started the second half mirrored the way they started the first, as their tempo took a worrying nosedive.

QPR penned Chris Wilder’s men back in their own half, causing plenty of uncertainty with a series of long-throws into the box.

The vibrancy shown late in the second half had faded and as Tom Davies entered the fray as a substitute, there was a telling moment. He picked up the ball deep, neatly swivelling and then surging forward, only to find his teammates completely stationary. Any hope of an attack was snuffed out.

QPR remained on top and frustration continued to intensify. O’Hare hit the deck after an incisive dart into the box, but the referee had no interest in appeals for a penalty.

At the other end, QPR found themselves thwarted by an excellent Tanganga tackle and a strong Cooper save as they moved through the gears.

Chiedozie Ogbene was among those introduced from the bench and tasked with breathing life into the Blades. The Irish winger lifted a cross to the back post for McCallum and Hamer needed a strong palm to keep the header out.

Waves of Sheffield United attacks came and went late on, as the Blades struggled to find their clinical edge. Peck managed to jink his way into space in the dying embers, only to see his deflected effort pushed away by Hamer.

The resulting corner delivery was connected with by Ryan One, who powered his header wide.

QPR weathered the storm, denying Sheffield United the chance to win only their second home game of the season.