Notts County 1 Sheffield United 1: Wilson frustrated as Blades see automatic promotion gap widen

Magpies fans who had helped clear the pitch of snow before kick-off, saw their side trail after just two minutes when Blades central defender Harry Maguire nodded home beyond Bartosz Bialkowski from Nick Blackman’s corner.

Maguire’s fellow defender, Danny Higginbotham, almost doubled United’s lead soon after as Blackman’s delivery from out wide continued to cause problems but County’s Polish goalkeeper palmed the ball over the bar.

The only thing United’s first half performance lacked was more goals and within two minutes of the re-start only Bialkowski’s bravery and fine reactions prevented Kevin McDonald from supplying a second following another deft touch from Dave Kitson, who was later withdrawn after being booked.

County’s Francois Zoko was then sent off when he was shown two yellows for a prolonged protest against a free-kick midway through the second half.

The Ivorian protested his innocence to the fourth official as he trudged down the tunnel past motionless manager Keith Curle, who was less than impressed.

To their credit, Curle’s men were clearly not prepared to give up without a fight.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, their influence grew and they equalised in the 79th minute.

Alan Sheehan floated a free-kick into the danger zone after referee Mark Haywood had awarded a free-kick out wide and Alan Judge’s deft touch sent the ball past goalkeeper George Long and into the back of the net.

It was a repeat of the scoreline at Bramall Lane in September when County again struck late on and Blades manager Danny Wilson admitted there is a “nervousness” about his side at the moment.

“I’m frustrated as we didn’t make our numerical advantage pay and in the second half we didn’t play anywhere near like we did in the first.

“There is a nervousness about us at the moment in three or four areas and whether that is the pressure that is on us I don’t know.

“We have to play through it and get on the ball and play to our strengths. Unfortunately there are one or two who are struggling at the minute, I have to say that.

“We’ve got to get back to basics. There is a fear of making the wrong decision. It is frustrating as the league is there for the taking and we have to start making really strong inroads into doing that.”

Notts County manager Curle, whose side have gone seven games without a win in all competitions, said: “There’s a lot of players in there who know we could have had a very positive result today. A player’s ill-discipline has cost us.

“I’ve never known a referee change his decision because a player shouts or screams or says derogatory words to him or his linesmen.

“They’re not going to turn round and say, ‘Oh, you might be right’. He’s got to learn from it. I thought the referee had a very good game today,” said the former Blades coach.

Notts County: Bialkowski, Liddle, Leacock, Sheehan, Campbell-Ryce, Bishop, Boucaud, Hughes, Judge, Arquin (Bencherif 88), Zoko. Unused substitutes: Spiess, Kelly, Smith, Mahon, Labadie, Nangel.

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Maguire, Higginbotham, Westlake, Blackman, McDonald, Doyle, Flynn, Murphy, Kitson (Ironside 61). Unused substitutes: Coyne, Cresswell, McFadzean, Whitehouse, Kennedy, De Girolamo.

Referee: M Haywood (W Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Alan Judge.