Sheffield United 0 MK Dons 0: Patient approach will be key for Blades, insists manager Wilson

But South Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers and Sheffield United are leading the way in League One and attempting to prove you can win promotion on the road.

The Blades’ latest failure to win at Bramall Lane, this goalless draw with MK Dons, means Danny Wilson’s side have won just seven home league games out of 18 this season.

They trail leaders Rovers by three points, Brian Flynn’s side only marginally better at the Keepmoat Stadium, having won eight from 18.

Conversely, Doncaster have triumphed 12 times on their travels this season, the Blades 10.

So trips to Crewe tomorrow and Stevenage on Saturday may be welcome news for Wilson, who was left to rue Carl Boyeson’s failure to award his side a penalty after a foul on Ryan Flynn.

The Blades have built up a seven-game unbeaten run, their spell being built upon six successive clean sheets rather than prolific scoring.

“We keep going, it’s another point, and keeps our run going,” said Wilson.

“People will put it down as a bad result because you don’t win at home, but if you are going to be successful you have to be successful home and away.

“We have a very tough game on Tuesday, but if we play anything like we did (on Saturday) we will have a great chance.

“If you are not going to win every game at home, you have to be prepared to go away and win. That’s a recipe for success and we have done that very well so far.

“Patience will be key. I thought we were very patient on Saturday, we started to turn the heat up in the second half but just couldn’t get that breakthrough.

“They (MK Dons) have defended very resolutely at times, fortuitous at times too, but that’s the way it goes.”

In front of a Lane crowd of 17,936, the Blades were unable to break down the stubborn Dons.

Dave Kitson’s tame header was picked up by Dons goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin on 25 minutes, before Barry Robson’s fierce drive was charged down in a crowded goalmouth.

The visitors had four former Sheffield Wednesday players in their ranks – Chris Lines, Darren Potter, Ryan Lowe and substitute Jon Otsemobor – but it was another ex-Owl who went closest to scoring.

Blades right-back Tony McMahon found space in the Dons’ penalty area but could not keep his shot down and blasted high into the Kop.

Kitson then turned provider to pick out Robson, but the former Middlesbrough midfielder headed over.

With half an hour to go, Blades boss Wilson introduced Jonathan Forte off the bench as he tried to inject some pace into the home attack, and the striker nearly broke the deadlock on 70 minutes.

He broke the offside trap, racing away to collect Kevin McDonald’s pass, but saw goalkeeper McLoughlin push his effort around a post.

Dons thought they should have had a 75th-minute penalty of their own when Neill Collins and Patrick Bamford tangled in the box, only for the latter to be booked for diving.

Referee Boyeson’s performance left Wilson frustrated.

“We just didn’t know what he was going to give,” said the Blades manager. “When the whistle went we would look round, is it our free-kick, their free-kick, had Joe Bloggs been tripped up?

“It was unbelievable. You can’t have that type of uncertainty, but unfortunately we had that.

“I thought we played really well, both teams had a go and it was nip and tuck. I think at times they have led a bit of a charmed life.

“I thought we took control of it in the second half and we dominated for large, large periods. I think they only really had one half-chance when the boy went through, but he’s gone down and he’s rightly booked for simulation.

“And then the other side of it, we’ve got Ryan. We’ve looked at it I don’t know how many times and it’s a stonewall penalty.

“You look at the decision referees give sometimes – I know we always complain when things don’t go our way – but we had a game last week where we complained about the referee because of his inconsistency and (Saturday) was exactly the same.

“We won last week, we didn’t win this week, but I thought overall it was a good game for large parts even though it was nil-nil.

“The few chances that did fall our way, we didn’t quite get the rub of the green.”

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Maguire, Collins, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, McDonald, Robson (Poleon 82), Murphy (Forte 62), Kitson. Unused substitutes: Westlake, Higginbotham, Ironside, McFadzean, Coyne.

MK Dons: McLoughlin, Lewington, Williams, Potter, Bowditch, Smith (Bamford 58), Chicksen, Lines, Kay, Lowe (Gleeson 68), Powell (Doumbe 33). Unused substitutes: Otsemobor, McLeod, Flanagan, Baldock.