Sheffield United 1 Norwich City 1: Milestone Danny Ings' strike and Oli Arblaster's return prove highlights on 'if-only' night

Historically - in Championship circles at any rate - the Blades’ home has proved to be one of the toughest places on the circuit for visiting sides over the years.

Evidence earlier this season did not suggest as much, it has to be said.

No wins for United in their opening four second-tier fixtures at S2 in 2025-26 - and just one in their first seven home league appointments in 2025-26 - was as surprising as it was alarming.

Wilder, a Bladesman to the core, does not have to be told twice about the need for things to change if his club are to do anything positive this season after a terrible start.

There was hope in United looking like their old sleeves in a recent 3-0 victory over Portsmouth and even more so in last Saturday’s thumping 4-0 slaying of Stoke City, a result in which Wilder’s side showed clear evidence that rumours of their demise have been greatly exaggerated.

On the night here, there was ultimately frustration.

On the evening which saw Oli Arblaster make his first-team comeback in his first outing in almost exactly 12 months following a serious knee injury, the win that United craved to top things off didn’t arrive.

The omens looked good when Danny Ings tucked away his first goal for United - his last professional goal was in September 2024 - early in the second half.

But a wretched own goal from Djibril Soumare in a much-changed United line-up earned lowly City a deserved share of the spoils.

It could well have been nothing in the end for the hosts, but fortunately, Michael Cooper saved the day with a brilliant save to deny Amankwah Forson, who raced clear in stoppage-time after Femi Sereiki’s error.

Understandably, Arblaster’s return was the major piece of individual team news ahead of the game, but the sight of eight changes to the Blades starting line-up grabbed the attention just as much in truth.

The club’s website stated that ‘injuries and illnesses’ were the reasoning behind the raft of changes for United, who were back in action just 72 hours after kick-off on Tuesday night at West Brom.

Midfield duo Sydie Peck and Jairo Riedewald, who started against Stoke last weekend, were both missing from the matchday squad.

The squad options at the disposal of Wilder, whose bench included Gus Hamer, Tyrese Campbell and Patrick Bamford were still enviable, it has to be said.

United's first-half performance suggested that a plethora of changes had been made to their line-up. There was little continuity and the flow came from Norwich, who shrugged off a quiet start to look the part for much of the opening half-hour.

The Canaries played the sort of passing football that you don't associate with a side in relegation strife and Cooper made a couple of key saves.

But there was also evidence as to why they are where they are in terms of their defending. They looked a side who give you a chance and United still had a fair bit of forward power on the bench to call upon if things didn't change early in the second period.

Early on, Seriki teared away down the right with his cut-back finding the unmarked Tom Cannon, whose effort was blocked by Ruairi McConville.

Uncertainty from keeper Vladan Kovacevic, slow off his line, was then almost exposed. He belatedly challenged Cannon, but after the pair collided, the ball diverted just wide instead of into the empty net.

To their credit, Norwich dusted themselves down and started to settle, with midfield duo Pelle Mattsson and Kenny McLean starting to control the game.

United's propensity to cough up possession didn't help their cause in fairness and Norwich became emboldened.

Intricate play ended with Cooper tipping over Kellen Fisher's riding shot before the hosts survived a big double-scare.

Seriki was dispossessed by Jacob Wright close to byline and he supplied Oscar Schwartau, whose angled shot was beaten away by Cooper, with Josh Sargent's hooked follow-up cleared off the line by Ings.

Soon after, City cut the hosts open again with Cooper saving low down to deny Sargent, who went off with an injury issue before the interval.

United did improve in the final quarter, with Burrows' free-kick palmed over by Kovacevic. From his resulting corner, Ings had the sort of far-post chance that he has dined out upon throughout his career. Inexplicably, he headed over the top with the goal at his mercy, while Cannon fired over in the final action of the half.

On the restart, the hosts were a whisker away with the stretching Chong just failed to connect in front of goal at the far post following Burrows’ low centre and soon after Ings’ back header veered wide from Burrows’ free-kick.

You sensed a home goal was coming and one duly arrived.

It was a good one too, with Norwich dissected down their left. Seriki's pass picked out the overlapping Chong, who teed up Ings for a tap-in. It was the moment of quality that United required.

The sight of Chong soon walking off gingerly was a less edifying sight, while Arblaster also made way after his comeback night - receiving a warm ovation as he left the stage and a hug from his manager.

Wilder would have been less enamoured on 65 minutes.

Fisher did well and the ball broke, with the grounded Emiliano Marcondes having the presence of mind to find Jovon Makama, whose low centre was turned into his own net by Soumare.

United, who immediately threw on Bamford, sought a response and Kovacevic beat away Hamer’s drive.

The goal had the effect of emboldening Norwich and United lost their way once more.

It was Norwich who went closest to a winner, but Cooper was on his mettle, fortunately.

Sheffield United: Cooper; Seriki, Bindon, Tanganga, Burrows; Arblaster (Brooks 59), Soumare; Chong (Hamer 58), O’Hare (Matos 72); Cannon (Campbell 72), Ings (Bamford 65). Substitutes unused: A Davies, Zatterstrom, One, Curtis.

Norwich City: Kovacevic; Fisher, McConville, Medic, Springett (Chrisene 62); McLean (Marcondes HT), Mattsson; Makama (Jurasek 83), Wright (Slimane 71), Schwartau (Mundle-Smith 62); Sargent (Forson 44). Substitutes unused: Grimshaw, Duffy.

Referee: J Smith (Lincs).

Attendance: 25,577.