Sheffield Utd 1 Reading 1: Blades’ survival hopes are lifted by equaliser

Bogdanovic’s late equaliser lifted the Blades to within two points of Crystal Palace, who hold the safe seat in the league table ahead of a crucial showdown this weekend at Bramall Lane.

But the real hero of the night was Blades’ goalkeeper Steve Simonsen who produced a string of top quality to saves to keep Reading at bay.

Simonsen had been criticised for Millwall’s late equaliser last weekend but more than made amends with a performance that oozed class.

The Blades had been just two minutes away from defeat last night when Bogdanovic was fouled in the box by Reading defender Andy Griffin.

However, just as last weekend against Millwall, the Maltese international got up off the floor to find the net from the subsequent kick.

The goal helped spare the blushes of Blades defender Matt Lowton whose slip had allowed Shane Long to nip in and score three minutes earlier.

Wolves striker Sam Vokes and Fulham midfielder Bjorn Helge Riise both joined the Blades in loan deals ahead of last night’s game.

Welsh international Vokes, 21, was thrown straight into the side, while Norwegian international Riise started on the bench.

Vokes is staying at Bramall Lane for 33 days and will return to Wolves immediately after the Yorkshire derby against Leeds United on March 19.

Winger Riise, the younger brother of former Liverpool defender John Arne, has signed a deal until the end of the season.

The arrival of this pair means striker Jamie Ward, who has not played for the Blades since a training ground bust-up with Micky Adams two weeks ago, will now be allowed to join Derby County.

While Vokes was preferred to Marcus Bent in attack, Adams was forced into three other changes due to injuries and illness.

Midfielder Nick Montgomery, out for six weeks with a knee injury, defender Shane Lowry (ankle), and striker Ched Evans (gastoenteritis) were all absentees. Lee Williamson returned after suspension with defender Johnny Ertl and Richard Cresswell, who took over as captain.

Reading would have gone ahead in the opening stages but for two quality saves from Simonsen.

It was probably the best possible start for a goalkeeper in need of a confidence boost.

Simonsen thwarted Ivar Ingimarsson at close range and then foiled Jay Tabb at the far post, yet Reading’s pressure was not about to evaporate.

With former Blade Brian Howard working hard to impress in Reading’s five-man midfield, there was no absence of threat.

Simonsen sparkled again when racing to the edge of his area to save at the feet of lively winger Jimmy Kebe.

The margin for error in his challenge was nil – since anything less than a good hand on the ball would have resulted in a penalty and possibly a red card.

Simonsen also showed real speed of thought to take both hands off the ball as he slid on and out of the area.

A rare mistake by Neill Collins almost proved costly but Tabb drifted offside and Long’s pass rolled under his feet.

It was virtually one-way traffic all the way to half-time with the Blades seldom getting the ball into areas likely to concern the visitors.

Simonsen was called in again immediately after the break to foil Jobi McAnuff but the Blades started to move forward with a greater purpose.

The introduction of substitute Matt Lowton helped limit the space afforded Kebe by his previous marker Stephen Jordan, while Mark Yeates and Stephen Quinn were willing, if sometimes untidy, workhorses down the flanks.

After Ian Harte’s free-kick fizzed inches wide of the Blades goal on 65 minutes, Adams made a double substitution, replacing Yeates and the anonymous Vokes with Riise and Daniel Bogdanovic.

Reading had a penalty shout waved away when Collins blocked another Harte shot with a raised arm.

Bogdanovic, meanwhile, was soon involved, delivering a good ball to the far post that was headed wide by Michael Doyle.

There were just 10 minutes to go when Reading finally broke United’s resistance. The groans around Bramall Lane were audible and the faithul sensed yet more disappointment on the horizon.

But Bogdanovic’s equaliser at least proved that the Blades are not done yet. Against Palace this weekend, however, they will need more than a draw to go home with a smile.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Parrino, Ertl, Collins, Jordan (Lowton 45); Yeates (Riise 66), Doyle,Williamson, Quinn; Vokes (Bogdanovic 66), Cresswell. Unused substitutes: Nosworthy, Long, Slew, Bent.

Reading: Federici; Griffin, Mills, Ingimarsson, Harte; Kebe, Gunnarsson (Antonio 69), Howard, McAnuff; Tabb (Manset 78); Long. Unused substitutes: Hunt, Khizanishvili, Armstrong, McCarthy,Robson-Kanu.

Referee: TM Kettle (Rutland)