Swindon 0 Sheff U 0: Dire goalless draw sends unbeaten Blades to the summit of League One

The one point, though, was enough to send United to the top of the league.

The opening 15 minutes saw little in the way of threat to either goal. Swindon went closest with a 20-yard dipping volley from Matty Ritchie which dropped on to the bar and safety.

Both defences looked solid at the back with no real chances until Simon Ferry took advantage of good work by Gary Roberts for Swindon to fire in a low effort which George Long did well to turn away for a corner. This led to a brief spell of pressure from Swindon but they were well contained.

As the Blades began to settle midway through the half they were shading the possession but there was still no sign of any clear-cut chances as half-time approached. Nick Blackman tried his luck with a shot from the 18-yard line but although well struck, Swindon keeper Wes Foderingham was in line to make a routine save.

After the break Swindon came nearest to scoring when a deflected shot from Roberts hit the post with long well beaten in the 55th minute. Tony McMahon delivered a free-kick into the box but it failed to produce any end result. Despite substitutions on both sides and an almighty scramble in the Swindon goal mouth just before the end when Ferry cleared off the line it ended as it began on level pegging.

Swindon Town: Foderingham, McEveley, Devera, Ferry, Collins (Storey 73), Ritchie, Roberts (De Vita 64), N Thompson, Williams, L Thompson (Archibald-Hanville 87). Unused substitutes: Bedwell, Benson, Rooney, Oakley.

Sheffield United: Long, McGuire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle, Porter, Blackman (Cresswell 71), McDonald, Collins, McMahon, Williams. Unused substitutes: Willis, Westlake, Miller, McAllister, Cofie, Kennedy.

Referee: O Langford (West Midlands).