Leicester City 2 Sheffield United 2: Late penalty denies Blades after Yeates's fine double

The Blades winger, who played on loan for Leicester City three years ago, was furious at the decision and was still protesting to referee Phil Gibbs at the final whistle.

His frustration was that the Blades had been agonisingly close to a first victory in the nine games this season in which they have fallen behind.

Only once in the previous eight had they even managed to fightback for a draw – which is why Yeates's double would have been extra special.

Leicester, managed by Sven Goran Eriksson, took an early lead through Paul Gallagher but Yeates scored twice before the interval to turn the game on its head.

Gibbs awarded the penalty in stoppage time allowing substitute Steve Howard to score from the spot and snatch a draw.

Loan signing Andy Reid made his first start for the Blades – nearly two weeks after arriving on a month's loan from Sunderland – and played just as important a role as Yeates.

The Republic of Ireland international midfielder had impressed on his debut as substitute against Coventry City but missed last weekend's defeat to Ipswich Town with a hamstring injury.

Defender Johnny Ertl, meanwhile, dropped to the bench as Speed recalled the fit-again Stephen Jordan.

Leicester had won their last two games – climbing out of the relegation zone and leap-frogging the Blades in the process – but Eriksson had still sounded a pre-match warning about the need to avoid complacency.

His players oozed confidence from the first whistle and soon had the Blades under pressure.

There were just eight minutes gone when defender Kyle Bartley gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box for a foul on Leicester striker Martin Waghorn.

Bartley, who has been wearing a protective mask since recovering from a fractured cheekbone, pulled out of a header to avoid Waghorn's raised boot but, in doing so, stumbled into his opponent.

Striker Paul Gallagher duly scored with an exquisite right footed free-kick to leave the Blades, who stuck with a 4-5-1 formation, seeking a way back into the game.

At times during the first half, the speed of Leicester's passing was a joy to watch for a neutral but a nightmare for a sluggish Blades defence.

It was 28 minutes before the Blades even mustered a shot on goal, such was Leicester's dominance, but the equaliser arrived just moments after that.

Catching Leicester on the counter-attack, Reid and Yeates were suddenly in a two-versus-one situation charging towards goal.

Reid showed all his quality by squaring at just the right time to leave Yeates with the relatively easy task of knocking the ball home.

Although stocky in frame, Reid's pace and vision became a real problem for the home side, his influence evoking memories of former Blades favourite Michael Brown in his prime.

Eriksson made his first journey to the technical area as half-time approached, no doubt sensing that the advantage was swinging towards the Blades.

A foul by Curtis Davies on captain Nick Montgomery opened the door for Yeates to score his second of the night, a stunning free-kick that flew over the Leicester wall and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Chris Weale.

Yeates dashed away to celebrate with the Blades' supporters situated near a corner flag but not before putting a fist in the air to the home supporters too.

It was a gesture that sparked chants of 'Leicester reject' due to

Yeates's brief involvement with the Foxes during a loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur three years ago.

The winger made only five starts during his four-month stay at the Walkers Stadium, scoring one goal, but now has four goals in his last six games for the Blades.

The introduction of substitute Howard early in the second half gave Leicester more aerial strength in the final third of the field.

Blades goalkeeper Steve Simonsen produced a fine stop to keep out Gallagher's free-kick as Leicester pushed for an equaliser.

Speed was in no mood to defend in numbers, however, and Reid, Yeates and Stephen Quinn were all pushed forward to join Cresswell on the attack with Montgomery and Leon Britton forming a protective barrier in front of the back four.

His clever tactics so nearly paid off – until Yeates was adjudged to have handled as the Blades defended in the final moments.

The result leaves the Blades far too close to the relegation zone for comfort.

Sheffield United: Simonsen; Lowton, Bartley, Nosworthy, Jordan; Yeates, Reid (Ertl 79), Montgomery, Britton, Quinn; Cresswell (Bogdanovic 86). Unused substitutes: Evans, Calve, Taylor, Kozluk, Wright.

Leicester City: Weale; Naughton, Davies, Hobbs, Cunningham; Gallagher, King, Wellens, Abe (Fryatt 74); Vassell (Dyer 55), Waghorn (Howard 55). Unused substitutes: Morrison, Logan, Berner, Moussa.

Referee: PN Gibbs (West Midlands)