Sheffield United 1 QPR 1: Replay for the Blades

Jay Simpson broke the deadlock for the visitors seven minutes before half-time when the on-loan Arsenal striker netted his 10th goal of the season from Wayne Routledge's right-wing cross.

But Rangers' lead was short-lived, with Richard Cresswell sending a looping header into the net on the stroke of half-time to level.

Cresswell's equaliser may have given the fans something to cheer about but Blackwell is not looking forward to the prospect of a replay.

"We're frustrated," he said. "But if you're not clinical in the last third and in the box that's what happens.

"We hit the bar a couple of times and overall I think we shaded the game, there's no doubt about that.

"It was (the last result we wanted]," he continued. "We tried to be as positive as we could and I wanted to finish the game here.

"I didn't want to go down there and have any more games because the squad isn't big enough to handle it.

"Anyway, we'll go down there now and replay, and give all we can."

Queens Park Rangers manager Paul Hart sees the replay in a more positive light. Having only recently taken over the helm, the former Portsmouth manager sees the replay as a chance to impose his footballing philosophy on his new players.

He said: "I've been in three weeks and in that time, with the Christmas period and one thing and another – icy pitches and all that – it has been difficult to get any meaningful work done.

"So, sometimes you have to get it done through games.

"I'm very pleased to be in the hat (for the fourth round] and if it means we can turn a few things around, another game will be fine."

QPR were on the back foot for large spells of the game, with Stephen Quinn and Ched Evans hitting the bar for the home side either side of half-time.

But the visitors held strong and Hart praised his side's determination for earning a mid-January replay.

The visitors took the lead in the 38th minute when Routledge's right-wing cross skidded across the six-yard line to Simpson, who guided the ball across goalkeeper Bunn into the bottom right-hand corner.

United responded well and got the equaliser their efforts merited on the stroke of half-time.

Cresswell shook off his marker in the box to head over the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Radek Cerny.

United took the game to their Championship rivals in the second half.

Camara saw his veering shot palmed away by Cerny before Jamie Ward's fizzing effort curled just wide of the top angle.

But as the half progressed, the match descended into a scrappy affair with both sides having chances.

Damion Stewart went close for QPR when he bulldozed his way through the box to head just wide for Rangers, which was shortly followed by Camara forcing Cerny to save well from close range at the other end.

Other than Evans's rasping free-kick in the 80th minute the game petered out, resulting in the replay at Loftus Road which Blackwell could do without.

Sheffield United: Bunn, Geary, Morgan, Kilgallon (Seip 46), Taylor, Ward (Little 87), Montgomery, Quinn (Williamson 78), Cresswell, Evans, Camara. Unused substitutes: Bennett, France, Reid, Harper.

Queens Park Rangers: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Gorkss, Borrowdale, Routledge, Faurlin, Leigertwood, Buzsaky (Ephraim 71), Simpson, Agyemang (Helguson 85). Unused substitutes: Taylor, Hall, Connolly, Balanta, Parker.

Referee: Andy Hall (W Midlands).