Sheffield United had to settle for a point from a lively 1-1 draw with Colchester in Tuesday's clash at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.
Colchester's Ian Henderson fired a low shot straight at Blades keeper Steve Simonsen in the third minute and Anthony Wordsworth soon went close with an acrobatic effort in the League One clash. But Stephen Quinn went nearer for the visitors with an audacious effort that deflected just over and the Blades took the lead just after the half-hour mark. Will Hoskins coolly lifted the ball over U's keeper Ben Williams from close range, after Ched Evans had bravely picked him out in space from the edge of the area. But Colchester got back on level terms 11 minutes after half-time through the in-form Steven Gillespie, who curled a shot into the top corner from 20 yards after good support work by Kayode Odejayi. Gillespie went close twice more in the ensuing minutes before Simonsen denied Henderson as a pulsating match finished even.Blades blunted by gritty U's