Derby County vs Sheffield United. Sky Bet Championship.
Pride Park StadiumAttendance30,003.
Monday 1 January 2018 19:26, UK
Matej Vydra scored his 15th goal of the season but Derby had to settle for a point as Sheffield United hit back to draw 1-1 at Pride Park.
Vydra put the Rams in front from the penalty spot midway through the first half of the Sky Bet Championship clash, but the Blades kept their composure and deservedly equalised early in the second period through Leon Clarke, who now has 15 goals himself in the second tier.
Both teams threatened to win it on the break several times in the closing stages but the two well-organised defences stood firm as Derby stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches.
The visitors made the better start, with Richard Keogh blocking an early shot by Clayton Donaldson.
United got into some dangerous positions without finding the ball to open up Derby's defence and, after Mark Duffy was booked for catching Johnny Russell, the home side went in front in the 24th minute.
Russell received treatment but was involved in the goal when he took the ball off George Baldock near the goal-line and, when the defender slid in to win it back, he tripped the winger. Referee Darren Bond immediately pointed to the spot and Vydra smashed the penalty to the left of Simon Moore and into the roof of the net.
Russell was just off target with a 20-yard effort as Derby's quick movement up front threatened to expose United, but the visitors almost equalised in the 39th minute when Donaldson broke down the left and forced Scott Carson into a diving save at his near post.
Derby responded with a swift counter-attack that ended with Andreas Weimann curling a shot just wide, but the Blades were still in the game and went close again in the 55th minute.
Enda Stevens cut the ball back to John Fleck on the edge of the area and his low shot rolled just wide of Carson's left post but, two minutes later, United were level.
Donaldson swung the ball in from the right and Clarke was unmarked six yards out to steer a header past Carson.
Clarke was nearly in again when Derby gave the ball away in a central area, but United were nearly caught on the break when Russell's pass almost put David Nugent through.
Both teams gave the ball away as rain began to fall and Clarke was close to playing in Donaldson, who had worked tirelessly up front, but both defences stayed strong and neither side could fashion an opening in the final minutes.
Gary Rowett: "I'm very happy with that in light of the fact we didn't deserve it on the performance. We didn't show enough composure on the ball and I certainly can't complain although I'm disappointed with the goal they scored.
"It was a really disappointing goal to concede but I think on reflection of the game, they were better than us and probably, without creating too much, deserved to win so a point is an extension of our unbeaten run and five wins and two draws in seven games."
Chris Wilder: "When you come here and play like we did it gives me an immense amount of pride, especially after going a goal down. I think we deserved something from the game and we've played particularly well now for quite a while and I don't think we've got the results that have matched up to the performances.
"I had a bit of a nip at the players at half-time because I thought that after the first 25 minutes we lacked a bit of belief in our play but I thought second half we were full value for a result."
