Birmingham City 1-1 Sheffield United: Blades miss chance to go back second with St Andrews draw

Sheffield United ceded control back to Yorkshire rivals Leeds United in the race for automatic promotion as they were held at Birmingham City.

Enda Stevens' first goal in more than a year put the Blades ahead but their lead lasted fewer than four minutes.

Michael Morrison stabbed Blues level from close range to keep United third, one point behind second-placed Leeds with five games remaining.

Birmingham had the better chances to win it but the draw moves them six points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Blues, who matched their high-flying visitors throughout, could consider themselves unfortunate to fall behind to Stevens' emphatic strike - United's only shot on target in the first half.

That the goal was set up by a run from former Blues man Mark Duffy and finished by former Aston Villa defender Stevens, who drilled past Lee Camp at his near post, added salt to the wounds.

But they were level almost immediately, with Morrison first to react when Blades goalkeeper Dean Henderson pawed away a Gary Gardner header from a corner.

While Camp had to be alert to prevent Lukas Jutkiewicz scoring an own goal after the break, it was Birmingham who fashioned the better second-half opportunities.

Henderson made a flying save to thwart former Blades forward Che Adams' 25-yarder and also denied substitute Jota.

United pressed late on, David McGoldrick heading their best chance over, but Blues saw out a draw to move closer to safety despite a nightmare March that featured five straight defeats and a nine-point deduction for profitability breaches.

The Blades, who have now lost just once in their past 13 Championship games, will go back second, albeit perhaps briefly, with victory at home to struggling Millwall on Saturday.

They will then hope for a favour from rivals Sheffield Wednesday who visit Leeds in the late kick-off (17:30 BST).

Birmingham City boss Garry Monk told BBC Radio WM 95.6:

"To take four points this week is a huge return for us, considering we were coming off a losing streak.

"There was a lot of resilience on display tonight, it was a huge effort and we got what we deserved.

"We had the best chances in the game, funnily enough, but I think overall a point was probably a fair result."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We are a bit disappointed as in the second half we made all the running.

"They are a really difficult team to play against - they sit in, they give up possession, you have to move them around and we did.

"The disappointing thing is that it didn't take them long to get their equaliser.

"I was always felt it was us dictating and looking for that winner, without finding that last little pass or last little bit of quality."