Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Chelsea 2.
Oli McBurnie scored an injury-time equaliser for relegation-threatened Sheffield United as Chelsea's hopes of securing European football suffered a blow.
Mauricio Pochettino's ninth-placed visitors were unable to maintain momentum following their dramatic last-gasp comeback win over Manchester United on Thursday.
Instead, just three days later, they fell victim to a late sucker-punch as McBurnie fired in from close range in the 93rd minute to earn a point for the Premier League's bottom side.
Noni Madueke's excellent finish midway through the second half - the England youth international cutting inside and curling an excellent finish past Ivo Grbic - had put Chelsea on course for victory.
The Blues took an 11th-minute lead when Thiago Silva was allowed to side-foot in Conor Gallagher's corner unchallenged but Jayden Bogle beat Djordje Petrovic at his near post to bring the Blades level.
The increasing belief in Chris Wilder's players was evident as the Bramall Lane crowd rallied behind their side - and they were rewarded for their persistence by a moment of celebration in an otherwise difficult season.
Sheffield United remain bottom of the table, nine points adrift of safety with 21 points still to fight for.
Another setback for inconsistent Chelsea
Chelsea's recent fixtures have not been short on entertainment. Thursday night's remarkable 4-3 win at Stamford Bridge saw the Blues become the first top-flight team since 1989 to both score and concede at least two goals in six consecutive games in all competitions.
They could not prevent that streak extending to a seventh match as they failed to hold out for the three points
Despite an inconsistent first season under Pochettino, in which they have managed to win successive league games on only two occasions, they maintain hopes of securing European football with eight games left to play and sixth-placed Manchester United five points ahead having played a game more.
That they are still in the mix is in no small part down to the stellar form of Cole Palmer, who continues to star for the Blues since a £42.5m move from Manchester City last summer.
The 21-year-old, a hat-trick hero in midweek, provided the assist for Madueke, taking his goal involvements for the season to 34 in 40 games in all competitions, with 25 coming from 27 league appearances.
He was once again central to Chelsea's best play, driving forward, creating chances and going close when Grbic tipped his powerful effort over. With the Blues' defence faltering, his importance in his side's pursuit of Europe cannot be overstated.
"The way we conceded in the last few minutes is frustrating and I am disappointed but if you analyse the game the draw is fair," manager Pochettino said.
"We are scoring and the problem is we are conceding a lot. We are going to keep working and believing. It's about being tough, more responsible and trying to play."
McBurnie delivers late joy for Blades
An immediate return to the Championship may be looming for Sheffield United but, as they did in defeat by title-chasing Liverpool in midweek, they displayed ample character and fight against Chelsea to offer Chris Wilder optimism.
United failed to capitalise on a rare early chance when Ben Brereton Diaz had an attempt blocked by Moises Caicedo after McBurnie pounced on a loose pass by Silva.
The industrious Gustavo Hamer tested Petrovic from distance as the hosts gained a foothold in the contest and, after assisting Bogle, the former Coventry City midfielder unleashed a ferocious strike narrowly wide as United continued to put Chelsea under pressure.
McBurnie's late strike provided what will feel a deserved outcome for those urging the home side on at Bramall Lane, supporters who have endured their fair share of difficult days on the club's top-flight return.
Defence will be an obvious area of concern for Wilder looking ahead, as demonstrated by the complete lack of awareness as Silva moved freely into space to score Chelsea's opener, and they have already set a Premier League record for most home goals conceded in a season (47).
"It was always going to be a challenge but I thought the team was outstanding," Wilder said.
"The boys went full-tilt against top players. A big effort from them. It didn't feel as if we are in the situation we are in. I do believe they [the fans] understand the situation we are in. The supporters were there when we needed it the most, which was towards the end of the game.
"You have to get that type of performance to have the opportunity to get a result. We have been inconsistent this season but now we are showing a decent level. Now I am understanding and accepting what type of performance I am going to get."
Player of the match
ArcherCameron Archer
Sheffield United
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameArcherAverage rating
6.55
- Squad number8Player nameHamerAverage rating
6.45
- Squad number21Player nameVinicius SouzaAverage rating
6.43
- Squad number28Player nameMcAteeAverage rating
6.39
- Squad number9Player nameMcBurnieAverage rating
6.26
- Squad number20Player nameBogleAverage rating
6.06
- Squad number24Player nameArblasterAverage rating
6.04
- Squad number11Player nameBreretonAverage rating
5.94
- Squad number23Player nameOsbornAverage rating
5.83
- Squad number19Player nameRobinsonAverage rating
5.76
- Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzicAverage rating
5.64
- Squad number30Player nameHolgateAverage rating
5.61
- Squad number5Player nameTrustyAverage rating
5.54
- Squad number13Player nameGrbicAverage rating
5.50
Chelsea
Avg
- Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating
6.01
- Squad number23Player nameGallagherAverage rating
5.90
- Squad number11Player nameMaduekeAverage rating
5.72
- Squad number8Player nameFernándezAverage rating
5.22
- Squad number20Player namePalmerAverage rating
5.21
- Squad number14Player nameChalobahAverage rating
5.07
- Squad number28Player namePetrovicAverage rating
5.05
- Squad number3Player nameCucurellaAverage rating
4.98
- Squad number2Player nameDisasiAverage rating
4.95
- Squad number15Player nameJacksonAverage rating
4.91
- Squad number25Player nameCaicedoAverage rating
4.85
- Squad number10Player nameMudrykAverage rating
4.66
- Squad number17Player nameChukwuemekaAverage rating
4.63
- Squad number31Player nameCasadeiAverage rating
3.58
- Squad number5Player nameBadiashileAverage rating
3.19
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 13Grbic
- 30HolgateSubstituted forMcAteeat 76'minutes
- 15AhmedhodzicBooked at 90mins
- 19RobinsonBooked at 58minsSubstituted forde Souza Costaat 90+1'minutes
- 20Bogle
- 8Hamer
- 24ArblasterBooked at 89mins
- 23Osborn
- 5TrustySubstituted forArcherat 87'minutes
- 11BreretonBooked at 52mins
- 9McBurnie
Substitutes
- 10Archer
- 16Norwood
- 18Foderingham
- 21de Souza Costa
- 25Ben Slimane
- 27Larouci
- 28McAtee
- 32Osula
- 35Brooks
Chelsea
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 28Petrovic
- 2Disasi
- 6Thiago Silva
- 14ChalobahBooked at 41mins
- 3CucurellaBooked at 86minsSubstituted forBadiashileat 90+3'minutes
- 25Caicedo
- 8Fernández
- 11MaduekeSubstituted forMudrykat 82'minutes
- 20PalmerSubstituted forChukwuemekaat 74'minutes
- 23Gallagher
- 15JacksonSubstituted forCasadeiat 90+3'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Badiashile
- 7Sterling
- 10Mudryk
- 13Bettinelli
- 17Chukwuemeka
- 31Casadei
- 36de Souza Eugênio
- 38Sharman-Lowe
- 42Gilchrist
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 28,638
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home32%
- Away68%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Chelsea 2.
Post update
Foul by Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea).
Post update
Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United).
Post update
Carney Chukwuemeka (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United).
Goal!
Goal! Sheffield United 2, Chelsea 2. Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Cameron Archer with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Cesare Casadei replaces Nicolas Jackson.
Substitution
Substitution, Chelsea. Benoît Badiashile replaces Marc Cucurella.
Post update
Foul by Enzo Fernández (Chelsea).
Post update
Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Vinicius Souza replaces Jack Robinson because of an injury.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Jack Robinson (Sheffield United).
Booking
Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Conor Gallagher (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Oliver Arblaster (Sheffield United).
Comments
Join the conversation
Well deserved point Sheffield United, with some sharper finishing could have been a victory.
Just about sums up our defence!