A late Billy Sharp penalty salvaged a 1-1 draw for Sheffield United against Fulham who themselves failed to convert from the penalty spot.
Aleksander Mitrovic smashed the ball against the crossbar from 12 yards on 56 minutes before Ademola Lookman broke the deadlock for the away side with 13 minutes remaining.
However, after having a penalty awarded by VAR when Mitrovic challenged Jack Robinson inside the box, Sharp who had only been brought on five minutes before had no issues in converting the penalty past Alphonse Areola.
Story of the game
It was the visitors that dominated the early proceedings and it was them that created the first meaningful chance seven minutes in when Tom Cairney worked a bit of room outside of the area, but his well hit strike was well tipped around the post by Aaron Ramsdale.
However two minutes later despite making a slightly nervy start United had their first sighter of the day when John Lundstram was found in acres of room from around 25 yards, and his drive was well tipped over by Alphonse Areola.
This seemed to get the hosts going as a minute later a low Enda Stevens cross found Oli McBurnie at the near post but his flicked effort went wide of the mark via a deflection.
Then only a moment later the Irish forward maybe felt that he could have done better as he was found unmarked from an George Baldock cross but his header flashed across goal and out for a goal kick.
On the 13th minute mark another chance went begging for the Blades this time for Chris Basham when a Baldock low cross from the right was cleared only as far as the defender, but his low shot inside the area was drilled wide of the left hand post.
On the 23rd minute the home side created yet another decent opportunity when Lundstram released a bursting Enda Stevens down the left but his low drive was well held by Areola.
Just before the half hour mark another Baldock cross was again met by McBurnie but his header was brilliantly parried away by Areola from point blank range.
United did have the ball in the back of the net seven minutes before the break when Berge squared the ball to Lundstram who had the simple task of tapping home, but it was ruled out due to Berge being in an offside position.
Six minutes after the interval, despite the hosts starting the better the Cottagers shoud have broken the deadlock when a Ivan Cavaleiro cross from the right was fumbled by Ramsdale but the Blades number one recovered brilliantly to block the follow up by Ademola Lookman.
Then, on the 56th minute mark Fulham were awarded a spot kick when John Egan clearly handled the ball when jumping in a challenge with Loftus Cheek.
It was Mitrovic who stepped up but he smashed the ball on to the crossbar and the ball then sailed well over the bar in what was a massive opportunity for Scott Parker’s side.
However with 13 minutes remaining, Fulham did deservedly take the lead when Lookman picked the ball up on the left hand side and through his quick feet and burst of pace he found his way in to the box, then when he did the winger smashed the ball past Ramsdale and into the roof of the net.
The visitors could have doubled the lead a couple of minutes later when an Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa low cross found Mitrovic unmarked but his first time shot was straight at Ramsdale.
Although, with five minutes remaining the Blades levelled the scores when Mitrovic was judged by VAR to have fouled Jack Robinson inside the area with a high challenge.
Substitute Sharp took up the responsibility and had no problems despatching the opportunity as he smashed the ball straight down the middle.
The drama did not end there though as in the second minute of stoppage time, Mitrovic should of grabbed all three points for Fulham but his header from inside the area somehow was diverted wide of the left hand post.
Then with almost the last kick of the game he latched on to another cross this time from Cairney but it sailed narrowly wide of the mark.
Takeaways from the game
Mitrovic the Villain
It was a really off day for Mitrovic as first of all he missed the spot kick which would of ultimately handed Fulham the lead a little before the hour mark.
Then with five minutes remaining he gave away the penalty which cost his side two points and to make matters worse he had two gilt edged opportunities in stoppage time and with both he failed to test Ramsdale.
Hopefully for the Serbian this was just an off day for him as it is well known that he has been a person to rely on for Fulham shown by the fact that he grabbed 26 Championship goals for the club last season and he was a big reason to why they gained promotion.
Rued first half missed chances
In the first period, the hosts had a number of opportunities to not only take the lead but to put the game to bed.
It was these chances that really cost Wilder’s side the victory today and due to the fact that before today they had only scored one goal in the league, it is clearly an issue that needs to be solved if they want any chance of remaining in the topflight for a second season running.
However, Rhian Brewster did make his debut for the Blades after coming on as a substitute meaning that he will once played on a consistent basis add more competition and firepower to the club's front line.
Standout Player- Sander Berge
In particular in the first 45 minutes he was very composed in the middle of the park for the hosts and he rarely lost possession of the ball.
Furthermore, he was effective in the transition as he had the confidence when in space to carry the ball forward and through doing this it consequently provided the likes of Stevens and Baldock space down each flank.