A transformation in results has seen The Blades unbeaten in ten straight League One matches. Their run started with a 1-0 win over Chris Wilder's former club Oxford United on 27 August and continued with back-to-back wins over Gillingham (2-1), AFC Wimbledon (3-2) and Peterborough United (1-0). They drew 2-2 at leaders Scunthorpe before beating newcomers Bristol Rovers (1-0). They drew 1-1 at Fleetwood before waiting a fortnight to beat Port Vale (4-0) and Shrewsbury Town (3-0).
There are still plenty of games left to go until the regular season ends, United have 32 league fixtures to fulfill with a maximum of 96 points left to battle for. But those fortunate to witness the Blades at Bradford City last weekend may have witnessed the most exciting fixture of the season after a hard fought battle saw both teams share the spoils in a six goal thriller.
Sky Bet League One promotion rivals Bradford and Sheffield United had to settle for a point each from a 3-3 draw after serving up a six-goal thriller at Valley Parade. The visitors went in front in the 18th minute when Mark Duffy delivered a cross from the left over the head of Nathaniel Knight-Percival, with leading marksman and skipper Billy Sharp scoring with a close-range header off the underside of the crossbar.
However, Bradford hit back to equalise in the 35th minute when the visitors' defence failed to cut out Matt Kilgallon's low cross from the left and unmarked Billy Clarke scored with a shot just beyond the far post to leave the sides level 1-1 at half-time. United regained the lead after 51 minutes with another Duffy-Sharp combination. Duffy played a free-kick from the left deep into the Bradford goalmouth for the on-rushing Sharp to score from close range.
Bradford equalised for a second time 10 minutes later through Jordy Hiwula. United failed to clear a corner and when Josh Cullen lobbed the ball back into the goalmouth James Hanson played the ball across the face of goal for Hiwula to score at the far post.
The home side took the lead for the first time in the 68th minute after Kilgallon's left-wing cross was turned into the far corner of the net by Timothee Dieng. The lead lasted a mere four minutes as, when the Bradford defence failed to clear John Fleck's corner, Chris Basham scored an equaliser with a shot at the far post to extend the Blades' 10-match unbeaten run. Both sides tried to force a winner, with Bradford going closest five minutes from the end when Hiwula saw his shot rebound off the crossbar.
United will be without defender James Wilson through injury. The former Oldham man has been absent for the last few weeks. Wilder has no new injury or suspension worries as his side look to extend their unbeaten league run to 10 matches. Striker Caolan Lavery, a substitute in the last few matches after recovering from an ankle injury, is hoping to feature.
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