The Blades were handed two penalties throughout the match which were awarded by referee Mark Clattenberg which were both duly converted by Darius Henderson on both occassions.
However the performance was less than impressive, but maybe better than that of recent weeks. United did come from a goal down with Anderson netting a goal which would have been good enough to win any match, whilst Daniel Bogdanovic re-took the lead for the home side.
A win would have given Blades boss Kevin Blackwell his 100th win as a manager, which he failed to do so - but in turn stopped a run of what would have been five straight defeats.
The vistors have been hit by a long list of injuries a late, but it was promising to see Jamie Ward return to action since the 3-2 win over Wednesday - and even more so the return of Derek Geary who has been out of action for eighteen months.
Blades keeper Ian Bennett gave out an outstanding performance in the first half until he was forced to be susbstituted at the break. He dented early pressure, saving a header from Anderson Silva and a volley from Daniel Bogdanovic.
United looked lackluster in attack with too few chances coming their way throughout the match but Welsh international Ched Evans flashed a 20 yard shot wide with keeper Luke Steele stranded.
Bennett then kept out Hugo Colace who had found a gap in the defence. Shortly before the break Matthew Kilgallon was forced to end the game through injury, making way for Derek Geary who hasn't featured since August 2008 in a League Cup win at Huddersfield Town.
Meanwhile shot stopper Bennett (hand) was also to be replaced through injury with Mark Bunn taking his place.
Eight minutes into the second half the break through was broke when Franca Anderson Silva taking advantage of the ball falling to him on the edge of the box before lashing it into the far top corner of the goal.
But almost instantly United hit back - Keith Treacy did well down the left hand side and found slight of goal, his shot bouncerd off the near post and spun to Jamie Ward, but the pint-sized striker could produce the finish and the ball was wisked away.
But moments later the visitors were handed a lifeline when Ched Evans was tripped in the box by Luke Steele, up stepped Darius Henderson (who had never taken a penalty for United before), smashing the ball into the roof of the net, 1-1.
It became a series of goals, there wasn't too much action from Henderson's dispatch up until 74th minute when no doubt the Oakwell faifthful had thought they had done enough to win this game.
Fellow striker Jonathan Macken produced a low cross from the right hand side with Maltese international Daniel Bogdanovic unmarked to finish.
It was a bitter blow to United who thought that a point was on the cards, but with seven minutes remaining Kyle Walker was fouled by Adam Hammill and up stepped Henderson again with a predictable outcome - sending Steele the wrong way to send jubilant Blades fans home with a small smile on their faces.