Three goals in a frantic seven minutes saw the Blades slip to a 2-1 deficit. Goals from Leonard and Payne put the visitors into a two goal lead before Jose Baxter's scuffed strike pulled one back. Deep into first half stoppage time, Neill Collins was perfectly poised to arrow the ball home on his 200th appearance in a Blades shirt. United came out bullish in the second half with Baxter, Basham and Sharp coming mightily close, but despite their efforts both cannoned off the post. Neither side could add to the scores as the game ended all square.
Prior to the match, a minutes silence was carried out in respect to all those who lost their lives in the night before terror attacks on the city of Paris.
Having kept two clean sheets from his two consecutive cup outings, George Long kept his place in the side to face the Shrimpers. The conditions were poor with rain falling heavily over the Sheffield skyline but despite being wet, the new pitch coped well under the conditions. It was the conditions which played a huge part in the game being a slow start and took a good 20 minutes until the match was in full flow.
Atkinson hit a shot wide and at the other end Campbell-Ryce, once a Southend custodian, curled his effort over the crossbar. Two goals in as many minutes for the visitors punctured the Blades rear guard, but the home faithful wasn't giving up without a fight. As Hurst floated corner kick into the box Long was able to punch clear, but the ball fell to an unmarked LEONARD who swiftly controlled before his half-volley, 25 yards out, found the net via the left hand post in front of a jubilant travelling support. United were still questioning what had happened when Coker charged round the back of the defence, passed to PAYNE, who's shot across Long was too good for the keeper.
The home fans voiced their disapproval but, for their credit, the Blades were quick on the offensive and wasn't too long before the ball trickled into the Kop goal. Bentley, the Shrimpers keeper, would have been happy to hear the sound of the referee's whistle when, under pressure from Adams, he dropped Bob Harris cross into his own net. Within the space of a minute, the Blades would be back in the game. As Coutts crossed in a corner it was only half cleared, Bentley looked to be in prime position to smother but BAXTER acted quickest, his poked effort nut meged the keeper as the ball trickled home over the line.
Due to stoppages in play, three minutes were added on to the first 45 minutes. It was during this time that they Blades levelled the scores but only after Adams came mightily close to scoring himself. Sharp had played the ball to the former Ilkeston striker, his flash shot at goal from outside the area flicked off the boot of Thompson and with Bentley beaten, could only watch as the ball sliced past the post and out for a corner. Baxter crossed the ball into the box, but after this was cleared he quickly found the ball at his feet again, his dinked cross found COLLINS who slotted home after adjusting himself.
United kicked towards the away end in the second half and was clear that they must have been given a kick up the back-side at the break, Southend came out first with the visitors having to wait a good minute for the hosts to re-enter the field. They came out in a bullish mood and took no prisoners, a tactic which has often been used more times by the opposition. And for the final 45 minutes, they ball remained mostly in the oppositions half.
The hosts began well with Adams finding himself crowded out and Sharp saw his shot blocked following Cambell-Ryce's cross, whilst Hammond's effort was deflected wide. At the other end the visitors were given a rare glimpse at goal with Worrell, following Atkinson's cross, flicked wide of Long's goal. On 69 minutes Bentley did well to prevent Sharp after he slipped past a busy Blues defence.
In the space of five minutes the Blades hit the woodwork twice, firstly Baxter's 20 yard drive hit the right post and was cleared to safety before, in the next move, Baxter's free-kick, after Campbell-Ryce was fouled, saw Basham's header saved by the post. United continued to attack the opposition goal in the final ten minutes with the visitors defending for their lives. They were able to hold on until the final whistle but until they came some close opportunities.
On the break Atkinson and Worrel came close but the hosts looked the more likely to steal maximum points, Sharp saw his shot blocked and with three minutes left on the clock, his instinctive effort rattled the woodwork for a third time with Bentley beaten. Overall it was a better performance by United in contrast to recent fixtures at the Lane, five minutes were added on by the officials but still they were unable to force a winner.
Sheffield United: Long, Freeman, Harris, Basham, Coutts (J Wallace 84), Sharp, Baxter, Collins, Campbell-Ryce, Adams, Hammond. Unused: Howard, Done, Scougall, Sammon, McEveley, McGahey.
Southend United: Bentley, White, Coker, Thompson, Worrall, Mooney (Pigott 64), Payne (Timlin 75), Atkinson, Hurst (Weston 68), Leonard, Barrett. Unused: Prosser, Bolger, Smith, O'Neill.