Matt Done's strike on the half hour was enough to cancel out former Blade Danny Philliskirk's earlier strike, but despite the hosts been reduced to ten men in the second half, the Blades were unable to punish their opponents and instead wasted golden opportunities.
2,111 Blades fans made the trip to Boundary Park on a day when sad news was announced that former manager Howard Kendall had passed away. Harrison McGahey was handed his first league start of the season, starting alongside Neill Collins in central defence. Chris Basham continued as Captain, owing to the absence of Jay McEverley.
The opening ten minutes of the game saw the hosts see more glamour in front of goal than the visitors, despite Basham's best efforts which saw Freeman drill a ball into the box. Poleon, a former Lane custodian sliced his volley wide, Winchester then saw his shot deflected over as Athletic sent out early signals of intent. It was the latter shot which in turn lead to Oldham taking the lead. Jones delivery into the box from the resulting corner, the ball was flicked on and PHILLISKIRK was unmarked to head home past his former club at the rear post.
United have found themselves a bad habit in recent games, and have often found themselves two goals a negative before striking the net themselves. But in Lancashire this was to be a little different against our opponents whom, since joining League One in 2011, the Blades have lost only once. United's reaction was met with positivity, pressurising the Latics defence but was unable to test keeper Cornell.
On the half-hour mark the scores were level through some divine intervention from Matt Done. But it was Scougall who turned architect, having won possession and found his way past a number of defenders before DONE turned and fired first time into the top right hand corner from his powerful left boot.
Billy Sharp thought he was to take the lead when his effort hit the post before the referee's assistant waved the offside flag. Howard pushed away Poleon's far post head after Winchester crossed as the first half drew to a close.
Nigel Adkins team came out a more fierce side in the second half, Wallace's cross saw Adams fire wide and from a corner, Cornell smothered on his line following a goal mouth scramble involving Sharp, Basham and Collins. Adams went tumbling in the box just before the hour mark but no spot kick was awarded. From Baxter's free-kick, Basham headed across goal with no white shirt able to stab home.
Done then beat the offside trap from Adams through ball but shot wide as United looked to reign fire upon Oldham's goal. Baxter fired over as he looked to net against his former club. Then, as Sharp went charging down the right flank he was pulled back by Burn which was enough to warrant a second yellow card for the day and he was duly dismissed. Eager to take full advantage of Oldham's reduction in players, Adkins brought on Sammon for Done.
Two spurned chances in three minutes left the Blades wondering how they were not in front. Firstly, Wallace's low cross saw Sharp three yards from goal and unmarked but his quick-fire effort somehow missed the goal and wide at the far post, before Scougall looked destined to score but his shot fired cruelly against the post, with much relief to the Latics defence.
There was still ten minutes remaining of the game, Cambpell-Ryce replaced Scougall but Oldham were content in sitting back and defending a point. Adams stung the keepers hand as three minutes of injury time was announced, but the hosts held on to share a point.
Oldham Athletic: Cornell, J Wilson, Kelly, Jones (Dieng 67), Poleon (Fuller 67), Philliskirk, Winchester, Burn, Fulton (B Wilson 82), Lafferty, Dummigan. Unused: Coleman, Croft, Yeates, Eckersley.
Sheffield United: Howard, Freeman, Basham, Sharp, Baxter, Done (Sammon 63), Collins, Scougall (Campbell-Ryce 82), Adams, K Wallace, McGahey. Unused: Coutts, Woolford, Reed, Long, Kennedy.