United's unbeaten run was stretched to seven games with a hard-earned point in freezing London conditions in the final game before Christmas.

Both goals came in an entertaining opening ten minutes as ex-Blade Mikele Leigertwood gave QPR the lead only for Richard Cresswell to level soon after.

The game was Paul Hart's first game in charge of Rangers and was an interesting appetiser ahead of the FA Cup third round tie between the teams in early January.

Due to injury and illness, Blackwell made three changes, bringing in Kallio, Montgomery and Stewart for Williamson, Taylor and Evans, although the latter was deemed fit enough to take a place on the bench. The personnel suggested a switch to a 4-5-1 formation with Cresswell as the sole frontman and that proved to be the case.

There was a frantic start and United, on the back of three consecutive clean sheets, found themselves behind before two minutes had elapsed. Kallio was forced to concede a corner to stop Simpson and after Watson's delivery was cleared by Morgan, LEIGERTWOOD picked up the loose ball before drilling a 25-yard shot which was deflected into Bunn's bottom left corner.

It stunned the Blades fans arriving behind Bunn's goal and Kilgallon had to time a tackle to prevent Simpson adding a second. The Sheffield contingent, however, were warmed by a leveller - it was on eight minutes and was United's first attack. Rangers had three players close by one of their defensive corner flags but Watson managed to surrender possession and Kallio raced on to the loose ball before firing into the danger area for CRESSWELL to bundle home at the near post.

A spell of end-to-end, entertaining action followed before the half hour mark but only presented two changes for the home side. From a short Watson corner, Taarabt's turn and shot failed to find the target and then Bunn gathered the ball at the feet of Routledge when the winger looked set to go around the goalkeeper.

After the initial blitz, United's system was beginning to frustrate the home side and it was the visitors who looked the more like to claim the third goal of the game as half-time approached. Quinn shot just wide after Montgomery had robbed Taarabt and then QPR's Stewart was booked for stopping Ward in what was an obvious physical mismatch.

United's Stewart, faced with a difficult chance, could only shoot at Cerny and a Quinn effort, following Kallio's pass, was blocked when it looked to be heading towards goal.

On the stroke of the break, Quinn and Ward combined to work a chance down the right but the latter dragged his left-foot volley wide of the target.

The start of the second period was somewhat scrappy with both sides struggling to hold on to possession long enough to create worthwhile chances. The opportunities that did present themselves, though, fell to the home side in the first 15 minutes after the interval.

Montgomery was tempted into a foul on Taarabt in a central position right on the edge of the penalty area but fortunately, the Moroccan, on loan from Tottenham, could only fire his free-kick into the wall. On 59 minutes Agyemang ran at the Blades defence and his cross was perfect for a volley but Simpson sliced his effort well wide.

Three sides of Loftus Road appealed for a penalty on 65 minutes when, following a spell of the ball pinging around the Blades box, Simpson went down under a Morgan tackle but referee Swarbrick was unconvinced and another run from Taarabt came to nothing.

As in the first half, United came back into the game and began to force the home side back, beginning with a good chance on 67 minutes. Walker and Quinn combined on the right and the latter's pull back resulted in Harper sidefooting over the angle of post and crossbar.

Quinn, the further forward of the three central midfielders, was heavily involved in the attacking intent of the Blades and twice he failed to find the target with very difficult shooting chances.

As the final, nervy 15 minutes approached QPR were again appealing for a penalty when Gorkss claimed he was pulled back by Kilgallon as Watson's corner flashed across the box and then Vine was allowed time to shoot for home from 25 yards but Bunn was well placed to gather.

Another Rangers corner was cleared as far as Leigertwood in the final five minutes but, thankfully, the former United midfielder was unable to repeat his crisp strike that gave the home side the early lead.

After denying Rangers two penalties, referee Swarbrick did hand the home side a soft free-kick with a minute to go when Morgan was adjudged to have impeded Agyemang. To add insult to injury the United skipper was booked. Fortunately, Watson's free-kick was deflected wide and the Blades cleared the resulting corner.

QPR were on the offensive in the closing stages, and the three additional minutes, whilst the home side went mightily close to winning it. Two of three injury-time minutes had elapsed when Routledge's cross was headed against the top of the crossbar by Watson.

Bunn was in no hurry to restart the action and was booked for delaying but it was worth it as it was confirmed moments later that the Blades had secured a hard-earned point in the capital.

QPR: Cerny, Ramage, Stewart, Leigertwood, Routledge, Agyemang, Gorkss, Watson, Williams, Simpson (Vine 68), Taarabt.
Unused: Hall, Pellicori, Faurlin, Balanta, Taylor, Parker.

Blades: Bunn, Montgomery, Morgan, Kilgallon, Harper, Cresswell, Ward, Stewart, Quinn, Kallio, Walker.
Unused: France, Evans, Reid, Bennett, Little, Geary, Camara.