The Easter Saturday derby encounter saw United clearly the better side but two further injury problems hampered Kevin Blackwell's chances of masterminding a victory.

However, the result does ensure that Barnsley have now gone eight games without beating the Blades... a run that stretches back nine years.

Morgan returned to face his hometown and former club and Ward was deemed fit enough to start following a hamstring problem. Boss Blackwell made a total of four changes with Stewart and Little also brought in from the start - Taylor, Bartley, Yeates and Harper all made way, dropping to the bench. Barnsley's teamsheet included ex Blades striker, Gray.

With Little in the team, Ward took up a central striking role at kick-off - with Henderson - whilst Cresswell was switched to the left of midfield. Understandably, both sets of fans were boisterous in the early exchanges and there were early shouts for a Blades penalty as Ward and Moore collided after Stewart's delivery forward but referee Walton was not convinced.

Quinn, playing a central midfield berth alongside Montgomery, shot wide on six minutes, and moments later Little danced between two defenders but, after a deep cross, Steele tipped over Henderson's back post header. United had undoubtedly made the better start and Barnsley's goalkeeper again came to their rescue on 10 minutes. From Little's corner, Morgan and Henderson won headers but Steele raced off his line to make a block from Ward.

As the half wore on, the Tykes stemmed the flow of chances but the Blades were still the more dominant. Doyle was the first to be booked, for a foul on Cresswell, and Stewart was forced to limp out of the action before the half-hour mark, to be replaced by Taylor.

Henderson headed wide a Connolly cross and then the big striker could not get on the end of a Cresswell delivery from the left, whilst United's injury luck continued on 39 minutes when Ward pulled up with what looked like a recurrence of his hamstring problem. The replacement was Yeates, who quickly slotted into a central position behind Henderson.

Barnsley's attacking intent was limited, although Nosworthy made two blocks and Taylor and Morgan were booked for fouls. Simonsen's one and only save of the first half came in injury-time but Colace's 30-yard free-kick was comfortably held by the goalkeeper.

Henderson could not direct Little's free-kick towards goal early in the second period and Yeates fired over from 25 yards when free at the edge of the box as the Blades looked to force the visitors back once again.

Cresswell was moved inside to partner Henderson, with Yeates moving to wide left, and he delivered into the box on 67 minutes, which got the Blades fans on their feet. Quinn appeared to be fouled by Foster but referee Walton played on and Little's effort from six yards was wide.

The chances were one-sided but Barnsley still looked a threat at times and Simonsen, on a number of occasions, was forced to leave his line to collect crosses and throw-ins. The Blades, though, were causing problems of their own, mainly thanks to Little's influence. Henderson's shot was blocked by Potter and then, from a Yeates cross, Little laid off and Montgomery's shot was kicked away by the well-placed Potter once more. The resulting corner saw Henderson's header saved low to his left by Steele on 75 minutes.

Connolly and Moore were both cautioned as the yellow card count went up and just into the final ten minutes there was the bizarre occurrence of a drop-ball in the Barnsley box as the ball got trapped between Moore's legs.

Williamson was introduced for the tiring Little for the final five minutes and the lack of attacking from the visitors confirmed that they had settled for a point.

There was drama in the added minutes at the end of the 90. Devaney was booked for a foul on Nosworthy and Connolly picked up his second yellow, for a late challenge on Hammill, which meant he was dismissed with less than 30 seconds remaining.

There was no late action in terms of goalmouth action as United, despite bossing the action, were only rewarded with a point.

Blades: Simonsen, Montgomery, Morgan, Nosworthy, Henderson, Cresswell, Ward (Yeates 39), Stewart (Taylor 28), Little (Williamson 84), Quinn, Connolly.
Unused: Bennett, Harper, Seip, Bartley.

Barnsley: Steele, Moore, Colace, Foster, Hume (Devaney 84), Hallfredsson (De Silva 47), Butterfield, Potter, Hammill, Gray, Doyle.
Unused: Preece, Macken, El Haimour, Thompson.