BRADFORD CITY AFC

James Meredith's first goal of the season just after the half hour mark gave City a deserved lead at the break. 

Devante Cole's third goal in four games shortly after the break then gave Phil Parkinson's men a decent hold in the game before a strong response from the visitors.

Aided by a change in formation brought on by the introductions of Jose Baxter and Conor Sammon, the Blades fought back with two goals in five minutes midway through the second period to restore parity in the game.

United's first goal came via a header from Chris Basham following Craig Alcock's long throw-in into the box that deflected up off Meredith, looping over debutant Brad Jones and into the net.

The visitors' equaliser was scored by Billy Sharp for the striker's fifth goal in as many league games.

Latching onto Baxter's searching through ball from distance, Sharp saw his first effort saved by Jones but the forward was able to fire home with his second effort on the rebound.

Despite United's forceful come-back in match, City still could have grabbed all three points in the last seconds of injury time.

James Hanson met Billy Knott's late corner delivery but his powerful header was cleared off the line by Baxter.

90+6: So close for Hanson! His header from Knott's late corner is headed off the line by Baxter!

90+5min: SUB - The Bantams bring on Luke James for Marshall.

90+1min: Baxter's wide delivery into the box from a free-kick is headed on towards goal by Edgar but the effort is turned around the post by Jones.

90min: There will be five minutes of time added on at the end of the game.

87min: YELLOW CARD - Knott is booked for a heavy challenge on Basham just inside United's half of the pitch.

79min: SUBS - The Bantams bring on Billy Knott and Steven Davies for Evans and Cole respectively.

78min: Evans goes for the top corner from outside the area but his effort flashes harmlessly into the Kop stand behind Howard's goal.

75min: Marshall cuts inside from City's right flank before firing in an angled strike from just inside the box that flashes narrowly wide of Howard's far post.

74min: Sammon leads a danger United counter-attack before feeding McNulty into space in a wide position inside the box. The striker takes aim but his effort flashes wide of Jones' near post.

73min: Anderson's header from Marshall's near post cross is held by Howard.

68min: Sammon's rising drive from the edge of the area flies wide of Jones' near post.

63min: Neil Collins heads narrowly over from Baxter's corner delivery.

63min: Reed's shot through a crowd of players from just outside the box as City try to clear a corner takes touch off a City player for another Blades corner.

59min: SUBS - United bring on Jose Baxter and Conor Sammon for Woolford and Campbell-Ryce respectively.

55min: Louis Reed curls comfortably wide of Jones' far post with an effort just outside the penalty area.

53min: United force three corners in succession but City eventually clear their lines when Anderson kicks away as he closes down a short corner routine.

46min: The Bantams begin the second half.

HT SUB - Sheffield United bring on Craig Alcock for McEveley just before the restart.

45min: There will be one minute of time added on at the end of the first period.

42min: YELLOW CARD - Sharp is booked for catching the legs of Gary Liddle just inside City's half of the pitch.

38min: Hanson meets Marshall's cross into the box but his header appears to hit a United defender, taking the sting out of the effort in the process, and the visitors can clear their lines.

36min: Evans picks the ball up in space just inside United's half of the pitch before driving forward and firing a low drive from distance at Howard.

31min: Woolford tries to play Sharp through on goal but his pass has just a bit too much pace on it and the ball runs through to Jones.

28min: Sharp has the ball in the net for United after being put through on goal but the effort doesn't count as the striker is flagged for offside long before he fires past Jones.

27min: McEveley's cross into the box finds McNulty but the striker doesn't get a clean connection on the ball and his header loops up nicely for Jones to gather just underneath his crossbar.

20min: Paul Anderson goes down under the challenge of Basham just inside the United area but referee Mr Neil Swarbrick deems that the Blades midfielder got some of the ball and allows play to continue.

18min: Hanson sees an effort cleared off the line after Burke had headed a Marshall far post corner back across goal. Even if Hanson's effort had gone in, however, it wouldn't have counted as Marshall's corner delivery had already deemed to have go out of play before Burke got his head on it.

15min: Billy Sharp latches onto a Reece Burke headed clearance just outside the box but the striker's rising effort on the half-volley sails harmlessly over Brad Jones' bar.

14min: Jamal Campbell-Ryce's floated free-kick delivery from wide finds Chris Basham completely unmarked inside the box but his header across the area is cleared by McArdle.

12min: YELLOW CARD - After giving a foul away on Marshall earlier in the half, United captain Jay McEveley is booked for another illegal tackle on the Bantams winger.

10min: Evans fizzes in a teasing corner and the ball just misses the frame of Hanson in front of the six yard box before going out on the far post for a goal-kick.

9min: Evans whips in another superb free-kick delivery, this time from a wide position. Rory McArdle gets a flick on the ball but the effort is blocked by Howard before United clear behind for a corner.

7min: Mark Marshall's cross is flicked on by Cole towards James Hanson but the striker's header on the stretch is held by Mark Howard in the United goal.

6min: Lee Evans' delightful free-kick delivery from deep into the box finds the head of Devante Cole but his effort flicks up David Edgar and behind for a corner.

0min: Sheffield United get us underway! The Bantams will attack towards the T.L Dallas Stand end in the first period.

Jones, Darby, McArdle, Burke, Meredith, Anderson, Liddle, Evans, Marshall, Hanson, Cole

Subs: Williams, N Clarke, Knott, Routis, Davies, McMahon, James

Knott for Evans (79), Davies for Cole (79), James for Marshall (90+5)

Knott (87)

SHEFFIELD UNITED LINE UP:

Howard, Freeman, Edgar, Collins, McEveley, Campbell-Ryce, Reed, Basham, Woolford, McNulty, Sharp

Subs: Long, Baxter, Scougall, Sammon, Alcock, Higdon, McGahey

Alcock for McEveley (46), Baxter for Woolford (59), Sammon for Campbell-Ryce (59)

McEveley (12), Sharp (42)