The Blades threw away a two-goal advantage and had to settle for a point in Saturday evening's South Yorkshire derby at Millmoor.

Sky's camera were treated to an entertaining game between the local rivals but Blades fans thought they would be entitled to bragging rights after goals from Michael Tonge and Paul Shaw.

But home central defenders - Chris Swailes and Martin McIntosh - scored from the set-pieces they are renown for in this part of the world to give the bottom club a point.

Within the opening three minutes both sides were afforded a free header each in dangerous positions. Less than 60 seconds had elapsed when McLaren turned over Campbell-Ryce's cross and then Tonge directed the ball straight at Pollitt from Shaw's hook.

Campbell-Ryce was an early threat for the home side and he worked the second opening on 11 minutes, beating Bromby down the right before delivering a cross for Junior to head wide.

United's front two, Shaw and Gray, combined for the first time on 18 minutes and the result was shot by the latter that looked goalbound until McIntosh bravely blocked.

Liddell then twice tested Pollitt in the space of a couple of minutes. Firstly, he forced the goalkeeper to tip over his 25-yard free-kick from the left and from the resulting corner, that he took and was headed back to him, Liddell drilled a shot from an acute angle at the well-placed Pollitt.

Rotherham, who had already seen Barker limp off with a knee injury following his challenge on Quinn, were left to cursing their luck on 32 minutes when they began another attack. Substitute Vernazza's long diagonal ball looked to pick out Butler but Bennett raced off his line and headed clear, colliding with the striker in the process. The impact left Butler motionless on the ground and after four minutes of treatment from both physios and the home doctor he was stretchered off with suspected concussion.

Junior had a great chance to give the Millers a lift but he shot straight at Bennett after a neat one-two with McLaren, whilst the Blades looked the stronger as half-time approached.

On 44 minutes a break by Tonge made room for Gray but with two swings at the ball he couldn't convert Shaw's pull back from the left.

Coincidentally, the same three players were involved when United did take the lead controversially deep, deep into injury-time. Referee Halsey had indicated that four minutes of injury-time would be played but it was the 51st minute when the visitors netted. The front two again linked up and Gray laid into the path of TONGE, who went around the outside of Stockdale before drilling left-footed under the body of Pollitt.

The referee, who was not the most popular man in Millmoor, blew for half-time just seconds later.

Now this might sound strange, but go with it. United's first goal was scored in the 51st minute and the second arrived on...47 minutes. That doesn't happen often, but following the opener late into first half injury-time, the Blades grabbed a second immediately after the interval.

Liddell's clip into the Rotherham box looked routine for McIntosh but he made a mess of his clearance and Gray took advantage, forcing a save out of Pollitt and SHAW was the first to react, poking into the empty net from close range.

Pollitt saved Gray's header as United looked for a third moments later and Bennett's first touch of the second half was keeping out a free-kick from Junior.

The action continued and United were denied a legitimate third on 52 minutes. Gray was flagged offside but he did not interfere in Tonge racing through the Millers defence and beating Pollitt.

This decision revitalised Rotherham, who levelled with their next attack and began to apply pressure on Bennett's goal. With 54 minutes gone McLaren's inswinging free-kick from the left just needed the slightest of touches from defender SWAILES to see the net rustle.

On the hour the home side had two chances to level the scores but Bennett saved from McLaren, who raced through the middle of the defence, and Thirlwell then blocked the rebound from Junior.

The Millers did, however, level as a result of their pressure just ten minutes later. From another set-piece, this time a corner, McINTOSH won a header at the front post and beat Bennett with the assistance of the underside of the bar.

The goal gave the Blades more impetus and the remaining minutes saw the visitors back on the offensive. Harley was pushed further forward and his foraging run opened up a chance for Gray but the effort was blocked by McIntosh.

On 79 minutes Shaw turned McIntosh but his effort was saved by Pollitt, who also did well to keep out an effort from substitute Cadamarteri after United sprung the offside trap down the left.

Two headers from Bromby were wide, whilst the very late efforts fell to the home side but Monkhouse and Proctor couldn't claim a winner.

Despite the disappointment of Rotherham's revival, the point picked up helped United back up to sixth place in the Championship table.

Millers: Pollitt, Stockdale, Hurst, McIntosh, Swailes, Barker (Vernazza 20), Butler (Monkhouse 36), Junior, McLaren, Campbell-Ryce, Proctor. Unused: G. Montgomery, Gilchrist, Minto.
Blades: Bennett, Bromby, Harley, Jagielka, Morgan, Thirlwell, Quinn (Wright 67), Tonge, Liddell, Shaw, Gray (Cadamarteri 73). Unused: N. Montgomery, Francis, Beckett.