Sheffield United had two players sent off but were still able to snatch a point at struggling Scunthorpe.

Skipper Michael Doyle was dismissed for his challenge on Mike Grella and midfielder Ryan Flynn also saw red for a high tackle on Christian Ribeiro.

A header from debutant Leon Clarke looked to be enough for Scunthorpe to claim their first win of the season.

But the Blades levelled when Neill Collins, who had earlier hit a post, nodded in Tony McMahon's free-kick.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Scunthorpe United manager Alan Knill told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I thought we were pretty good for the whole game, irrelevant of what we had on the pitch.

"The attitude was really good, and the new signings [Leon Clarke and Karl Hawley] made a difference.

"I am frustrated but there's plenty of positives to take. We haven't lost, that's the most important thing.

"After four losses on the trot, you don't want five. We've got a point on the board and we've got a squad now that's capable of competing."

Sheffield United manager Danny Wilson told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"When you get a performance like that from an official, I can't understand why I'm not supposed to comment on that.

"It was a terrible game from his [the referee's] perspective. He sent Michael Doyle off for an alleged stamp and he's nowhere near the boy. Even before that, he gave some strange decisions for both teams.

"If anything, [Ryan Flynn's red card] is a booking. They've both gone for the ball.

"There's two coming together at pace. There's a ball there to be won and they're going hell for leather for it."

Lineup, Bookings (8) & Substitutions (6)

Scunthorpe United

  • 01 Slocombe
  • 02 Ribeiro Booked
  • 05 Mirfin Booked
  • 15 Canavan Booked
  • 21 Newey Booked
  • 04 Walker
  • 16 Duffy
  • 24 Prutton Booked
  • 10 Grella (Clarke - 56' )
  • 11 Barcham (Ryan - 88' )
  • 12 Jennings (Hawley - 56' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Severn
  • 07 Ryan
  • 14 Gibbons
  • 18 Hughes
  • 23 Keegan
  • 09 Clarke
  • 22 Hawley

Sheffield United

  • 01 Howard
  • 05 Maguire
  • 06 Hill (Williams - 69' )
  • 15 Collins
  • 29 McMahon Booked
  • 07 Flynn Dismissed
  • 08 Doyle Dismissed
  • 11 McDonald
  • 16 McAllister (Cresswell - 70' )
  • 10 Blackman
  • 19 Cofie (Miller - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Long
  • 02 Westlake
  • 30 Williams
  • 18 Harriott
  • 12 Miller
  • 17 Cresswell
  • 24 Ironside
Ref: Rushton
Att: 5,533

Match Stats

Shots

7 4

On target

2 2

Corners

5 2

Fouls

16 6

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:30 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +4:06 Booking

Booking Niall Canavan booked.

90:00 +3:50

Niall Canavan concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Blackman. Tony McMahon restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +3:35

A cross is delivered by Tom Newey, clearance made by Neill Collins.

90:00 +2:25

Foul by Jimmy Ryan on Shaun Miller, free kick awarded. Tony McMahon takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:05

A cross is delivered by Christian Ribeiro.

90:00 +0:06

The ball is sent over by Christian Ribeiro, Tony McMahon manages to make a clearance. David Prutton takes a corner.

88:52

Foul by Josh Walker on Kevin McDonald, free kick awarded. Neill Collins takes the direct free kick.

87:38 Substitution

Substitution Jimmy Ryan joins the action as a substitute, replacing Andy Barcham.

87:38

Andy Barcham challenges Tony McMahon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Mark Howard.

86:51

The ball is sent over by Christian Ribeiro, Kevin McDonald manages to make a clearance.

86:01

Mark Duffy challenges Richard Cresswell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony McMahon crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, David Mirfin makes a clearance.

84:03

Effort on goal by Josh Walker from 18 yards. Save by Mark Howard.

82:01

Assist on the goal came from Tony McMahon.

82:01 Goal scored

Goal - Neill Collins - Scunthorpe 1 - 1 Sheff Utd Neill Collins finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the area. Scunthorpe 1-1 Sheff Utd.

81:49

Unfair challenge on Nick Blackman by Niall Canavan results in a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Tony McMahon from right channel,

81:02 Substitution

Substitution Shaun Miller joins the action as a substitute, replacing John Cofie.

80:30

Shot from 20 yards from Karl Hawley. Blocked by Leon Clarke.

79:51

Unfair challenge on Josh Walker by Richard Cresswell results in a free kick. David Mirfin takes the direct free kick.

78:12

Shot from 35+ yards by Marcus Williams. David Prutton gets a block in.

77:21

Andy Barcham gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Richard Cresswell. Kevin McDonald restarts play with the free kick.

71:40 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Ryan Flynn a red card for serious foul play.

71:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Christian Ribeiro by Ryan Flynn. Sam Slocombe takes the free kick.

67:20

Ryan Flynn crosses the ball, David Mirfin makes a clearance.

67:20 Substitution

Substitution Richard Cresswell replaces David McAllister.

67:20 Substitution

Substitution Marcus Williams joins the action as a substitute, replacing Matthew Hill.

67:20 Booking

Booking The referee cautions David Mirfin for unsporting behaviour.

67:07

David Mirfin concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Blackman.

63:46

Inswinging corner taken by Ryan Flynn from the left by-line played to the near post, Neill Collins takes a shot.

63:16

Tom Newey delivers the ball, Kevin McDonald makes a clearance.

62:58

The ball is crossed by Tony McMahon, clearance by David Mirfin.

61:37

Effort from long distance by David Prutton goes wide right of the goal.

60:54

Mark Duffy delivers the ball.

59:10

Mark Duffy provided the assist for the goal.

59:10 Goal scored

Goal - Leon Clarke - Scunthorpe 1 - 0 Sheff Utd Leon Clarke scores a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Scunthorpe 1-0 Sheff Utd.

59:10

The ball is swung over by Mark Duffy,

58:25

Nick Blackman gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Christian Ribeiro. Free kick taken by David Mirfin.

56:56

Leon Clarke challenges Ryan Flynn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Hill takes the direct free kick.

55:29 Substitution

Substitution Mike Grella goes off and Leon Clarke comes on.

55:29 Substitution

Substitution Connor Jennings leaves the field to be replaced by Karl Hawley.

54:09

Foul by Mike Grella on Matthew Hill, free kick awarded. Ryan Flynn crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Sam Slocombe makes a comfortable save.

52:42

Shot from long distance by Mark Duffy misses to the right of the target.

50:27

Free kick crossed right-footed by Ryan Flynn. The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

50:27 Booking

Booking Christian Ribeiro receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

50:11

Ryan Flynn fouled by Christian Ribeiro, the ref awards a free kick.

48:17

The offside flag is raised against Andy Barcham. Free kick taken by Mark Howard.

47:53

The ball is crossed by Christian Ribeiro, Tony McMahon manages to make a clearance.

47:38

The referee blows for offside. Niall Canavan takes the indirect free kick.

45:55

A cross is delivered by Tom Newey, clearance made by Harry Maguire. Inswinging corner taken by David Prutton from the left by-line, Harry Maguire manages to make a clearance. Corner taken right-footed by David Prutton, Kevin McDonald makes a clearance.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:06 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:37

Shot by Mike Grella from a long way out goes over the net.

45:00 +0:51

The ball is sent over by Christian Ribeiro, Neill Collins makes a clearance.

44:24

Josh Walker produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that goes wide left of the target.

39:45

The referee blows for offside against John Cofie. Tom Newey restarts play with the free kick.

39:15

Tony McMahon takes the free kick.

39:15 Booking

Booking David Prutton shown a yellow card.

39:03

David Prutton concedes a free kick for a foul on Nick Blackman.

38:47

Centre by Christian Ribeiro, clearance by Neill Collins.

38:09

Corner taken right-footed by David Prutton, Harry Maguire makes a clearance.

37:40

Tony McMahon sends in a cross, Sam Slocombe makes a comfortable save.

36:39

Mark Duffy sends in a cross, clearance by David McAllister.

35:24

The ball is swung over by Kevin McDonald, clearance made by David Mirfin.

35:05

A cross is delivered by Tom Newey.

34:19

David McAllister takes a shot. Niall Canavan gets a block in.

33:14

Mark Duffy crosses the ball.

32:13

Ryan Flynn handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Free kick crossed by David Prutton, clearance by Neill Collins.

29:41

Nick Blackman takes a shot from 12 yards. Blocked by David Mirfin.

28:15

A cross is delivered by David Prutton, save made by Mark Howard.

26:38 Booking

Booking Tom Newey goes into the referee's book.

26:11 Booking

Booking Tony McMahon receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

25:25

The assistant referee signals for offside against Tom Newey. Mark Howard takes the indirect free kick.

24:58

A cross is delivered by David Prutton, Kevin McDonald gets a block in.

24:17

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Prutton on John Cofie. Harry Maguire takes the free kick.

23:17

Tony McMahon delivers the ball, save made by Sam Slocombe.

20:55

Foul by Connor Jennings on Matthew Hill, free kick awarded. Neill Collins takes the free kick.

20:05

The ball is sent over by Mark Duffy, blocked by Matthew Hill. Corner taken short by David Prutton.

19:43

Mike Grella sends in a cross, clearance made by Harry Maguire.

18:59

Mark Duffy crosses the ball, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance.

18:59

Centre by Mark Duffy, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance.

18:33

A cross is delivered by David Prutton, clearance by Neill Collins.

17:00

Unfair challenge on David McAllister by Tom Newey results in a free kick. Matthew Hill delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from own half.

17:00

Tom Newey challenges David McAllister unfairly and gives away a free kick. Matthew Hill crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from own half.

16:43

The ball is delivered by Tom Newey, Neill Collins manages to make a clearance.

14:21

Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

14:21 Dismissal

Dismissal Michael Doyle sent from the field by the ref for serious foul play.

14:05

Michael Doyle concedes a free kick for a foul on Mike Grella.

12:56

David McAllister challenges Tom Newey unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Sam Slocombe.

10:41

David McAllister gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Niall Canavan. Sam Slocombe restarts play with the free kick.

10:09

Josh Walker has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide right of the target.

6:43

Unfair challenge on Neill Collins by Connor Jennings results in a free kick. Mark Howard takes the free kick.

2:53

The ball is crossed by Ryan Flynn, Tom Newey manages to make a clearance. Ryan Flynn takes a outswinging corner.

0:00

The referee gets the game started.

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