Jon Stead grabbed a priceless second half equaliser for the Blades at the Valley yesterday to maintain United’s two point advantage over Charlton.
El Karkouri had put Charlton in front with a long range deflected effort on 59 minutes before Stead popped up to arrow his shot home and send the away fans crazy.
The game started at an incredible pace, with the Blades creating the first chance from a Gillespie cross which Shelton put wide of the post, and was then booked for handball.
Charlton were obviously looking for an early goal and created three corners in the first five minutes which United dealt with.
Just before the 15 minute mark Charlton could have gone ahead but Ambrose headed just wide from a Rommedahl cross.
Five minutes later Kenny had to tip over an El Karkouri free kick as the Blades continued to be put under pressure by the home side.
United could have snatched the lead on 34 minutes as Gillespie met Stead’s cross but saw his header tipped round the post before Stead shot wide from the resulting corner.
The second half got off to a very slow start as both teams seemed to realise what was at stake.
In fact Charlton’s goal arrived largely due to the fact that El KARKOURI had no other options available to him than to take a shot.
The midfielder managed to run half the length of the pitch before he took a shot from all of 35 yards, which deflected off Tonge and Kilgallon and bounced past Kenny and into the net.
However, the goal seem to finally lift the Blades into action and push Charlton back into their own half.
On 64 minutes Gillespie’s delivery was headed over by Stead as the away team started to look more positive.
The change in attitude paid off in the 69th minute as United got that all important goal.
As Charlton failed to catch United on the break, Kenny found Kazim-Richards who passed to Montgomery, who then fed STEAD and the striker smashed an unstoppable strike past Carson and into the far corner of the net.
The army of travelling United fans erupted behind the goal as the feeling of both euphoria and relief swept through the Blades (Ed- And what a feeling it was!!!).
United had the better of the remaining 20 minutes but could have been behind again had Zheng not put his half volley wide of the post from Hasselbaink`s header.
In fact, United could have won it in the final few minutes as their second break away in a matter of minutes saw Tonge go on a mazy run before shooting over from the edge of the area.
The final whistle was met with a huge cheer from the away end as the Blades knew the importance of the point gained.
Player Ratings
Kenny
7.5/10
Geary
8/10
Morgan
8.5/10
Kilgallon
8.5/10
Armstrong
8/10
Jagielka
8/10
Montgomery
7.5/10
Tonge
9/10
Gillespie
8/10
Shelton
5/10
Stead
8.5/10
Kazim-Richards
7.5/10
Leigertwood
7/10