Blades' late goal denies Rams a hard-earned win
A stunning strike from Robbie Savage gave Derby the lead in a first half in which they were by far the better side but Lee Williamson drove in a last-gasp equaliser for the Blades to make it 1-1.
New loan signing Michael Tonge was handed his debut for Derby against his old club.
Tonge lined up on the right of midfield and this allowed Paul Green to move back to his preferred position in the centre alongside Savage.
Tonge for Lee Johnson, who has returned to Bristol City, was the only change from the team that beat Nottingham Forest.
Derby's other new signing, Javan Vidal, was on the bench. The 20-year-old is on loan from Manchester City.
United were without injured skipper Chris Morgan. They gave home debuts to defenders Nyron Nosworthy and Toni Kallio, and former Rams player Jordan Stewart was at left back.
Kallio did not make the best of starts. Kris Commons skipped past him on the right and the low centre invited Rob Hulse to slide in with goalkeeper Mark Bunn. The ball came off Hulse and drifted narrowly wide.
Bunn was able to carry on after treatment and a lively start to the contest continued with United claiming for a penalty.
Mark Yeates got in behind Jay McEveley who appeared to pull the United player back. The ball broke for Lee Williamson whose effort was blocked.
Green also appeared to be impeded when he drove into the area and referee Graham Salisbury missed one or two clear fouls in the opening minutes. He did not have a good first half.
The crowd got onto Savage after a couple of hefty challenges by the Derby skipper but he silenced them with a superb goal from 25 yards to put the Rams ahead after 17 minutes.
McEveley's long throw was headed out to the edge of the area. Green left it and Savage's first-time hit flew past Bunn.
Williamson pulled a shot wide as United tried to respond but Derby went close to a second when Commons' firm drive from an angle was turned behind by Bunn at his near post.
Tonge, confident on the ball, easily cut inside Stephen Quinn only to see his low shot deflected behind and Derby's good start left the home fans frustrated.
A neat one-two between Pearson and McEveley opened up United down the left and Pearson's low cross was turned behind for a corner which was cleared.
Williamson was booked for a foul on Commons and when McEveley's free kick reached Tonge, he smashed in a shot which Bunn blocked.
Derby would have been further ahead but for Bunn who then held a teasing cross from Commons who was on the end of a number of fouls in the opening 45 minutes.
Boos from the home fans greeted the half-time whistle. It was unclear whether they were for United's ponderous display or the referee. Possibly both.
Derby started the second half on the front foot and Green, having made another run into the area, turned the ball onto the top of the net from Tonge's centre.
Yeates fired a shot high and wide after he cut in from the right but United found it difficult to create a clear opening.
Shaun Barker and Jake Buxton stood firm at the back, and Stephen Bywater handled safely when called on.
Hulse, at a stretch, lifted the ball over from a Commons' free kick and a change for United brought loud cheers as Jamie Ward came on for Darius Henderson.
Bunn had not recovered fully from the knock he suffered early in the game and was replaced by the experienced Ian Bennett before United made their third and final change after 69 minutes when Henri Camara came on for Ched Evans.
Bywater denied the home side an equaliser a minute later when he made a fine double save. He dived low to his left to parry Stewart's shot and was up quickly to turn Camara's effort behind.
Ward helped to liven the Blades and Bywater came through a crowd of players at a corner to punch clear. Richard Cresswell won another corner as the home side looked for a way back. Stewart met it but put his effort wide.
Less was seen of Derby in attack second half although there was half an opening for Commons when he controlled the ball only to poke a shot wide.
It was his last contribution of the afternoon. He was replaced by Chris Porter.
Savage and McEveley blocked shots from Camara, Cresswell headed inches wide from Quinn's centre before Williamson drilled a low shot beyond Bywater to equalise as the game entered stoppage time.
Rams boss Nigel Clough was livid because he had been trying to bring on Russell Anderson to help tighten things up just before United levelled.
SHEFFIELD UNITED: Bunn (Bennett, 68); Montgomery, Nosworthy, Kallio, Stewart; Yeates, Williamson, Quinn, Cresswell; Evans (Camara, 69), Henderson (Ward, 63).
Other subs: France, Little, Geary, Fortune.
DERBY COUNTY: Bywater; Hunt, Barker, Buxton, McEveley; Tonge, Green, Savage, Pearson (Teale, 72); Commons (Porter, 83), Hulse (Andedrson, 90+2).
Other subs: Deeney (gk), Pringle, Moxey, Vidal.
Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).
Attendance: 25,300.
