Derby County returned home from Sheffield United with a point in game that saw them reduced to 10 men

Ten-man Derby County had to survive a late onslaught against Sheffield United to secure a point at Bramall Lane which saw Dion Sanderson sent off in the second half.

But the game turned on its head when Sanderson was sent off in the 66th minute for two bookable offences leaving Derby without a recognised centre-back on the pitch until Jack Robinson came off the bench.

Derby's resistance was broken when Patrick Bamford scored and it required some superb saves from Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to keep them level.

That was in stark contrast to the first half when Derby almost forced themselves ahead after a quiet 20 minutes when Bobby Clark drove a shot from the edge of the area that was turned around the post by Michael Cooper.

That was greeted by large roars in the away end as Derby then created a golden opportunity when Henrik Meister had beaten the offside trap to leave him clean through on goal.

But Cooper came rushing off his line and that was enough to thwart the striker who was proving to be a willing runner for the visitors.

Derby may have wondered if they would have paid for that miss, but with their very next attack they were ahead when Meister did well to hold off challenge that allowed Morris to find Smzodics.

The striker charged forward and found Hedges whose shot hit the foot of the post but Clark collected the rebound and with a few bodies ahead of him, thundered a terrific finish into the top corner.

Derby's hopes of holding onto a victory were given a setback midway through the second half when Dion Sanderson picked up a second yellow card and was dismissed leaving Derby facing a nervy finish.

Their resistance was broken when Romelle Donavan crossed to the back post which allowed Patrick Bamford to force across the line. That set up a tense finale and Zetterstrom was forced to make a terrific save to deny Tyrese Campbell.

Great spirit

For a good hour of this contest, Derby looked a good bet of leaving Bramall Lane with a victory that would have punctured the grey clouds that had formed over their start to the season. Bobby Clark's first-half goal, which was expertly taken, looked as if it were the foundation for a valuable three points against a United side who struggled to find chinks in Derby's armour.

Despite a makeshift backline, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom had been a relative bystander until Dion Sanderson's rush of blood changed the entire complexion of the game, which became a tale of survival rather than enterprise.

Derby faced an uncomfortable examination in the last half-hour before Patrick Bamford eventually found the breakthrough, a consequence of United's pressure. That rang the dinner bell for a late siege in stoppage time, which tested Derby's concentration and resolve.

Two fabulous saves from Zetterstrom ensured they claimed a point in a game that was ultimately shaped by Sanderson's moment of indiscipline, which only served to rob Derby of their authority. There will understandably be frustration at what it could have been had it remained 11 v 11, but you have to play the hand you are dealt.

Nobody can dispute the spirit or togetherness, but Eustace will know they will need to match that with greater rewards if they are to spark their season into life.

Zetterstrom's value rises

The Sweden international made a welcome return to the team sheet at Bramall Lane after recovering from a knee injury, although for a large chunk of this game, his comeback was a relatively quiet one.

Derby had kept United at arm's length until the sending-off, but the mark of a good goalkeeper is the ability to remain alert and deliver when the occasion demands it. Zetterstrom did precisely that, with a couple of outstanding saves that ensured Derby returned up the M1 with a point in tow.

The save from Tyrese Campbell was particularly impressive, further reinforcing why he is considered one of the best goalkeepers outside the Premier League in England. There are still some facets of his game that can be improved, such as his kicking, but his reflexes certainly make up for the shortcomings in that department.

You sense it is going to be hard for Derby to stop other clubs from trying to poach him, as that silly bid from Monza proved in the summer, which fell way below his valuation. Performances such as this will only strengthen Zetterstrom's reputation, which has skyrocketed since his move from Djurgarden two years ago. And it will enhance his value not just on the pitch but also on the balance sheet.

Hedges and Nyambe stand up

The injury crisis that has exhausted just about every defensive option available to John Eustace has forced him to turn to some unlikely figures to help plug the dam. Ryan Hedges has been turned from a winger to a left-back, while Ryan Nyambe, who was expected to leave the club in the summer, has been moved into the centre-back position, where he is a right-back by trade.

It's fair to say that both players would not have featured too highly on the pre-match picks as to who would be the pivotal figures across the 90 minutes, but they were excellent here, having answered Derby's SOS with distinction.

Hedges excelled in his defensive duties, but his education as a winger meant he also supplied craft in the final third. His supporting run was crucial for the opening goal, given his shot cannoned off the post before Bobby Clark dispatched the rebound. His defensive work was equally as good in a performance that epitomised Derby's spirit. Nyambe was also just as important in dealing with the likes of Tom Cannon and Patrick Bamford, despite the fact that he had to walk the tightrope after a booking in the first half. But he was aggressive in his positioning, and there were some key interventions, particularly when United turned the screw late on.

Both players deserved their flowers for performances that enabled Derby to come home with a point.

Ref has a poor game

Referee Steve Martin shares his name with the actor famed for his role in The Man with Two Brains. At Bramall Lane, however, it was a case of the man with two cards — one yellow, one red — which transformed Derby’s afternoon into a drama rather than a black comedy.

John Eustace kept his counsel on Martin's performance and Dion Sanderson's red card to avoid sending any cheques to the FA's headquarters, but he would have had legitimate grievances over some of his officiating. While the sending off was perhaps justified, it was the inconsistency which irritated. Case in point was the booking for Ryan Nyambe, who was penalised for a shirt pull in the first half. Fair enough.

But when Rhian Brewster whipped past Harrison Burrows moments later before blatantly being tugged back, the yellow card never appeared as it stopped Derby from a counterattack. If referees are wondering why they are seldom flavour of the month, it's those kind of incidents that really grind the gears.

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