Scunthorpe 1 Sheff U 1: Evans returns to ensure Blades make it to the top despite an edgy display

The Welsh international, who has endured a torrid time both on and off the field in recent months, returned to the action with a bang as he secured a crucial point for the Blades.

Back in the fold and on as a substitute, he fired in an acrobatic overhead-kick in the 77th minute to cancel out an impressive first-half strike from Scunthorpe’s Chris Dagnall.

The Blades have a poor record at Glanford Park and looked set to continue that as they struggled early on.

Even, though the Iron had to play 65 minutes with 10 men following the sending off of Andy Barcham, for a lunge at Michael Doyle, the Blades still failed to find a way through.

However, Evans popped up to delight both the travelling supporters and his manager Danny Wilson.

“We can’t be too disappointed to come away from home and get a point,” said Wilson. “But the way the game panned out in the second half I did think we could have forced it a bit more.

“We had a lot of pressure but too many times our final ball wasn’t good enough. I didn’t see the incident which led to their player being sent off but the fourth official said it was for a dangerous challenge.

“I did see the goal that Dagnall scored to put Scunthorpe in front and I’m sure he will think of it as one of his best but from our point of view it was a woeful one to concede. In the second half they battened down the hatches and defended for their lives.”

An encouraging start for Scunthorpe saw Dagnall leave Steve Simonsen stranded only to see his close range shot bounce back off the post before the former Rochdale striker sent another attempt fizzing wide.

United, though, failed to heed the warning and in the 45th minute he stormed forward and curled home an unstoppable shot.

The Blades have never won a fixture at Scunthorpe’s new stadium and things were looking bleak against a Scunthorpe side which, by both camp’s admission, kicked-off in a false League position.

Despite entering the game just above the relegation zone, they provided another glimpse of their potential. Certainly their contribution to the first period suggests it will not be long before they force themselves into contention towards the top of the table. Indeed, United found themselves under the cosh until Barcham saw red in the 25th minute and then they started to enjoy more of the ball.

Evans replaced Porter in the 65th minute and took his chance as the ball looped up in the box and he pounced with a stunning strike to level the game and put Blades on top.

Scunthorpe: Johnstone, Wright, Reid, Shane Duffy, Nolan, Mozika, Togwell, Ryan (Mark Duffy 60), Norwood (Thompson 71), Barcham, Dagnall. Unused substitutes: Slocombe, O’Connor, Canavan.

Sheffield Utd: Simonsen, Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Jean-Francois, Mendez-Laing (Tonne 57), Doyle, McAllister (Williamson 37), Quinn, Cresswell, Porter (Evans 64). Unused substitutes: Long, Flynn.

Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire).

Man of the match: Ched Evans.