Sheffield United were forced to settle for just their third Championship draw of the season after an entertaining 1-1 stalemate with promotion-chasing Millwall at The Den.
The Blades made a bright start and took an early lead when Andre Brooks drilled a precise finish into the bottom corner from 18 yards.
However, their advantage lasted barely two minutes as Mihailo Ivanovic reacted quickest in the box to fire home an instinctive equaliser.
Both sides pushed for a winner in an open, end-to-end contest, with Sheffield United arguably squandering the clearest opportunities.
Callum O’Hare endured a frustrating afternoon in front of goal, missing two gilt-edged chances that could have earned the visitors a rare away victory.
The draw keeps Millwall fifth in the table, though they remain eight points adrift of the automatic promotion places.
Sheffield United sit 17th, seven points clear of the relegation zone but 11 short of the play-off positions.
In a season defined by inconsistency, the Blades had seen just two of their previous 28 league matches end level - none of them away from home - yet they more than justified their point and might have claimed all three.
They were indebted early on to goalkeeper Michael Cooper, who produced an excellent one-on-one save to deny Macaulay Langstaff after Ivanovic had sent the striker clear.
That moment proved crucial, as Sheffield United soon capitalised.
Gus Hamer’s persistence in midfield sparked the opener, but Brooks still had plenty to do, dropping his shoulder before guiding a left-footed effort beyond Max Crocombe from the edge of the area.
Millwall responded swiftly.
Caleb Taylor’s header from Alfie Doughty’s deep free-kick caused chaos in the box, allowing Ivanovic to nip in and flick home his seventh goal of the season from close range.
The match was not without its physical toll.
Sheffield United defender Sam McCallum was stretchered off before half-time following a heavy challenge, while Doughty later limped off for the hosts.
Between those stoppages, O’Hare somehow headed wide with the goal at his mercy after Crocombe had pushed out Tom Cannon’s strike.
The midfielder’s misfortune continued after the break when he failed to make clean contact with Femi Seriki’s inviting cross, allowing Crocombe to gather comfortably.
Millwall sought a late winner by introducing their newest signing - and Sheffield Wednesday legend - Barry Bannan for his debut.
The veteran midfielder nearly delivered a fairytale moment amid late pressure from the Lions, but his effort was comfortably saved by Cooper as both sides ultimately settled for a share of the points.
Millwall head coach Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:
"I thought it was a tight game. I thought it was a good game. I thought both teams had their moments.
"It ebbed and flowed, with bits where we were on top and looked likely to score. I thought they then got on top in certain spells in the game. And I always knew it was going to be a tough game.
"Chris's teams, they're very similar to us. They roll off the left, hold width on the right, they press the ball, they get after you, and everything, when it drops in the middle, becomes a bit of a fight, a bit of a battle, and you've got to make sure you land on second balls.
"I think the only frustrating thing from my point of view is towards the end, with some really good positions that we got into, it's just maybe that little lack of detail, lack of quality, just to try and finish it off and get the goal that really mattered."
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:
"In my opinion, at this particular moment it's the hardest place [Millwall] to go and get a result.
"I always think you go to the big clubs and the big grounds, no disrespect, with 30 or 40,000 capacity, maybe not that many in, but today it was a full house and they're flying.
"Ultimately, we've not got the result we were after, not for the want of trying. It's great for the young players, as I talked about before, in terms of the experience in playing here.
"I always enjoy it and believe, as a player and as a team, if you can get a result here, if you can get a win great, if you can get something that's a sign of strong character mentally and physically from a team point of view."
