7 Patterson: Made a brilliant save to deny N’Diaye. Could do nothing about the goals.

6 Hume: Perhaps fortunate to just get a yellow for a heavy first half challenge on Jebbison. Kept busy by fluid Sheffield United attack but stood his ground.

6 Batth: Challenging opening but used leadership and experience to help Sunderland settle down.

6 Ballard: Excellent early block to deny McAtee. Alongside Batth, kept his cool against tricky Sheffield United attack.

6 O’Nien: Tough night against the classy McAtee. Didn’t shirk the challenge. Hobbled off late on.

6 Neil: Tough night against the classy Berge. Won’t come up against many better midfielders in the Championship. Recovered from difficult start and stuck at it.

7 Michut: Got the runaround early on but helped Sunderland get a grip of the game and scored a fine opener. Booked and replaced in the second half.

7 Roberts: Not at his influential best by any means but did what he could to force the issue. Went close to second half equaliser when he hit the post. Stuck at it right to the end.

6 Ba: Made the opener for Michut when a well measured through-ball. Flashes of quality but didn’t get into the game as much as Sunderland would have liked.

6 Clarke: Did what he could to protect O’Nien. Influence grew after Sunderland fell behind and forced good save from Foderingham.

5 Gelhardt: Tough night for the Leeds United loanee. Worked hard but didn’t get much joy.

Substitutes:

Pritchard (for Gelhardt, 72): N/A

Lihadji (for Ba, 72): N/A

Gooch (for Michut, 72): N/A

Ekwah (for O’Nien, 87): N/A

Subs not used: Bass, Bennette, Anderson

Sheffield United: Foderingham 7, Baldock 7 (Bogle, 78) , Ahmedhodzic 7, Egan 7, Robinson 7, Lowe 7; Berge 7, Doyle 7 (Norwood, 78); McAtee 8 (Fleck, 78), N’Diaye 7 (Sharp, 90+2), Jebbison 7 (McBurnie, 70)

Substitutes not used: Davies, Basham

Man of the Match: James McAtee. The Manchester City loanee showed his class. Troubled Sunderland with movement throughout. Brilliant finish for equaliser.