Rochdale 3 - 3 Sheffield United: Leaders Sheffield United lose two-goal lead as Rochdale twice come back to draw

Posted Sunday, March 05, 2017 by PA

League One leaders Sheffield United squandered a two-goal lead as Rochdale twice came from behind to earn a 3-3 draw at Spotland.

The visitors were ahead in the fifth minute when Dale goalkeeper Ben Wilson was penalised for picking up the ball from an apparent pass back by Keith Keane. James Hanson touched the set-piece into the path of Mark Duffy and he curled an emphatic finish wide of Wilson.

Daniel Lafferty then rifled a stunning 25-yarder into the top corner of Wilson's goal in the 11th minute to double the Blades' advantage.

The home side gained a foothold in the game in the 20th minute when Matt Lund's measured cross from the right bounced beyond Nathaniel Mendez-Laing but found Steven Davies at the back post. Davies cleverly improvised to guide the ball into the net with his chest.

Rochdale were on level terms in the 47th minute. Mendez-Laing's cross from the right flew just over the head of Davies but Andy Cannon was on to it in a flash on the left of the area, sending a volleyed delivery back into the mix and there was Lund to clip the ball into the roof of the net.

Billy Sharp restored the Blades' lead in the 69th minute when he volleyed home Duffy's delivery from the left.

But Dale levelled again when Reuben Noble-Lazarus' cross found its way to Mendez-Laing and he rounded two opponents before slipping a neat finish past Moore.