A tale of three penalties would best describe the action at Bramall lane as Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers played out a goalless draw but Paddy Kenny saved a penalty for the home side while Brad Friedel saved two penalties for the visitors in a dramatic second half.

Injuries in defence meant that Sheffield United started with Phil Jagielka at centre-back while the Blades' squad included young striker Colin Kazim-Richards who joined from Brighton for £150,000 on transfer deadline day at the end of August.

Hulse, scorer of the Blades' only goal this season in the 1-1 opening-day draw at home to Liverpool, should have netted on sixteen minutes when he beat the visitors' offside trap and volleyed over from just inside the box.

Just before the interval United claimed a penalty when Hulse was challenged in the area by Robbie Savage while Neil Warnock and all Blades fans were left fuming as referee Mike Dean waved away the appeals.

On seventy minutes the referee award a penalty to Rovers after Unsworth was adjudged to have fouled McCarthy in the box but Paddy Kenny came to United's rescue saving Neill's spot kick to his left. However the drama wasn't over as referee Dean evened up the penalty score when he adjudged that Hulse had his shirt tugged by Zurab Khizanishvili in the 77th minute, only for Friedel to deny Unsworth by saving to his right.

With just four minutes left on the clock the referee's assistant ruled that Neill handled awarding a second penalty of the afternoon to the home side. This time Hulse stepped up to the spot but Friedel produced another miraculous save this time low down to his left.

United also had chances to win the game in open play in the second half when both Tonge and Leigertwood brought out good saves from the Blackburn keeper and again when Tonge found himself unmarked in the box only to head wide of the target.

There was still time for United to clinch all three points in the dying seconds of the game but the Blackburn keeper saved again with his legs from Hulse from close range.

My view in summary: Having had two penalties saved it felt like two points dropped, though it could have been a different outcome if Kenny hadn't saved the first penalty. After viewing the televison replays all three penalty awards looked harsh so perhaps justice was done.

Thanks once again to old friend Alan Palfreyman who treated me and Dennis to another great V.I.P. day at the Lane. Blades ReUnited

Sheffield United: Kenny, Unsworth, Morgan, Jagielka, Sommeil, Ifill (Kazim-Richards 65), Tonge (Quinn 82), Armstrong, Leigertwood, Hulse, Webber (Nade 18). Unused subs: Akinbiyi, Kozluk.

Blackburn Rovers: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Neill, Bentley, Tugay, Savage, Gamst, Jeffers, McCarthy (Nonda 72). Unused subs: Mokoena, Gallagher, Brown, Peter.