Sheffield United 3-3 Blackpool: Jerry Yates scores twice in feisty draw

Sheffield United and Blackpool players clashed after full-time, with referee David Webb sending a further two players off

Oliver Norwood grabbed a 98th-minute equaliser as Sheffield United drew with Blackpool in a six-goal thriller with four red cards and a late missed penalty.

Jerry Yates' second successive double inspired a thrilling comeback for Blackpool, who had looked set to secure a victory against the Championship leaders.

James McAtee and Iliman Ndiaye put the Blades 2-0 up, but Yates scored twice to level before Kenny Dougall put Blackpool 3-2 ahead.

In a frantic finish, Marvin Ekpiteta and Dominic Thompson were sent off for the visitors before United's Rhian Brewster missed a penalty.

Blackpool's Shayne Lavery and Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham were red-carded following an altercation after the final whistle, with the hosts being knocked off top by Burnley, who thrashed Swansea.

Teenage midfielder McAtee - on loan from Manchester City - opened the scoring with his first senior goal, bursting through as Billy Sharp nodded Tommy Doyle's cross into his path and stabbing the ball over the line.

Blackpool threatened a response, with former Blades striker Gary Madine and Yates both going close, only for the home side to double their lead soon afterwards.

Doyle was involved again, setting up Norwood to deliver a cross that Chris Maxwell could only parry to Ndiaye, who nodded in from close range.

However, Blackpool struck back on the half-hour when United's defence half-cleared a corner and Callum Connolly's shrewd ball to the back post picked out Yates, who sent his header sailing over Foderingham.

The striker then made it 2-2 just before the interval, connecting with Lavery's pinpoint cross to steer home his second.

Dougall edged Blackpool ahead five minutes into the second period, capitalising on Charlie Patino's deflected through ball to slot home his first of the season.

The game reached boiling point in the final 15 minutes as Ekpiteta and Thompson both picked up their second yellow cards in quick succession, leaving United with a two-man advantage.

They should have made that count when Yates was adjudged to have given away a penalty with two minutes remaining, but Brewster thundered his kick against the post.

Maxwell pulled off a string of saves and it looked as though Blackpool had survived the Blades barrage until Norwood pounced on a half-cleared Doyle corner to volley the equaliser in the eighth minute of added time.

Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom:

"We went 2-0 up with two good goals but we were sloppy with the ball and then we got punished for some errors at the back.

"When they scored a third, we needed to respond and we did. That was probably the best moment of the game for us - all of a sudden we looked like the team we wanted to be.

"Everyone showed real character and spirit to get on the ball and keep driving and obviously more space opened up when they got the two sent off for the last 15 minutes.

"We did more than enough to win but we can't be claiming that because we were wasteful at the other end."

Blackpool head coach Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It's easy saying people have got to keep their control.

"But when it happens so quickly and suddenly towards the end of the game, I felt I needed to have my say with the referee.

"I did have my say because I was disappointed. I thought they [the officials] had a poor day today."