Lyndon Dykes and Koki SaitoImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

QPR subs Lyndon Dykes and Koki Saito celebrate after linking up for their side's late leveller

Substitute Lyndon Dykes scored a late equaliser for 10-man QPR as they fought back from 2-0 down to draw at Sheffield United.

The Blades took an early lead from a crisp, low strike from Gustavo Hamer and doubled their advantage soon afterwards when Kieffer Moore tapped in at the back post.

Jimmy Dunne headed in an inswinging corner from debutant Karamoko Dembele to give QPR hope after the break.

The away side's hopes of a leveller were dented when substitute Jack Colback was sent off for dissent with seven minutes to go.

But Dykes, brought on after Colback's dismissal, swept home from 18 yards.

The point means Sheffield United remain without a league win at Bramall Lane this year.

Chris Wilder's Blades had scored six goals in their opening two wins, over Preston in the league and Wrexham in the Carabao Cup, and picked up where they left off.

The first goal came from winning the ball back up high, with Callum O'Hare teeing up Hamer, and the same pair linked up for the second on 13 minutes as O'Hare drove forward from his own half before playing Hamer in out wide and his low cross was converted by Moore.

QPR stayed in the game until half-time and Dunne's header put them back in the contest with 35 minutes to play.

Veteran midfielder Colback looked like he had cost his side any hope of a draw when he was show two yellow cards for dissent in four minutes.

However, summer signing Koki Saito streaked clear down the right and, despite losing his footing, played the ball back for fellow substitute Dykes to equalise with two minutes to go.

The Blades visit Norwich next Saturday, while Marti Cifuentes' men make the trip to Wayne Rooney's Plymouth.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder:

“We left the door open after a fabulous start and we just went off plan, went individual and lost control of the game.

“It ended up becoming a game of basketball. It wasn’t that we were getting pummelled, but it wasn’t the control we should have had when you go 2-0 up in a game.

“We started doing things that we shouldn’t have done and I think the big word is control. We didn’t have that. We still created a couple of bits.

“They get themselves back in it and then it’s that tight game. When you get to 86, 87 minutes and they’re down to 10 men, you should take the game away from them."

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes:

“We knew that they could push and put pressure on us from the beginning. It’s a team that’s just gone down from the Premier League and it’s the first game at home and that’s the kind of start that you expect.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t cope with that and the first half was not very good.

“In the second half, we were more fluid when in possession and we had the capacity to challenge one-v-one in areas that we wanted to challenge and create chances. Definitely a big difference.

“What we spoke about at half-time was that it was very important to win, no matter what the score in the second half."

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