Sheffield United 1 Queens Park Rangers 1

The FA Cup third round game between Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers at Bramall Lane on Sunday January 2 2009.

Kevin Blackwell insisted a draw was the last result he wanted even though his Sheffield United side had to come from behind to finish level with Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Jay Simpson put the visitors ahead seven minutes before half-time, the on-loan Arsenal striker netting his 10th goal of the season from Wayne Routledge’s cross. But Richard Cresswell equalised with a looping header on the stroke of half-time.

But Blackwell isn’t looking forward to the replay. “We’re frustrated,” he said, “but if you’re not clinical in the last third, that’s what happens.

“We hit the crossbar a couple of times and overall I think we shaded the game. It was the last result we wanted. I wanted to finish the game here.

“I didn’t want to go down there and have any more games because the squad isn’t big enough to handle it.’’

Paul Hart sees the replay in a more positive light. Having only recently taken the helm at QPR, the former Portsmouth manager welcomes an extra chance to impose his football philosophy on his new players.

“I’ve been in the job three weeks and, with the icy pitches and all that, it’s been difficult to get any meaningful work done [in training],’’ he said. “So, sometimes you have to get it done through games. If it means we can turn a few things round, another game will be fine.”

QPR were on the back foot for large spells — Stephen Quinn and Ched Evans striking the bar for the home side — and need to improve if they are to secure a fourth-round trip to Bolton.