Peschisolido to rescue as Blades lack cutting edge

Sheffield United did little to suggest they will threaten Arsenal's FA Cup ambitions with a below-par performance from which they were fortunate to emerge with a point.

Neil Warnock's promotion-chasing side, due to face the Gunners in the Old Trafford semi-final on 13 April, took the lead in the last minute of the first half. But the form that had lifted them to third place in the First Division eluded them as Gillingham overturned the deficit and they escaped defeat only through a goal from a substitute, Paul Peschisolido, nine minutes from time.

However, United remain strong contenders for a play-off place at least after eight games unbeaten, and Warnock was in good humour afterwards.

"I think I'll send Arsenal a video of the game," he said. "Perhaps they'll feel sorry for us and only put out half a team. I dread to think what Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp would have done with the chances Gillingham had tonight." Indeed, had their finishing been better, Gillingham could have won comfortably.

Mamady Sidibé gave United an early scare with a sharp low drive just wide but the warning was not heeded. Michael Brown was lucky that Sidibé did not capitalise when he was caught in possession and only a brilliant one-handed save by Paddy Kenny denied Sidibé when the striker's challenge on John Curtis sent the ball spinning towards the top left-hand corner.

None the less, United edged ahead a minute before half-time. After Vince Bartram had saved Steve Kabba's shot with his legs, Brown met Michael Tonge's corner with a strong header before Kabba hooked the ball home from close range.

Deservedly, Gillingham levelled eight minutes into the second half. The full-back Nyron Nosworthy pulled the ball back after a good overlapping run and no one picked up Simon Osborn, who smashed it past Kenny from 12 yards.

Warnock's side responded well, Dean Windass flicking a header against the bar. On the hour, Windass thought he had restored United's lead when he curled a free-kick into the Gillingham net. However, he had failed to notice referee Mark Cowburn's raised arm, indicating that the kick was indirect. The visitors were undeterred. Sidibé blazed over when clear on goal and fluffed his chance again when clean through a second time but, when Kenny beat away a shot from Nicky Southall with 20 minutes left, Paul Shaw made no mistake with his follow-up.

Then Peschisolido saved a point for United with a smart finish of a short corner, collecting Tonge's pass eight yards from goal and neatly tucking the ball past Bartram.

Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Curtis (Cas, 78), Murphy, Page, Kozluk; Tonge, Jagielka, Brown, Ndlovu (Peschisolido, 71); Windass (Allison, 71), Kabba. Substitutes not used: Yates, Javary.

Gillingham (4-4-2): Bartram; Nosworthy, Hope, L Johnson, Edge; Southall, Smith, Osborn (Saunders, 62), Shaw (Perpetuini, 74); T Johnson, Sidibé. Substitutes not used: Ipoua, Rose, Spiller.

Referee: M Cowburn (Lancashire).