This is a bitter pill to swallow

Sheffield United have struggled to score goals this season, but Speed highlighted the three Burnley goals when he spoke after the game, and in particular the third one. "I was very frustrated and annoyed with the players, especially having fought back from two goals down because they conceded again and almost threw it away," he said.

"It was a lack of intelligence, naivety, call it what you want, and I told them. They got carried away, were urged on by the crowd and went gung ho for a win. When you do what they did to get back on terms they should, first and foremost, have made sure they couldn't lose.

"We have got to have someone in there saying that we might win it but we won't lose it. They are making themselves climb mountains and then sliding back down again, you can't keep doing that. It is my job to go through those scenarios that put is behind and almost cost us, and make sure we cut them out."

Having come from two goals behind to draw level, Speed added: "My frustration and anger turned to pride at the way they came back because it showed not only that they can score goals, but also that they have fighting spirit and character, but that was never in doubt for me.

"Overall I have mixed feelings about how we played but I have told the lads that I think this could be a turning point for them because of the way they came back and because they have scored goals."

Burnley boss Brian Laws, like the rest of us, saw victory snatched away twice, and admitted afterwards: "Where do you start? I think any manager at 2-0 up away from home and in control, that you expect to win the game.

"To give a goal away of that magnitude, but gifting it, gave Sheffield a lift when I really couldn't see any way back.

"If we want to march on in this division, then we have got to come away from home and finish games off. I'm not looking for us to get the plaudits for being an attractive side. When you are two goals up, you win the game professionally and organised and I just felt we lacked that organisation and leadership.

"We were sitting so deep at one point the defence was almost behind the goalkeeper. That disappoints me, especially after a run of clean sheets. I am very disappointed in the dressing room and the players know that."

Laws confirmed the Michael Duff injury that we revealed in our match preview. "It was disappointing because Michael would probably have played today. He did his calf on Thursday and hopefully he will be back next week.

"But you need that little bit of organisation and communication that we were missing. We told the players that Sheffield United are a side that don't give up if you give them a sniff. But once the defence starts dropping that deep it is very difficult to stop the mentality. We have to learn from that because we won't have many games like this for the rest of the season.

"I am never going to slate the players for lack of effort. It is just hugely disappointing because we know what we all want to achieve this year and this is a bitter pill to swallow and a huge lesson to learn and I really don't want to see that being repeated."