The Owls let a two-goal lead slip to allow the Blades to collect a point from this pulsating 120th Steel City derby.

A shock Adam Bolder double put SWFC in the driving seat but a Richard Wood own goal and James Beattie's quality free kick ensured honours were even at Bramall Lane.

Wednesday made one change from the side that posted a point at relegation rivals Scunthorpe on Saturday. Mark Beevers returned to the heart of the defence after missing out at Glanford Park with a knee knock, replacing thigh victim Peter Gilbert, who dropped out of the 16.

Wednesday asked early questions of their neighbours, earning a corner inside two minutes, but Owls summer target Billy Sharp was the first to forge a shot on goal as his looped effort from the left was gratefully gathered by Lee Grant.

Winger David Cotterill began to cause problems for Tommy Spurr down the right channel, sending over three crosses in just over five minutes from which the Blades attack failed to capitalise.

Michael Tonge tested Grant with a set-piece daisycutter on the 15-minute mark and the Owls keeper was equal to the midfielder's drive after Franck Songo'o conceded a free kick 25 yards from goal.

United veteran Gary Speed struck a post on 15 minutes - via the fingertips of Grant - but referee Steve Bennett had already blown for a foul on Beevers. Jermaine Johnson darted straight up the other end and forced Paddy Kenny into action after trying his luck from distance.

The Blades hit back in an instant and Grant was at full stretch to divert Sharp's stinging shot over the bar as the former Scunthorpe striker burst inside from the left channel and let fly.

Grant was the busier of the two keepers and the Owls custodian was called into action again on 30 minutes from Tonge's corner, diving low to his left to keep out Matthew Kilgallon's firm header. Speed then fired another headed effort narrowly wide following Gary Naysmith's accurate cross.

The game exploded into life six minutes before the interval and it was Wednesday that stole into the lead. Steve Watson broke free down the right of the penalty area and shaped to shoot but instead teed up the on-rushing figure of Bolder, who headed firmly past Kenny to send the travelling Wednesdayites into delirium.

The goal sparked United into life and Tonge thumped a long ranger that that whistled over the bar.

But moments later, the Owls almost doubled their advantage as Kenny made the save of the half, diving spectacularly to push a blistering drive from Songo'o past his right hand post. Songo'o could and should have tested the Blades keeper a minute later but his skewed shot from 12 yards bounced comfortably wide.

United came out all guns blazing after the interval and Stephen Quinn should have done better when he found room inside the box but could only scoop a tame effort straight at Grant. Tonge danced past three challenges and won a corner and Beattie's header flew over the top.

Ben Sahar turned in the box to fire a snapshot that Kenny gathered safely before the Owls promptly doubled their lead on 56 minutes - and again Bolder was on target. Trademark trickery from Songo'o saw the Frenchman glide past two defenders and rattle in a shot that Kenny could only parry and Bolder was on hand to slot home from close range.

But the Blades halved the lead in the 62nd minute when Owls skipper Wood put through his own net in unfortunate circumstances. Beattie lashed in a shot from 15 yards that Grant did well to parry but the loose ball deflected off Wood and into the goal in front of the United Kop.

Wednesday pressed on and Sahar broke free of the Blades defence but Kilgallon saved the hosts with a last-ditch tackle just as the Israeli striker was about to pull the trigger.

Grant then came to Wednesday's rescue with stunning twin saves from substitute Jon Stead and Beattie as United - backed by a rejuvenated Bramall Lane crowd - upped the ante in the final third.

But the Owls continued to forge attacks of their own and substitute Bartosz Slusarski - on for Sahar - forced Kenny into a diving save on 73 minutes after thumping in a volley from the edge of the box.

United won two corners as the clock ticked down but failed to trouble the Owls defence.

Alas for the visitors, the Blades did exactly that with just five minutes to go. Substitute Burton O'Brien felled Speed in full flight 30 yards out and Beattie stepped up to fire a sweet free kick that flew past Grant to hand United a share of the spoils.

On the balance of play, the Blades may have shaded the advantage but the Owls fully deserved a point from a game that at one stage seemed set to yield all three.

United: Kenny, Naysmith, Morgan, Kilgallon, Geary, Quinn (Stead 63), Cotterill, Speed, Tonge, Sharp, Beattie

Unused substitutes: Bennett, Halls, Ehiogu, Hulse

Wednesday: Grant,  Beevers, Wood, Spurr, Johnson, Kavanagh (O'Brien 58), Bolder, Songo'o (Hinds 84), Burton, Sahar (Slusarski 68)

Unused substitutes: Burch, Boden

Referee: Steve Bennett

Attendance: 31,760