Sheffield United recorded just their third Championship draw of the season as they shared the spoils with high-flying Millwall in an entertaining end-to-end encounter at The Den.

Andre Brooks fired into the bottom corner from 18 yards to give the Blades an early lead but it lasted just two minutes thanks to Mihailo Ivanovic's smart, instinctive finish.

Both sides had chances to win the match, with Callum O'Hare in particular failing to take advantage of two glorious goalscoring opportunities for the visitors.

Millwall remain fifth with the draw but eight points off the top two while the Blades, in 17th, are seven points clear of trouble but 11 adrift of the play-off places.

The Blades have blown either hot or cold in an inconsistent season, with only two of their 28 league games prior to Saturday finishing level - and zero away.

But they were well worthy of their point and could have taken all three back up to Bramall Lane if not for O'Hare's profligacy.

The visitors were, however, grateful to goalkeeper Michael Cooper for a fine one-on-one save from Macaulay Langstaff, sent racing clear by Ivanovic, to prevent Millwall taking an early lead.

The Blades capitalised on that let-off with an opener that owed much to Gus Hamer's tenacity in winning possession - but there was still much for Brooks to do as he dropped a shoulder and steered home left-footed from the edge of the box.

Millwall, though, were quickly level as Ivanovic stole in to flick his seventh goal of the season past Cooper from six yards after Caleb Taylor headed Alfie Doughty's deep free-kick goalwards.

Both teams lost players to heavy challenges either side of the interval, Blades defender Sam McCallum taken off on a stretcher before the break while Doughty later limped off for Millwall.

In between, O'Hare somehow headed wide with the goal gaping after Millwall keeper Max Crocombe saved well from Tom Cannon's shot.

O'Hare again spurned arguably the best chance of the second half, failing to make a true connection from Femi Seriki's inviting cross as Crocombe gathered gratefully.

Millwall introduced newest signing - and Sheffield Wednesday legend - Barry Bannan off the bench for his debut in search of a headline-grabbing winner and he did have a chance amid late Lions pressure but it was a routine save for Cooper.

Millwall head coach Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:

"I thought it was a tight game. I thought it was a good game. I thought both teams had their moments.

"It ebbed and flowed, with bits where we were on top and looked likely to score. I thought they then got on top in certain spells in the game. And I always knew it was going to be a tough game.

"Chris's teams, they're very similar to us. They roll off the left, hold width on the right, they press the ball, they get after you, and everything, when it drops in the middle, becomes a bit of a fight, a bit of a battle, and you've got to make sure you land on second balls.

"I think the only frustrating thing from my point of view is towards the end, with some really good positions that we got into, it's just maybe that little lack of detail, lack of quality, just to try and finish it off and get the goal that really mattered."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"In my opinion, at this particular moment it's the hardest place [Millwall] to go and get a result.

"I always think you go to the big clubs and the big grounds, no disrespect, with 30 or 40,000 capacity, maybe not that many in, but today it was a full house and they're flying.

"Ultimately, we've not got the result we were after, not for the want of trying. It's great for the young players, as I talked about before, in terms of the experience in playing here.

"I always enjoy it and believe, as a player and as a team, if you can get a result here, if you can get a win great, if you can get something that's a sign of strong character mentally and physically from a team point of view."