Sheffield United and Grimsby stuttered to a draw in a clash that failed to catch the imagination of a poor Bramall Lane crowd.

Both sides enjoyed their share of supremacy, but the match never ignited and hundreds of fans were heading for the exits before full-time.

United had been aiming to erase memories of last weekend's 5-0 drubbing at Blackburn Rovers. But the Blades' hopes of a win failed to materialise as Town cancelled out their opponents.

Grimsby were first to threaten after two minutes, with Daryl Clare playing a one-two with Lee Ashcroft and firing in a shot that United goalkeeper Simon Tracey gathered easily.

Bobby Ford impressed in the opening stages with excellent vision and clever distribution. He picked out Marcus Bent on the edge of the box but the striker failed to control the ball.

On-loan Leicester City star Stuart Wilson smashed a 20-yard shot wide for United, before Grimsby hitmen Ashcroft and Clare both squandered chances by miscontrolling the ball in the Blades box.

United went close twice in quick succession midway through the half. Mariners goalkeeper Danny Coyne pulled off a great save from Brown's header. Then Paul Devlin rifled a spectacular 20-yarder just inches wide when he got on the end of a Wilson crossfield ball.

Referee Eddie Wolstenholme was booed when he refused to believe Devlin's penalty box theatrics.

Town's David Smith was first in the referee's notebook after chopping down Devlin, but Grimsby were threatening as Clare got into space on the right flank.

Danny Butterfield also blazed over in spectacular fashion after good work by Ashcroft.

United's Curtis Woodhouse came close with a side-foot shot from the edge of the box, but Town goalkeeper Coyne made an expert save.

Brown almost earned a penalty for United after a jinking run on the right, but Wolstenholme thought otherwise.

Steve Livingstone entered the fray for Grimbsy minutes into the second half after Tony Gallimore limped off.

Wilson then made good ground down the left for United, but he was unable to pull the ball back into the danger zone.

Brown did whip over a dangerous cross but the Town defence combined to clear. Devlin did get into space in the Mariners' box, but he could not control the header and the ball sailed over.

Teams:

Sheff Utd: Tracey, Devlin, Woodward, Murphy, Quinn, Sandford, Woodhouse (Ribeiro 67), Brown, Ford, Bent, Wilson (D'Jaffo 64).

Subs Not Used: Kozluk, Gysbrechts, Duke.

Grimsby: Coyne, Butterfield, Lever, Gallimore, Donovan, D. Smith, Ashcroft, Groves, Coldicott, Clare (Black 75), Pouton, Allen (Livingstone 48).

Subs Not Used: Allen, Buckley, Croudson.

Booked: D. Smith.

Att: 11,612

Ref: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).