Sheffield United did little to ease the pressure on manager Bryan Robson after firing blanks against 10-man Coca-Cola Championship rivals Scunthorpe at Bramall Lane.

The second-bottom visitors had winger Grant McCann sent off for serious foul play in the 10th minute, but were well worth their point which followed last week's home win over Charlton.

McCann received a straight red card for his foul on the Blades' new signing David Cotterill, who made an impressive start to his loan spell from Wigan.

Robson's under-achievers, who have won only one of their last nine league matches - drawing the last three - went closest when striker Billy Sharp hit the post with a second-half header against his former club.

But United, who lost Ugo Ehiogu to injury, failed to find the breakthrough in front of an increasingly frustrated home crowd of 25,668 despite pairing James Beattie and Rob Hulse up front for the first time.

Gary Speed fired an early volley just off target and Hulse drilled a shot straight at Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy, before Jim Goodwin responded for the visitors with a long-range effort that flew wide.

Scunthorpe were dealt a huge blow in the 11th minute when McCann was dismissed.

Cotterill then lashed a shot over the crossbar following successive corners as the home side began to make inroads.

Michael Tonge volleyed narrowly over the crossbar from 25 yards, with Scunthorpe restricted to a long-range effort from former Blades striker Jonathan Forte which was blocked by Derek Geary.

Home defender Ehiogu was forced off through injury in the 30th minute and replaced by Matthew Kilgallon in a frustrating first half for Robson's side, who struggled to create further openings against the visitors' 10 men.

And it was Scunthorpe who threatened next with Ian Morris firing an angled shot from the edge of the area wide and Forte again off target.

Speed headed straight at Murphy just before the break, while Paul Hayes' volley at the other end was blocked by Gary Naysmith.

Scunthorpe were first to threaten in the second period with Goodwin firing in a speculative shot from 30 yards.

The Blades were still unable to make their extra man count and it was the visitors again who went close with Geary getting in the way of Forte's goal-bound volley.

Former Scunthorpe striker Billy Sharp replaced Beattie on the hour mark, while the home side mustered their first second-half effort on goal in the 63rd minute when Tonge thundered a shot wide.

Sharp went close to breaking the deadlock with what would have been his first league goal for the Blades, but his header from Speed's free-kick hit the post.

Hulse forced visiting goalkeeper Murphy into a fine save soon after with a thumping left-footed drive and Sharp's volley following Cotterill's cross was blocked by Andy Crosby as the Blades pressed for a winner.

But at the other end Hayes' shot was well held by Paddy Kenny, who comfortably saved Iron substitute Ben May's 30-yard shot moments later as the visitors finished with a flourish.

Sharp fired over the crossbar in time added on from Cotterill's cross as the the Blades poured forward in the closing stages, but Scunthorpe held firm.

Teams:

Sheff Utd Kenny, Geary, Morgan, Ehiogu (Kilgallon 30), Naysmith, Cotterill, Speed, Tonge, Martin (Shelton 82), Beattie (Sharp 60), Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Armstrong, Quinn.

Scunthorpe Murphy, Byrne (Sparrow 46), Crosby, Hobbs, Williams, Cork, Goodwin, McCann, Morris, Hayes, Forte (May 76).

Subs Not Used: Lillis, Baraclough, Hurst.

Sent Off: McCann (10).

Att: 25,668

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).