Chris Wilder took pleasure in Manchester United altering their tactical outlook in a bid to counter his Sheffield United team.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer picked a back three, as he did against Chelsea and Liverpool earlier in the campaign, partially because of injuries in midfield but also in an attempt to nullify the Blades.
That tweak failed, with Solskjaer reverting to 4-3-3 after his side went in one goal down.
‘They compromised their shape to play against us,’ Wilder said. ‘We had to try and exploit it and we did in the middle of the park. Our shape pushed them back and they looked vulnerable.
‘The attitude of the team is great. We’ve shown what our attitude is like today. Sometimes you just have to accept that this (a comeback) might happen.
‘It was a cruel blow and you have to take it on the chin. I’d have been disappointed if we hadn’t got anything from this game. For the majority we were right up there in terms of the performance levels.’
Oli McBurnie’s late equaliser was thoroughly checked before VAR ruled it had not touched his arm but Wilder is no fan of the technology after seeing a goal disallowed at Tottenham earlier this month.
‘Again, an idiot manager running down the touchline and someone telling me it could be ruled out,’ he said. ‘Thankfully they made the right decision. I saw an equaliser coming.’
It was only McBurnie’s second Premier League goal when he stabbed past David De Gea and the striker was adamant the goal rightly stood.
‘If we didn’t get a point it would have been devastating,’ he said. It’s the cruel beast that’s the Premier League.
‘I don’t think the ball did hit my hand. We got the point was the minimum we deserved. It’s tough to celebrate then wait for five minutes or so.
‘The boys grafted unbelievably. When we are at our best we can compete with the best teams in the world. The no-fear attitude comes from the gaffer and the boys. People don’t like coming here.’