The script felt written at half-time.
Bristol City were the better side in the opening 45 minutes on away soil, showing their credentials against a side seemingly heading toward the Premier League with automatic promotion.
Once again, like the defeat at Watford four days prior, City couldn't make their dominance pay having lacked that cutting edge when getting themselves into good attacking positions.
Sheffield United were always going to improve in the second period and Paul Heckingbottom's decision to make a half-time substitution by bringing on match-winner James McAtee was an honest reflection of how the visitors were asserting their dominance on the game.
In the 77th minute, despite Max O'Leary rarely being tested, City's defence was breached when McAtee latched onto Iliman Ndiaye's pass before slotting past the stopper. Nigel Pearson described it as "sloppy" defending but all it took was one moment of ingenuity that proved the difference between the sides.
Here's the verdict on defeat at Bramall Lane.
Tale of two benches
Nigel Pearson was highly critical of his substitutes (excluding Anis Mehmeti) and the lack of impact they made on proceedings in his post-match interview. It was a damning assessment having named a strong bench that included Kal Naismith, Alex Scott, Tommy Conway, Mark Sykes and Mehmeti.
Both Sykes and Conway came onto the field in the 65th minute while Scott was introduced in the 74th, three minutes before the winning goal. Conway had 11 touches in total, six of which were inside Sheffield United's half and none inside his own area.
Sykes had 13, five inside the opponent's half while Scott saw the ball on 17 occasions, making 10 passes. They had the quality on the pitch to make the difference but couldn't get into their rhythm and trouble the Sheffield United defence.
However, the game was settled by one player, a loanee from Manchester City who is expected to have a really bright future in the game. McAtee, 20, has scored eight and assisted three throughout the course of the season and there's a reason why the Premier League champions rate him so highly.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the club refused to include a permanent option in the loan deal having already rejected bids from Southampton, Brighton and Leicester last summer. One Sheffield United reporter after the game mentioned how Manchester City value him around the £20million mark.
McAtee played out on the right side and offered a different dimension to proceedings. To give Jay Dasilva the credit he deserves, the left-back was impressive in keeping him relatively quiet (his goal came from the other side) but even his introduction at half-time injected that spark which was nowhere to be seen in the first-half.
While this could open the debate about the lack of loan signings in the City side - they are the only team in the Championship not to have borrowed any players - the game was effectively sealed by an England Under-21 international who looks destined for the top.
A reality check?
Just to delve more into the post-match comments made by the City manager at the end of the game regarding the substitutes (Scott, Conway and Sykes). When speaking to the written press, he said: "I'm a bit annoyed today.
"The subs didn't really have an impact in the way I would have wanted. I won't really include Anis in that because he didn't have too long but we didn't get an impact off the bench and it's a shame because we put a lot into the game.
"I think the lesson is, whoever starts and whoever is on the pitch, they need to be ready to make the impact that we need. Simple as that for me."
During the club interview, he told Robins TV: "We haven't had an impact off the bench, it's something which is annoying. We didn't get the injection or quality which I was expecting.
"I talk about young players not always being able to hit the heights in terms of their form but I expect them to run around in the same way, I expect us to always have energy. We let ourselves down in that sense tonight."
Then when asked whether there are lessons to take forward, he responded: "There better be. It's up to them whether they learn or not. If they don't, life will be harder for them, I don't care who they are."
It's the first time this season, if I recall, that Pearson has been so critical of his younger players with Scott and Conway in particular. Two talented youngsters who have been sensational throughout the course of the campaign.
Usually stern in their defence if they have an off day, albeit that has been a rarity with the duo, the City manager has usually put poor performances down to a natural lack of consistency due to inexperience at this level. However, here he is reflecting on their lack of effort, which is his biggest gripe.
Coming out so publically with those statements and not keeping them behind closed doors will challenge the players in a broader sense to see how they can deal with the criticism. It's a learning curve on the back of a campaign where they have received nothing but plaudits.
Expect a reaction in the final three matches... although it will undoubtedly have to come from the bench.
A game of opinions
Games such as these are sometimes decided on fine margins. When you are the underdog looking to upset the odds, key decisions during important stages of the game can have a major impact on how the contest pans out.
That moment for City came around 18 minutes into the game when a beautiful move saw Nahki Wells free Harry Cornick down the right flank. Sam Bell had the beating of his man for pace and Cornick played the early ball across the box, looking for the forward's run into the area.
Bell is seemingly pulled down by George Baldock on the edge of the area but referee Geoff Eltringham opted for play to continue. The City bench were incensed, particularly Jason Euell, who was assumingly having a stern word with the fourth official.
On another day, it's either a free-kick or a penalty as it did seem right on the edge of the area but more importantly, a red card as Bell was through on goal. Stating the obvious, but that changes the complexion of the game and ultimately we could, and probably would, have seen a different outcome.
What was telling was the difference in opinions between the two managers about the incident in their post-match interview. Pearson was understandably frustrated when he said: ". I don't bother looking anymore because we don't get any of them. I'm wasting my time.
"Because they'll make a story up about why it's not given. Alex Scott gets pulled down and Anis crosses late in the game but that's not why we've lost the game."
When asked if the fourth official explained why the decision wasn't awarded in their favour, Pearson responded: "No. Of course they didn't."
On the flip side, a much chirpier Heckingbottom raised a wry smile when the question was put to him, responding: "No. There's nothing on that. No chance - I don't think you ever did."
King's form
There are plenty of players who could come out of that game with real credit but one that stood taller than the rest was Andy King who continues to enjoy a fine run of form. Last night was his eighth start in nine matches which is a testament to his fitness and the way he looks after himself.
Superb throughout, but particularly in the first half, everything good came through the midfielder who conserved his energy by his impeccable reading of the game - breaking up passages of play and feeding the ball forward looking for those runs of Nahki Wells down the channels.
Having kept Kal Naismith out of the starting XI and on the bench last night, King continues to prove why his player/coaching role deserves to be extended for another season. Before the start of the season, it's fair to say not many would have expected the 34-year-old to feature across 28 games in all competitions.
Some of those have come down to necessity through injury and a lack of options in midfield but King continues to justify his place in the squad and, in the last few weeks, the starting line-up. Last night he had more passes (58) than any other City player and the second most on the pitch behind Jack Robinson.
His three clearances were more than any City player while making 75 touches of the ball - in comparison, his midfield partner James had 49. In the coming weeks, if not already, there will be talks over his future but one thing is increasingly certain, he continues to prove a big asset both on and off the pitch.
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