A wonder strike from Sheffield United's Keith Treacy denied City victory at Bramall Lane last night.

City took the lead early in the second half through Matty Fryatt and were looking solid until they were rocked in the 65th minute when Treacy, 30 yards out, unleashed a fierce drive into the top right-hand corner giving City keeper Chris Weale no chance.

The City defence held firm as the Blades piled on the late pressure, claiming another valuable away point but at some cost as both Steve Howard and Martyn Waghorn, who replaced him early on, limped out the action with hamstring injuries.

Foxes boss Nigel Pearson made one change from the side who gained a point at Ipswich on Saturday. Nicky Adams came in for Lloyd Dyer, the man he replaced as substitute at Portman Road, meaning a straight swap with Dyer on the bench.

The visitors were soon under threat, Steve Howard heading behind for a corner which was well held by Weale under heavy pressure before City came forward, Matt Oakley setting up a chance for Adams who saw his shot blocked. Next, a long throw from Robbie Neilson fell to Adams but his shot was smothered in the area.

City were on top in those early stages but their momentum was checked after 11 minutes when Howard pulled up with a hamstring injury, Waghorn replacing him.

The visitors, though, soon took up the running again and after a good City move had set Fryatt up, Blades defender Matt Kilgannon made a fine clearing challenge. Fryatt was then unlucky when, put in by Oakley, his shot was deflected and cleared off the line before both sides came so close to the opener within seconds.

First, a Darius Henderson shot was deflected onto the bar and clear. City sped upfield and Fryatt was clean through from Oakley only for his loan colleague from last season, Mark Bunn, to make the save.

Adams then served up a couple of openings but there were no takers and it stood goalless at the break.

At the start of the second half, Jack Hobbs made a strong clearance to stop a good Blades break coming to anything and Weale made a fine full-length save from a Jamie Ward shot from outside the area.

Then in the 50th minute, City took the lead. Fryatt was fouled about 30 yards out, Oakley drove the free-kick into the area where Fryatt deflected it deftly into the net.

It was no more than City deserved at this stage and they nearly increased their lead when Dany N'Guessan dummied an Oakley effort but Bunn was alert enough to make the save. Later Fryatt skied a chance after good work by Waghorn had set it up.

Then came the turning point of the action. From deep midfield, Treacy suddenly unleashed an unstoppable shot in the 65th minute to boost the home side into much more energetic action, a screamer from substitute Stephen Quinn almost repeating Treacy's earlier strike.

Quinn was looking a very lively threat as City were pushed back and when Kyle Walker fired a low cross into the danger area, it flew across the six-yard box with no takers.

City suffered another injury blow when Waghorn was taken off with hamstring trouble, being replaced by Andy King with a few minutes left.

City had faced up to a tremendous late onslaught but they proved that, on the night, it had taken something special to breach them and they emerged unbeaten in the first three games, a good solid start.

 City: Weale; Neilson, Hobbs, Brown, Berner, N'Guessan, Oakley, Wellens, Adams, Fryatt, Howard. Subs: Logan, Morrison, Tunchev, A King (83 for Waghorn), Dyer (78 for Adams), Waghorn (11 for Howard), Dickov.

Booked: Wellens, Fryatt, Oakley.

Sheffield United: Bunn; Montgomery, Morgan, Kilgannon, Henderson, Evans, Taylor, Ward, Howard, Treacy, Walker. Subs: France, Reid (73 for Treacy), Cotterill (87 for Ward), Bennett, Bromby, Sharp, Quinn (46 for Howard).

Booked Taylor, Treacy.

Referee: N Miller.

Attendance: 26,069.