Their strip looked like a red sock had been left in with the whites and unfortunately for Chris Wilder, Sheffield United are continuing to look similarly out of place in the Premier League.

Wilder’s side weren’t the prettiest in pink but this was at least a spirited performance. They played the majority of the match with 10 men and yet took their second point of the season.

The wins continue to allude them, however, and only victories will get them out of the mess they’re in. Eight points from safety, Wilder knows it’s going to be a tough 2021.

United had led, despite John Lundstram being shown red after 40 minutes. Brighton bit back, equalising through Danny Welbeck late on, before hitting the woodwork in stoppage time.

Thankfully for Brighton, they are in Tier 2, and so they had supporters here to cheer them on.

Nothing can replicate that authentic noise from the stands, and the taking of the knee was greeted by warm applause. They sang the name of Yves Bissouma – the Brighton midfielder being linked with Real Madrid – but were almost silenced in the 34th minute.

David McGoldrick, the scorer of two goals against Manchester United in the week, hit a low free-kick which seemed destined for the bottom-right corner. The 33-year-old even started to celebrate, only for Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to get a fingertip to the ball to push it around the post. A fine save it was.

Neal Maupay had come close at the other end, with United defenders putting their bodies on the line to block shots. It had been a fairly even half.

But United were left up against it before the break as Lundstram was shown a straight red card. At first, referee Peter Bankes produced a yellow for his challenge on Joel Veltman.

But VAR Michael Oliver advised Bankes to visit his monitor. There he saw the recklessness of Lundstram, who could have snapped Veltman’s ankle, and decided to upgrade his punishment.

United had already equalled the worst record by a club after 13 matches of a league season in the top four tiers of English football – with Newport County the originals in 1970-71.

Chris Wilder’s side would have to dig deep to avoid yet another defeat here. They tweaked their formation to 4-4-1, leaving £23.5million club record signing Rhian Brewster up top.

Yet Wilder felt it wasn’t working, with Brighton asking too many questions of them. In the 52nd minute, he replaced Brewster with defender Jayden Bogle, creating a back five.

That turned out to be a smart move. One counter-attack in the 56th minute almost saw United steal the lead, with Enda Stevens firing a left-footed shot just wide.

Soon after, another break ended in a goal for United. Stevens found David McGoldrick, who then picked out Bogle in the area. With a deflection off Adam Webster, his shot beat Sanchez. Brighton called for an offside in the build-up but after a VAR check, the goal stood.

In the 82nd minute, Brighton should have been level. All Aaron Connolly had to do was direct his header on target, with goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale having missed the cross. Yet Connolly missed the target and United survived for the time being.

The visitors could even have doubled their lead via a breakaway through Oliver Burke, but they did not take that chance and were made to pay the price.

In the 87th minute, Chris Basham tried to head clear a cross, but it turned out to be a nice assist for Welbeck. The Brighton striker chested the ball down and volleyed beyond Ramsdale.

Brighton should have then scored a stoppage-time winner, but some last-gasp defending and the woodwork saved United. First, Welbeck’s header was cleared off the line by John Egan. Then Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s headed rebound bounced back off the crossbar.

Both Graham Potter and Wilder were desperate for three points. One apiece would have to do.

Scroll down to see how it all unfolded with Sportsmail's live runner.