Charlton Athletic 1, Sheffield United 1.

Jonathan Stead intends to make the most of his ''second chance'' at top-flight football by grabbing the goals which keep Sheffield United in the Barclays Premiership.

The 24-year-old made it two in as many games to earn the Blades a share of the spoils at fellow relegation battlers Charlton yesterday.

The 1-1 draw kept the Yorkshire club outside the drop zone, and with two out of their three remaining matches at Bramall Lane - against relegated Watford next week and then fast-fading Wigan - destiny is now in their own hands.

Stead first shot to prominence when he helped steer Blackburn to safety in 2004 following a £1.25m move from Huddersfield.

However, after going ''off the boil'' at Sunderland, the striker found himself on his way to Sheffield United for a cut-price £750,000 during the January transfer window, having fallen out at favour at the Stadium of Light and being farmed out on loan to Derby.

The striker intends to repay the faith of Neil Warnock in priceless Premiership goals.

''When Sheffield United came in, it was a bit of a second chance for me,'' Stead said.

''When a Premiership manager comes knocking and says he wants you, there is no bigger confidence booster.

''The gaffer knew me from my time at Huddersfield, and when he saw the price Sunderland were asking, he thought it was worth the risk.

''I knew I was rated by people in the top division, it was just whether someone was going to stick their neck out. Luckily for me, he went for it.

''Neil Warnock has given me that chance - now it is all about repaying him.

''The goal against Charlton will go some way towards doing that, and hopefully there will be a few more before the end of the season.''

Stead added: ''Especially with the injury to Rob Hulse, I have got to try to get as many goals as I can.

''We have to get them when it really matters, because we need the points.

''The goal was up there with the most important I have scored.

''I am back scoring again and playing in a team which is creating chances, and that is good for any striker.''

The Blades recovered from going behind to a long-range deflected effort from Charlton defender Talal El Karkouri on the hour mark.

Indeed once Stead had equalised with a fine angled drive with 20 minutes to go, the visitors created enough chances to have won the match, with Michael Tonge blazing over the bar from 20 yards when clean through in stoppage time.

It was an effective performance by a side which more than earned thier point.

Stead said: ''We all about being a unit together and working hard for each other - that is showing now.

''We have showed we are really in for the fight, are there to go the distance and the point at Charlton will go a long way towards safety.

''At this stage of the season, we need to be picking up points on the teams around us, and we have managed to do that.

''We are running, working and tackling to the last second of every game - and that is the way we are going to survive.

''We are confident, but know there is still a long way to go.''

Warnock is more than happy with the born-again striker.

''Jon has been out of this world since he came in,'' said the Blades boss.

''He is playing with a freedom. and knows he is a good striker - and that is a great feeling to have a striker like that at the club at the moment.''

Warnock added: ''I do not think £750,000 in the Premier League is a risk. It is a stone in the bloody ocean.

''When he first got to Blackburn and he kept them up that season. Then he went off the boil a bit, but that is football - you have ups and downs as a young footballer.

''Jon has matured now and I thought it was too good an opportunity to turn down.''