ALBION are giving their absolute all in the quest to remain in the Premier League.

They are digging deep both physically and mentally to chisel points out of adversity.

Not just because of this commendable come-from-behind draw at Bramall Lane.

This, after all, was their third consecutive match in which they had trailed but ended up with a point.

Throw in Chelsea on New Year’s Day and it was their fourth such comeback for a point during the so far winless 2020.

Coincidentally, four points is also the margin which now separates them from 18th place.

The character and resilience have been in evidence for a while.

But somehow those attributes were thrown into sharper focus on a wet, cold, windy and quite hostile afternoon in South Yorkshire.

Not least in those 45 minutes spent playing into the teeth of the elements with the massed ranks of the Kop behind them willing them to lapse just once.

It felt like an old-fashioned northern awayday in old-fashioned surroundings.

Albion, unable to play their football, came through it showing attributes which are as old as the sport itself but will never go out of fashion.

They dug in, fought for every ball, ran themselves into the ground and rode just a bit of luck.

That all meant they came home with a point from what might also be considered an old-fashioned goal - a set-piece delivered high to the far post, a knock down and predatory finish.

Once Lewis Dunk blazed over early in the second half, they did not really look like scoring a winner, although they might have had a penalty when Ben Osborn’s arm blocked Ezequiel Schelotto’s cross.

But there is a certain type of satisfaction – and a grudging respect from opposition – about refusing to wilt in these surroundings.

There is also the tangible reward of a point. Not the win everyone craves but, on this occasion, not the lingering two-points-dropped frustration either.

For the second successive away game, Albion’s endeavour put a spring in the homeward step of their supporters, if not three points on the league table.

“We had to put our bodies on the line,” head coach Graham Potter recognised.

“Sometimes you can defend with the ball and keep the opposition away from your goal, which a lot of the top teams do.

“And sometimes you have to defend your box well.

“We probably didn’t do the first bit very well but we did the second bit well.

“Then you have got to find that balance so we can get some more points and get wins.

“I think it is in our capabilities to do that.”

The situation in which Albion have put themselves now is one where a couple of wins will open up a big gap on the bottom three.

A couple of wins. It doesn’t sound much when you say it quickly, does it?

They will need to play more football than on Saturday to do it.

They will need to be more clinical than they have been on some of their better days.

But this was not an occasion to worry quite so much about that.

This wasn’t Watford or Villa at home. It wasn’t West Ham or Palace on the ropes and waiting to be finished off.

Potter employed his playing resources creatively in a bid to prevent United creating.

He knew what was coming. There weren’t many junctures in this game where it didn’t feel like Albion were there to weather storms, both metaphorical and meteorological.

Inside 11 minutes they had seen the recalled Yves Bissouma pick up a yellow card for two fouls on the busy John Fleck, Billy Sharp drag a great chance wide and the crowd’s hopeful penalty appeals waved away.

There was an exhilarating counter-attack led by Dan Burn and Bissouma which Schelotto almost finished. But United had the wind in their sails and a long afternoon felt in prospect when they went ahead on 26 minutes. With the exception of Neal Maupay, Albion were slow to respond when the hosts worked a short corner.

Although the subsequent unchallenged cross was half-cleared, Enda Stevens took down the loose ball and thumped it inside the near top corner from an angle.

That was the point at which Albion might have folded and the Blades gone from strength to strength.

Crucially, there was no time for either to happen.

The lead had lasted for just four minutes when, this time, Fleck fouled Bissouma.

Adam Webster knocked down Aaron Mooy’s subsequent free-kick and Maupay stole in smartly to head home.

A similar formula should have put the Seagulls ahead after the break.

Mooy’s corner, Shane Duffy with the knockdown and Dunk shot just too high.

Although Maupay later volleyed over, it was generally backs to the wall from then on. United stepped up a level and were thwarted by a couple of super Maty Ryan saves plus some excellent defending.

Albion might have seen all their good work go up in smoke soon after switching to a back four.

Oli McBurnie was left unmarked in the box but the visitors’ prayers were answered when the matchwinner at the Amex sent a good chance wide off his shin pad.

A United goal there would have been desperately tough for Albion to stomach.

It would have provided them with the ultimate “try to take the positives” challenge had they, like Bournemouth before them, been sent home from the Steel City with nothing to show for their efforts.

As it is, they will take the point.

A point earned the hard way and the old-fashioned way.