Blades leave it late to get off the mark
OLIVER NORWOOD clinched Sheffield United’s first victory of the Premier League season with a penalty in the tenth minute of added time.
Norwood smashed the spot kick in off the bar to settle an untidy contest, which exploded into life belatedly, when Cameron Archer fired the Blades ahead in the 72nd minute. Archer burst clear on to a ricochet and beat Jose Sa with a searing drive from 25 yards.
It was the first shot on target by the home side and looked as if it might be the winner until JeanRicner Bellegarde conjured up the equaliser, his first goal for Wolves, a deflected shot from just inside the penalty area in the 89th minute.
Then came the penalty, awarded for an innocuous foul by Wolves sub Fabio Silva on George Baldock, who couldn’t fall down fast enough. Norwood held his nerve and Bramall Lane celebrated.
Wolves arrived in Sheffield having taken eight points from their previous four games to ease up the table, and they dominated the first half but were wasteful in front of goal. Nelson Semedo set the tone when he skied a chance in the opening exchanges and Blades goalkeeper Wes Foderingham tipped over an effort by Matheus Cunha.
Just after the half hour came a moment to sum it all up. Hee-chan Hwang slalomed into the penalty area but off balance sliced his shot so badly he played the ball square for Rayan Ait-Nouri. The only problem was that Ait-Nouri was careering forward and not expecting it to come his way, and even though the goal was wide open he could only divert the chance wide.
Sheffield United created nothing, for 45 minutes. Rhian Brewster and Archer found it difficult to hold the ball up and Brewster limped off before half-time.
Sheffield boss Paul Heckingbottom sent on James McAtee and they returned with greater urgency after the break. McAtee and Gustavo Hamer peppered Sa’s goal from distance and they generated a spell of pressure kicking towards the home end and still did not force the Wolves keeper to make a save.
Blades’ fans had waited most of the match for a shot on target but it was worth the wait. Archer seized on his good fortune: an attempted clearance by Toti Gomes rebounded off McAtee, which sent him racing clear. The finish was sublime, the game came to life and maybe Sheffield United are coming to life.
SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-4-1-2): Foderingham 6.5; Baldock 6, Trusty 6.5, Robinson 7; Bogle 6, Norwood 7.5, Souza 6.5, Thomas 5.5; Hamer 6 (Osborn 90); Archer 7, Brewster 5 (McAtee 45+2, 8). Subs (not used): Amissah, Fleck, Traore, Slimane, Larouci, Osula. Booked: Baldock, Hamer.
WOLVES (3-4-2-1): Sa 6; Kilman 6.5, Dawson 6, Toti 6 (Silva 81); Semedo 6, Lemina 6, Doyle 6 (Traore 70), Ait-Nouri 6; Hwang 5, Cunha 5; Kalajdzic 5 (Bellegarde 61, 7). Subs (not used): Bentley, Doherty, Bueno, Gomes, Jonny, Sarabia.
Booked: Dawson, Fabio Silva, Doyle.
Referee: R Jones 6