BLADES IN WILD PARTY
SHEFF UTD 1 WOLVES 0
CHRIS WILDER danced down the touchline in celebration as John Egan’s injury-time winner revived Sheffield United’s European hopes.
There were just 23 seconds left of the three minutes of added time when the defender rose to head home Ollie Norwood’s corner.
It was a massive blow to Wolves’ hopes of catching Manchester United in fifth place and possibly being in the Champions League next season.
There had not been a shot on target in a dire second half until Egan struck.
And it took a dramatic, panicked last-gasp scramble of excitement in the 93rd minute to settle the game.
Ben Osborn won the corner when Rui Patricio pushed his effort round the post for safety.
Egan’s header was a towering effort full of the desire and power that have driven on Sheffield United this season.
Wilder had spent the match bellowing instructions, immersed in the stalemate, but jigged with delight for 30 yards when the winner finally came.
It was a sickener for Nuno Espirito Santo (inset), whose Wolves side had been the most comfortable and inventive and deserved more.
This could have been a December midwinter game, as the rain poured down at a nippy Bramall Lane. Soaked players took hydrating ice drinks breaks in the cold – when hot chocolate or coffee might have been more appropriate.
And they failed to find a creative spark, or force either keeper into meaningful saves for 92 minutes.
There was some probing around both boxes but energy and precision was lacking. Adama Traore was a major threat and teedup Raul Jimenez and then Diogo Jota, whose header almost looped in. Reuben Neves hit the bar with a brilliant free-kick from 22 yards. For United, Oli Mcburnie went close and after the break Billy Sharp had the ball in the net, but was ruled offside.
SHEFFIELD UNITED (3-5-2): Henderson 6; Basham 7, EGAN 8, O’connell 7; Baldock 7, Berge 6, Norwood 6, Osborn 6, Stevens 6; Sharp 6 (Zivkovic 70, 6), Mcburnie 6 (Mousset 49, 6). Subs: Moore, Lundstram, Jagielka, Freeman, Robinson, Rodwell. WOLVES (3-4-3): Patricio 6; Boly 6, Coady 6, Saiss 6; Doherty 6, Neves 7, Moutinho, Jonny 6; Traore 6 (Dendoncker 79), Jimenez 7, Jota 7. Subs: Ruddy, Jordao, Podence, Gibbs-white, Vinagre, Campana, Kilman, Buur. REFEREE: Martin Atkinson 7.