Sheffield United 2 Wolves 1: Blades FINALLY get first win of Premier League season with 100th minute winner
TO THE inevitable strains of the Great Escape theme, Oliver Norwood gave battling Sheffield United a relegation lifeline with their first Premier League win of the season.
Paul Heckingbottom’s men tasted success at the 11th time of asking as the captain’s injury-time penalty sunk Wolves.
Cameron Archer had smashed bottom-of-the-table Blades ahead in the 72nd minute before Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s first Wolves goal levelled in the 89th minute with a fine finish.
But heartbreak turned to heartstopping joy for the hosts when Norwood powered in the spot-kick to plunder a priceless three points.
Victory ended Wolves’ five-match unbeaten run as they badly missed the craft of injured talisman Pedro Neto,
It also ruined Tommy Doyle’s return to Bramall Lane after being handed his first start for the visitors.
The midfielder had played a pivotal role in United’s promotion to the top flight – and FA Cup semi-final spot at Wembley – last season when borrowed from Manchester City.
While warmly applauded by the home fans, not everyone laid out the red carpet for Doyle, though, as Vini Souza blatantly shoved him over to concede an early free-kick.
That came to nothing but Doyle’s delivery at set-pieces caused a problem for the nervy Blades backline in a feisty opening riddled with fouls.
Bidding to win three successive league games against their hosts for the first time since a four-match run between 1954-55, Wolves offered the greater early attacking threat.
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A classy counter-attack left Nelson Semedo on the end of a swift, sweeping move, but the Portuguese wing-back blasted over.
After George Baldock – making his first start in two months following a calf problem – was booked for dragging back towering striker Sasa Kalajdzic, the visitors carved out another chance.
But this time Matheus Cunha had his rising effort touched over by keeper Wes Foderingham.
If that was close, Wolves came even closer in the 32nd minute when Hwang Hee-Chan danced his way into a shooting position but his sliced finish fell to the surprised Rayan Ait-Nouri, whose hurried attempt dropped agonisingly wide.
Heckingbottom’s side looked every inch a side on the back of the worst start in Premier League history.
Lacking confidence, struggling for ideas and the growing fear of an immediate return to the Championship.
Already without Scottish forward Oliver McBurnie, Heckingbottom’s cause wasn’t helped when Rhian Brewster had to be replaced in first-half added time.
It looked like another hamstring injury for the former Liverpool forward having been plagued by similar problems over the past two seasons.
On came Manchester City loanee James McAtee, who pepped up his side for a second-half push that unsettled Gary O’Neil’s outfit.
Archer, barely seen in the first half, was found by Gustavo Hamer and sent a rasping drive over.
Archer, barely seen in the first half, was found by Gustavo Hamer and sent a rasping drive over.
Doyle was then booked as he brought down as he brought down Jayden Bogle on the edge of the box, inches away from a penalty.
Whatever Heckingbottom has said at half-time had fired-up his men.
With a stout defence the watching Yorkshire and England cricketing legend Sir Geoffrey Boycott would have been proud of, the Blades battled to keep Wolves at bay.
Here’s how it happened…