Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Sheffield United 1.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Sheffield United: Matt Doherty header denies Blades
- From the section Premier League
Wolves remain sixth in the Premier League after Matt Doherty's equaliser against Sheffield United extended their unbeaten run to nine games.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side were second best until Doherty headed in Raul Jimenez's cross after 64 minutes.
But they finished the game stronger as the Blades, who were fortunate not to have George Baldock sent off, hung on to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
It was a sharp contrast from earlier in the match as the visitors took the lead after 63 seconds.
Lys Mousset took a touch from Baldock's right-wing cross before firing in his fifth goal of the season.
But Chris Wilder's team paid for costly misses by David McGoldrick early in the second half when they were in the ascendancy.
Sheffield United, who have not lost away in the league since January, remain a place below Wolves in seventh.
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Mousset underlines value to Blades
Wilder would have been pleased his side continued their impressive start to the season, especially as Baldock rode his luck by avoiding a second yellow when he fouled Diogo Jota with 10 minutes left.
But it was a game where Mousset's value was underlined once again, especially as McGoldrick showed why he has not scored this season.
Mousset did not have much Premier League pedigree when he was at former club Bournemouth, scoring only five goals during three seasons after signing from French side Le Havre for about £5m in 2015.
But the 23-year-old, who was captured by the Blades for a then-club record £10m in July, has proven a key player for Wilder's side by adding crucial goals to the team's defensive solidity.
Given he has scored five goals and has three assists, while his fellow strikers have struggled, the Blades' lofty league position would be far inferior without him.
He wasted little time in making his mark at Molineux and set up John Fleck for what should have been a second after 38 minutes when he nutmegged Leander Dendoncker, but the Blades midfielder's low shot was saved by Rui Patricio.
Although McGoldrick was full of endeavour, he toiled in front of goal. The Republic of Ireland international had two chances to double the lead when the Blades were well on top after the break. Both times he could not beat Wolves keeper Patricio.
It proved costly when Doherty headed in at the back post minutes later, with McGoldrick failing to track his runner.
He was eventually substituted to be replaced by Oli McBurnie, who had a late chance to win it when he headed over, but Wilder will not mind too much about McGoldrick's form while his team are still picking up points.
Wolves resilience impresses again
The draw meant that Wolves matched a top-flight unbeaten run last set by the club in 1973.
More pleasing for Nuno will be the way his side reacted to going behind, especially as they played against Braga in Portugal in the Europa League on Thursday.
This was their 27th game of the season and their resilience in combining both domestic and European form after a stuttering start to the campaign has been impressive.
They looked rusty as the visitors took the lead early on but once Jimenez tested Dean Henderson with a header after 18 minutes, they found their feet, and Adama Traore was a dangerous outlet down the right as he outmuscled Enda Stevens on several occasions.
Had there been better composure from Sheffield United's forwards, the hosts may not have been able to respond, yet Doherty's goal seemed to provide a catalyst.
It was an emotional goal as he kissed his black armband in tribute to former Wolves team-mate Benik Afobe, who has lost his two-year-old daughter.
Wolves, who handed a first Premier League start to defender Max Kilman, making him the first former England futsal player to play a full game in the top flight, pressed for a winner.
However, Sheffield United's desperate defending kept clear-cut chances at a premium as the scores remained level.
Man of the match - Lys Mousset
'It meant a lot for Doherty to score' - manager reaction
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo: "It's very demanding on the players but it is a good challenge. We must use it to grow and improve as a team. We don't have time to practice, we rest and we repeat. I'm very proud. The draw was well deserved.
"It means a lot for [Matt] Doherty to score today - he had some bad news about a dear friend of his. It was a bad moment in his life so I wish him well. It meant a lot for him and it meant a lot for us as a team."
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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder: "We started both halves terrifically. We had plenty of chances and we should have scored more than one.
"We knew they'd fight back after we went ahead because of the fight they have as a team. This is always a tough place to come so I'm delighted we've kept our away record going.
"Lys Mousset showed he can finish against Man Utd and he showed it again today. His partnership with David McGoldrick is going brilliant, too. We're doing a lot of things right at the moment - both with and without the ball.
"We were disappointed with their goal but I'm delighted with how we adapted our game plan."
Blades continue fine away form - the best stats
- Sheffield United are the first newly promoted side to remain unbeaten in their first seven top-flight away games since Blackburn in 1992-93 (W1 D6).
- Lys Mousset's goal in the second minute is Sheffield United's second earliest goal scored in a Premier League match, behind only Dane Whitehouse's first-minute opener against Everton in August 1993.
- Matt Doherty scored in back-to-back games in all competitions for Wolves for the first time since December 2016.
- Raul Jimenez has been directly involved in 21 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions this season (15 goals, 6 assists) - the most of any Premier League player.
What's next?
Wolves host West Ham on Wednesday (kick-off 19:30 GMT) while Sheffield United entertain Newcastle United on Thursday (19:30).
Line-ups
Wolves
- 11Rui Patrício
- 32DendonckerBooked at 3mins
- 16Coady
- 49Kilman
- 2Doherty
- 8Neves
- 28João Moutinho
- 19Castro Otto
- 37Traoré
- 9Jiménez
- 18Jota
Substitutes
- 4Vallejo
- 7Neto
- 10Cutrone
- 21Ruddy
- 29Vinagre
- 54Otasowie
- 68Cundle
Sheff Utd
- 1Henderson
- 6Basham
- 12EganBooked at 90mins
- 5O'ConnellBooked at 63mins
- 2BaldockBooked at 54mins
- 7LundstramSubstituted forFreemanat 90+1'minutes
- 16Norwood
- 4FleckBooked at 42mins
- 3StevensBooked at 15mins
- 22MoussetSubstituted forRobinsonat 86'minutes
- 17McGoldrickSubstituted forMcBurnieat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Freeman
- 9McBurnie
- 10Sharp
- 11Robinson
- 15Jagielka
- 25Moore
- 27Besic
- Referee:
- David Coote
- Attendance:
- 31,642
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamSheff Utd
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away18
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Sheffield United 1.
Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Luke Freeman (Sheffield United).
Attempt missed. Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Enda Stevens with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Luke Freeman replaces John Lundstram.
Attempt missed. João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a set piece situation.
Attempt blocked. Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonny.
Booking
John Egan (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by John Egan (Sheffield United).
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Chris Basham.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Jack O'Connell.
Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Adama Traoré.
VAR Decision: No card change John Fleck (Sheffield United).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Callum Robinson replaces Lys Mousset.
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United).
Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by George Baldock (Sheffield United).
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Oliver McBurnie.
Attempt blocked. Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by João Moutinho.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Chris Basham.
Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Chris Basham (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Oliver McBurnie replaces David McGoldrick.
Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Lys Mousset (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. David McGoldrick (Sheffield United) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Oliver Norwood with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Max Kilman (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
John Lundstram (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
VAR Decision: No Penalty Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Max Kilman tries a through ball, but Raúl Jiménez is caught offside.
Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Enda Stevens (Sheffield United).
Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Goal!
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Sheffield United 1. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Raúl Jiménez with a cross.
Booking
Jack O'Connell (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
