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Sheffield United player ratings v Wolves as Blades get first win of season after striker’s game of two halves

Danny Hall
·4-min read
For all Wolves’ possession early on he was a relative bystander in terms of saves, although he had to be alert to tip over Cunha’s well-struck shot in the first half. Some of his distribution left a little to be desired before he was beaten by the late blow of Wolves’ equaliser, unable to keep it out after it took a nick off Baldock
For all Wolves’ possession early on he was a relative bystander in terms of saves, although he had to be alert to tip over Cunha’s well-struck shot in the first half. Some of his distribution left a little to be desired before he was beaten by the late blow of Wolves’ equaliser, unable to keep it out after it took a nick off Baldock

The Blades had led through Cameron Archer before the hammer blow of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s 89th-minute equaliser. But the Blades kept believing and after Fabio Silva was punished for fouling George Baldock, Ollie Norwood stepped up to hammer home the winner from the spot in inury time.

Here’s how we rated United’s players on an afternoon to savour at Bramall Lane....

Will have felt great pressure for his place with Baldock back, and after his difficult afternoon at Arsenal last weekend, but was given the chance to play alongside him and rose to the challenge well. Had a couple of nervy moments on the ball but also some really dangerous ones when he got going down the right, also flying into an excellent commanding challenge with the Blades leading 1-0
Lined up on the right of United’s back three on his return from injury and a committed tackle, which took man rather than ball, about 50 seconds into the game summed up United’s tenacious start. United have really missed his intensity down the right and he was typically industrious, with a fair dose of invention when the chance came to attack down the right too. Defensively solid too, especially when walking the tightrope of an early booking for a ‘foul’ on Kalajdzic. Then won the penalty which won the game
Will have felt more scrutiny and eyes on him after his own troubles at the Emirates last weekend but barely put a foot wrong here, save for a couple of wayward crosses that left him holding his head in his hands in frustration. Battled through cramp around the hour mark and got his head to a late corner but couldn’t find the target, much to his amazement
United’s most consistent defender this season was impressive here again today, dealing with the lively threat of Hwang Hee-Chan with a couple of classic Robinson tackles that let the Wolves man know he was in a game. Tidy on the ball too
United’s most consistent defender this season was impressive here again today, dealing with the lively threat of Hwang Hee-Chan with a couple of classic Robinson tackles that let the Wolves man know he was in a game. Tidy on the ball too
Had an up-and-down time early on as Wolves got in behind a couple of times down their right, but did superbly to win a sliding challenge as Hwang looked to get in on goal
Had an up-and-down time early on as Wolves got in behind a couple of times down their right, but did superbly to win a sliding challenge as Hwang looked to get in on goal
Showed absolute nerves of steel to step up and smash home the winner from the penalty spot, after a lengthy delay, when he probably knew the abuse that would befell him if he had missed it. A real captain’s moment from the stand-in skipper who earlier had some frustrating moments on the ball as passes went astray but overall was a presence in midfield, breaking up play and distributing the ball when he could. Tried one effort from the halfway line at 1-0 that showed United’s growing confidence as they went ahead
A mixed bag at times, careless in possession on occasion but then commanding in the tackle in other. With United shorn of a big striker he was the focal point for long goal kicks and won his fair share in the air.
A mixed bag at times, careless in possession on occasion but then commanding in the tackle in other. With United shorn of a big striker he was the focal point for long goal kicks and won his fair share in the air.
Struggled with cramp later in the game and it’s no real surprise after a display full of running, even if not everything he tried came off. United appeared frustrated that the game wasn’t stopped for medical attention for him moments before Wolves equalised and he made way soon after for Osborn
Struggled with cramp later in the game and it’s no real surprise after a display full of running, even if not everything he tried came off. United appeared frustrated that the game wasn’t stopped for medical attention for him moments before Wolves equalised and he made way soon after for Osborn
Handed only his second start since returning from injury and many Blades fans would have been looking forward to seeing him and Archer together, but the partnership failed to spark apart from a couple of interchanged passes early on. Brewster didn’t make half-time, going down after a coming together on the far touchline and immediately grabbing his hamstring. He walked off, so hopefully his withdrawal was just as a precaution rather than another setback
A real game of two halves for the Aston Villa man, who had a stinker in the first half but got much more into the game in the second. He shot just over seconds after the restart and then sparked jubilant scenes inside Bramall Lane with a devastating finish off the bar after getting a sniff of a chance and running on to it
A real game of two halves for the Aston Villa man, who had a stinker in the first half but got much more into the game in the second. He shot just over seconds after the restart and then sparked jubilant scenes inside Bramall Lane with a devastating finish off the bar after getting a sniff of a chance and running on to it
Came on for Brewster late in the first half and lit up the opening exchanges of the second with a tricky run that drew the foul, and booking, from Dawson, although he couldn’t get the resulting curled free-kick on target. Had loads of promising positions where he gave the ball away with a sloppy pass but also looked the most threatening of the Blades’ players as he travelled with the ball
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Cameron Archer of Sheffield United celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane on November 04, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 04: Cameron Archer of Sheffield United celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane on November 04, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)