When teammates turn on each other rather than the opposition, it doesn’t say much about their chances of an unlikely escape from relegation.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder called on his team to ‘throw some punches’ when he returned to the club last December and here Jack Robinson and Vini Souza took his instructions a little too literally.
Following a header from Wolves striker Pablo Sarabia that turned out to be the only goal of the match, Souza and Robinson shouted at each other before play restarted, with Souza appearing to shove his teammate in the face.
It was not on the scale of Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer’s punch-up in Newcastle in 2005, nor of the fistfights between Blackburn pair Graeme Le Saux and David Batty a decade earlier. But it illustrated the sense of hopelessness and chaos that Blades must be feeling as they continue their seemingly inevitable journey back to the championship.
Much more frustrating for Wilder was Wolves getting out of jail here. United were the most effective side but were unable to convert any of their chances, with Rhian Brewster and James McAtee most to blame. It meant that Sarabia’s goal on the half hour was decisive and Wolves are now eighth and smell a chance of European football next season. What a good job Gary O’Neil has done here.
Pablo Sarabia’s 30th minute header secured a 1-0 win for Wolves over Sheffield United
It was only the Spaniard’s third goal of the season, but it turned out to be worth all three points
Sheffield United teammates Vinicius Souza (L) and Jack Robinson (R) collided during the match
Auston Trusty looks to quash the feud after Wolves conceded the only goal of the match
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With Matheus Cunha out injured, there was a greater burden on Pedro Neto to open the door for Wolves against the Blades five-man defense. The Portuguese, who is likely to receive big offers this summer, sent a cross inches away from Sarabia and shot wide again.
As early as the ninth minute, Blades goalkeeper Ivo Grbic was dawdling about restarts. “Boring, boring,” South Bank sneered as they waited for an early goal. The excellent Mario Lemina looked to dive onto Nelson Semedo’s deflected cross, but was denied by Anel Ahmedhodzic’s boot.
Still, the visitors posed a threat. When Wolves failed to deal with Robinson’s long throw, Rhian Brewster’s effort was blocked by Craig Dawson and Jose Sa stopped his follow-through. Then Jayden Bogle took a goal kick from Grbic to send Brewster on target, although Toti Gomes did well to keep his opponent off balance.
More slack defensive work from Wolves allowed James McAtee to make a clear run from another hopeful ball over the top, with the home side again saved by poor finishing.
Wolves showed Wilder’s men how to do it seconds later when Rayan Ait-Nouri came in from the left and crossed for Sarabia, who floated between the centre-backs and planted a header past Grbic.
Shortly afterwards, tempers boiled in the United ranks and Souza pushed Robinson in the face. A red card would have been extraordinary and although VAR ruled it out, the confrontation looked bad overall.
Before half-time it could have been even worse for Blades. Mario Lemina won the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, made another tackle and delivered a glorious 50-yard pass for Neto, who couldn’t make the most of it. And in the final minute, Auston Trusty produced an important block as Toti squeezed through.
United continued to squander half-chances after the break. McAtee sent an angled effort wide and Brewster’s slide attempt at the far post was too close to Sa. In between those moments, Wolves wanted a penalty when Vini Souza’s hand was dangerously close to the ball, but had to settle for a corner.
Sarabia almost scored his second from the best move of the match, a clever pass exchange with Joao Gomes that allowed the Spaniard to drive in and hit a clean left-footer that flew narrowly wide of the target.
Semedo’s heart was in his mouth when he was overtaken on the wing by Brewster and he promptly pulled him back and was relieved to see only a yellow card. The United players were furious and this certainly felt like anger to those who support the introduction of sin bins.
The people of the South Bank were now getting grumpy. They groaned at Wolves’ slow build-up and lack of rhythm, but while they led the way, the end justified the means.
They were irritated again when Sarabia squandered a clear goal-scoring opportunity in a commendable act of sportsmanship. With Souza in the Wolves half, apparently suffering from cramp, United keeper Grbic effectively stopped playing outside his own penalty area. Sarabia took possession and could have driven towards the goal, but came back and gave the ball back.
It wasn’t quite Paolo Di Canio for Sheffield Wednesday at Everton in 2000, but it was a noble gesture nonetheless and several opponents shook hands with Sarabia. There was still time for Trusty and substitute William Osula to come close to an equalizer when McAtee turned the ball across goal as Wolves barely hung on.