English Premier League

Sheffield United 2-1 Wolves

Sheffield United 2-1 Wolves. Oliver Norwood fired home a stoppage-time penalty to sink Wolves and give Sheffield United their first Premier League win of the season.

Fabio Silva fouled George Baldock in the box and after a video assistant referee (VAR) check, Norwood converted from the spot in the 10th added minute.

The Blades earlier went ahead after Cameron Archer’s superb solo goal.

Archer was clean through on goal and left Wolves defenders in his wake before his shot went in off the crossbar, leaving goalkeeper Jose Sa helpless.

Jean-Ricner Bellegarde scored an 89th-minute equaliser, curling into the top corner, before Norwood restored United’s lead.

The home side put an end to a six-match losing run but remain bottom of the table on goal difference, having taken just one point from 10 games before this long-awaited victory.

United had been the better side in the second half and were rewarded in the dying seconds.

Wolves could have gone ahead in the first half but Matheus Cunha’s effort was tipped over the bar by Wes Foderingham.

Hwang Hee-chan then set himself smartly in the box after Sasa Kalajdzic’s pass but fluffed his shot.

The resulting ball came at Rayan Ait-Nouri too quickly for him to be able to sort his feet out and convert, on a day when Wolves’ five-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end.

Sheffield United were enduring the worst ever start to a Premier League season until Norwood secured a vital home win.

The bleak run of results appeared set to continue when they had no shots on target in the first half and looked toothless in attack.

Paul Heckingbottom’s side have nine players out injured, including striker Oli McBurnie.

Rhian Brewster started his second consecutive league match up front but was once again unable to make an impact before coming off with a complaint just before the break.

However, the home side looked much better in the second half, with Archer, James McAtee and Gustavo Hamer all firing shots over the bar.

When the ball broke to Archer in the 72nd minute, his accomplished finish set United on course for victory. That was their first shot on target in 200 minutes of league football, since a Brewster effort in the 52nd minute against Manchester United.

Bellegarde’s late equaliser threatened to deny the home side a win, but then came the late spot-kick.

Captain Norwood stepped up and scored what goes down as the third latest winner in a Premier League game, timed at 99 minutes and 16 seconds.

The hosts’ refusal to accept a draw highlighted the resilience shown by the side who are already fighting against relegation.

They travel to Brighton next weekend with renewed confidence after a much-needed positive result.

Pedro Neto was carried off with a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle last weekend and Wolves missed his direct running and ability to create key chances.

Fabio Silva came on as a substitute in the 81st minute and had a big impact on proceedings.

He was booked after a minute and then left inconsolable after the final whistle having given away the penalty.

Hwang provided a few moments of inspiration, including the assist for Bellegarde’s equaliser in the only real moment of quality for the away side.

Source – BBC

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