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Blades snapping at Wolves heels
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS, as befits a club which counts the National Spiritualist Church among its neighbours, are destined to spend the New Year peering into another world.
But Sheffield United's performance against the Championship's runaway leaders served as a timely reminder that Kevin Blackwell's team also possess the qualities required to contemplate a Premier League future.
Despite slipping to eighth in the table, 19 points behind their opponents yesterday, the fact that United returned home in the knowledge that only Wayne Hennessey's heroics between the posts for Wolves prevented them from departing Molineux with even greater reward for their efforts spoke volumes.
The young goalkeeper, who helped Mick McCarthy's side claim a 3-1 win at Bramall Lane a little over a month ago, was at fault for James Beattie's equaliser - spilling the ball at the former England international's feet after Kyle Naughton's cross had wreaked havoc - but atoned for his error by making at least five crucial saves to deny the visitors what would have been a thoroughly deserved victory.
Blackwell, whose players entertain struggling Charlton Athletic tomorrow, are, on this evidence, over the laborious displays which have seen their promotion credentials called into question of late.
"Is the glass half empty of half full?" Blackwell said afterwards. "Well, for me, it's definitely the latter.
"I thought we were carving them apart during certain spells and it speaks volumes that we've dominated them throughout the two games we've played and only come away with a point.
"That's frustrating but it shows that we're doing plenty of things right and we've left ourselves in a really good position.
"The lads have shown themselves that they can graft results out but also that they can produce some really good stuff too.
"We've got to keep believing that we can make automatic and try to put some pressure on the top two.
"It's frustrating though because, once again, we've come up against a 'keeper who has been absolutely inspired and how many times has that happened?"
Too many for Blackwell's liking and although some sharper finishing, particularly after the interval, would have rendered Hennessey's acrobatics academic, United's achievement was even more impressive given that it came against a backdrop of trouble and strife.
Paddy Kenny, the young Welshman's opposite number, was dropped for disciplinary reasons after reporting late for the Christmas Day training session while Ugo Ehiogu, United's vastly experienced centre-half, suffered a suspected ruptured achilles on the stroke of half-time.
"I'm very happy with a point," admitted McCarthy. "It certainly wasn't two points dropped because they (United) were the better team so well done to them.
"But well done to my boys also because they didn't lose.
"If you'd have said to me at the start of the season that we'd take four off Sheffield United then I'd have been absolutely delighted."
If United, durable and determined on their travels, can cultivate a similarly stubborn streak at home then only the most foolhardy of punters would bet against them regaining their top six status over the coming weeks.
Predictably it was Beattie, claiming his 12th of the campaign four minutes after Neill Collins had fired Wolves in front, who delivered the draw but United's midfield was the driving force.
Nick Montgomery, providing an effective shield in front of the back four, granted Brian Howard freedom to roam forward while Nathan Dyer and Danny Webber, aided and abetted by Stephen Quinn, were incisive down the flanks.
United served notice of their intent as early as the fifth minute when Webber was foiled by Hennessey after darting past his markers and although David Edwards shot wide after intricately weaving his way towards Kenny's replacement Ian Bennett, Howard forced another smart save when he was released by Quinn.
If Blackwell was disappointed with the manner in which United conceded - Collins converting Michael Kightly's 19th minute corner - he will have been delighted with the response as Beattie, seconds after seeing his snap shot clawed away to safety, pounced from close range.
"Wayne made a mistake but I don't mind people making them so long as they work hard," McCarthy insisted. "And he did that."
Ehiogu's last contribution was to force another excellent stop from Hennessey when Wolves failed to deal with a Quinn set-piece before Webber and Beattie again went close; the latter heading wide from a free-kick and prodding past the foot of the post after beating an off-side trap which had already seen two United 'goals' wiped from the scoresheet.
Blackwell warned against complacency when Charlton arrive in South Yorkshire - "There are no gimmes. When you're a big club, which we are, then people always raise their game" - but the Londoners now head north more in hope than anticipation.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
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Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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