Sheffield United were undone in the 90th minute against Wolves this afternoon after going toe-to-toe with the relegated side for most of the afternoon. The game may have lacked much goalmouth action at either end, at least until substitute Raul Jiminez struck with less than a minute of normal time left, but lacked little else between both boxes.
The Blades changed shape to a 3-5-2 against the recently-relegated Wolves with Mark McGuinness handed a reprieve and Tom Cannon and Romelle Donovan both on the bench.
Jordan Ayew made his Blades debut, and almost scored soon after when a good driving run ended with a shot just wide of the post, while Wolves should have had a penalty when Mark McGuinness handled but referee Rob Jones made a baffling call - not for the first time all afternoon, it should be said.
But their star quality told when three subs combined - Kieran Trippier’s cross finding former Blades loanee Tommy Doyle, who’s mishit shot landed in the path of Jiminez to tap home and send Wolves fans behind the goal absolutely barmy.
Here’s how we rated United’s players on the day...
1. Michael Cooper 5
Tough to rate him any higher, essentially, as he barely had anything meaningful to do as those in front of him protected him so well for the most part. The only shots he had to save were comfortable for a goalkeeper of his standard and he dealt well enough with balls into the box as well, apart from one when he looked to be fouled and Djiga headed over. Could do little about Jiminez's winner and was left looking to the heavens as the Wolves fans behind him went bananas | ugc
2. Hamza Choudhury 6
Deployed in a slightly different role with this change of shape, as a right-wing back, and got forward early on to meet a cross from Brereton Diaz but he skewed it well off target. Defensively he had a tough start, beaten early on by Bueno and then allowing a couple of runs off him down the sides, but to be fair he gave as good as he got against the lively Mane down the Wolves left and got forward to join in attacks as well. He looked dead on his feet by the time he was replaced by Doherty, although he found a second wind to win the ball back high and send Cannon in behind with one of his last involvements, before Mane nutmegged him and went down but ref Jones waved away the penalty appeals | ugc
3. Japhet Tanganga 6
Had an early sight of goal when Sa came to collect Peck's free-kick and spilled it, but by the time Tanganga's looping effort bounced back off the crossbar the whistle had already gone for a foul on the away 'keeper by Kitching. Got his head to another Peck delivery not long after but Sa claimed comfortably enough, and booked early in the second half for the most obvious deliberate foul you'll ever see as Wolves threatened to break away. Proper defending from that point denied both James and Jiminez after they came off the bench, but he couldn't get tight enough to Jiminez to prevent him tapping home the winner | ugc
4. Mark McGuinness 5
Recalled to the side at the heart of United's newly-formed back three and did everything you'd expect from him in a set-up that helps mask the weaknesses in his game, but also giving the Blades a big aerial presence at both ends of the pitch. But he and United did get away with one when he handled the ball in the area as Mane looked to find a yard to shoot - the ref having a think but eventually just settling for a corner | ugc