Raul Jimenez came off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner and earn Wolves a 1-0 win over Sheffield United.
Cesar Peixoto’s side had controversially been denied a penalty shortly after the restart, when Mark McGuinness handled in the box.
But a game of few clear-cut chances was settled when Jimenez swept in his third goal of the season from close range.
Raul Jimenez celebrates his late match-winner for Wolves
The Blades had both scored and conceded in 14 of their last 15 Championship games at Bramall Lane – so perhaps there was always an inevitability that pattern would not continue.
Chris Wilder’s side had just two touches in the opposition box in the first half and generated just 0.06 xG, while at the other end, Marshall Munetsi was Wolves’ biggest threat, though Michael Cooper was rarely tested.
With 50 minutes on the clock, Mateus Mane flicked the ball towards goal, with McGuinness’ outstretched hand diverting it behind. Referee Rob Jones awarded a corner, nothing more.
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Speaking on Sky Sports Football, co-commentator Gary Rowett said: “His arm comes out, it hits him on the end of the arm. I think Sheffield United have probably got away with one there.”
Sheffield United debutant Jordan Ayew almost had the perfect introduction when he drove in from the right and flashed a cross-come-shot inches past the far post. But Jimenez had the final say.
Andre located Kieran Trippier, and he moved the ball on for Tommy Doyle to find the Mexican striker, who swept home the decisive goal.
The key moments from Bramall Lane
- 19: CHANCE! Rodrigo Gomes flashes in a cross to Marshall Munetsi, whose powerful first-time shot is straight at Michael Cooper.
- 50: NO PENALTY! Mateus Mane flicks the ball towards goal – and it hits the outstretched hand of Mark McGuinness, but referee Rob Jones signals for a corner.
- 55: WIDE! Hugo Bueno seizes on a loose ball and shoots from the edge of the box, with the curl taking his effort narrowly past the right-hand post.
- 60: Ladislav Krejci pulls Sydie Peck to ground, but avoids a second booking.
- 67: CLOSE! Blades debutant Jordan Ayew flashes a shot across the face of goal and just past the post.
- 90: GOAL! Raul Jimenez sweeps in the winner from close range to send the away fans wild.
Wilder: Top-end Championship teams can punish you if you switch off
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder speaking to Sky Sports:
“It’s top-end Championship football when you’re playing teams like we have done today. They punish you if you just switch off for a moment.
“The players maybe didn’t get what they deserved from the game, but that’s how the Championship is at times, so we have to roll with that and handle it.
“Especially in the second half, we limited a very attacking team to virtually nothing. I don’t think Michael [Cooper] had a save to make.
“It’s just disappointing, with the positions we’ve got into, that we’ve not found that little bit of quality to get our noses in front.”
Peixoto: Subs were important for Wolves – Jimenez is key for us
Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto speaking to Sky Sports:
“It’s an important win for us. We knew it was going to be difficult to play in this stadium against this team. Today, the team was a team for 90 minutes. It was important the guys who came from the bench pushed in the last minutes to try to score. We scored and we won.
“I think we deserved it because we were the better team, but it was a difficult game for us.”
On Jimenez: “He’s 35 years old, so we have to manage him the best way. He’s a key player for us. This week, we have three games, so we had to manage the options. Raul, as a captain, helped the team from the bench, not only with the goal he scored, but he helped to defend the set-pieces.”
