JOHN EGAN’S last-gasp header left Chris Wilder charging down the touchline and leave Sheffield United’s Champions League hopes still flickering.
With just seconds to go at a drenched Bramall Lane, a point would have done little for United or Wolves.
John Egan scored an injury-time winner to keep Sheffield United’s Champions League dream aliveCredit: The Mega Agency
But in the 93rd minute, Egan – who rescued a point last time out at Burnley – latched onto Oli Norwood’s corner to keep the dream alive.
Whatever happens now, this season was always going to go down in Blades folklore after taking the Prem by storm at the first attempt.
But this was huge, surely their biggest win of the season given how late it came.
They now sit just four points off Manchester United in fifth 0 with Wolves on 52 points between them.
The South Yorkshiremen have never played in Europe – but after this smash and grab, it is well and truly on the cards – whichever competition that may be.
A point would have made life difficult with Burnley and Tottenham breathing down their necks and just four games to go.
So no wonder this meant so much to Wilder – who, with sheer delight etched on his face, was unsurprisingly caught up in the moment as Egan’s header sailed into the corner.
Two losses on the bounce now threaten to derail Wolves’ own Champions League hopes having burst out of traps post-lockdown with three wins.
While a battling point would have been far from ideal, this late sickener leaves them looking anxiously over their shoulders.
Ruben Neves went closest, rattling a free-kick against the bar in the first-half.
But other than that, Blades keeper Dean Henderson had one of his quietest games of the season.
And with the momentum now right behind the Blades, they will fancy their chances of leapfrogging Nuno Santo’s side.
Neves was inches away with his free-kickCredit: AFP
In the other net, Rui Patricio hardly had anything to do either in a drab affair at Bramall Lane.
But there was little he could do at the death other than pick the ball out of the net after centre-back Egan rose above the rest to nod home.
After a stuttering restart, the Blades had finally found their groove after putting Spurs to the sword and picking up a decent point at Burnley.
For Wolves, it was about getting back on the horse after defeat to Arsenal.
And Nuno Santo’s took no time to get back at it, causing the hosts nervy moments early on.
Adama Traore was unsurprisingly at the heart of things, striking fear into Wilder’s side whenever able to stretch his legs on the right wing.
But for the first 30 minutes it was dreary stuff, Oli McBurnie’s front post header straight at Rui Patricio the only ‘highlight’.
The game desperately needed a spark, and if it’s not Traore for Wolves it tends to be Ruben Neves.
As deadly as they come having a pop from range, the Portuguese midfielder was inches away from the opener.
The rapid counter to win the free-kick was impressive, and once Neves let fly from 25-yards it looked destined for the top left corner.
Wilder was buzzing at full-time after the late, late winnerCredit: The Mega Agency
Up and over the wall with plenty of and curl, Dean Henderson had no chance despite the despairing dive.
But to Neves’ dismay he could not quite get it down in time, seeing it clatter off the crossbar.
Wilder cut a frustrated figure in the dugout, waving his hands around in disgust at giving the ball away too many times for his liking.
They found a couple of decent positions down the flanks through their now trademark overlapping defenders, but the final ball was not on point.
For Wolves, a slow first-half is nothing new – they would be bottom of the league if matches finished at half-time.
But it was Wilder who blinked first, bringing on Lys Mousset for McBurnie after 48 minutes.
And five minutes later the Blades thought they had broken the deadlock through Billy Sharp.
The veteran striker expertly put it in the net after being set clear by Enda Stevens, but the offside flag was up straight away with Sharp half a yard offside.
And it was the same duo combining minutes later to almost devastating effect.
Deep on the left flank, Stevens swung a wicked ball in behind the Wolves defence but flinging himself at it full-stretch, Sharp was millimetres away from poking home.
The heavens opened over Bramall Lane after an hour, with a slip or a slide all of a sudden the likeliest route to a goal with such little cutting-edge on show.
And as the game wore on it was Wolves, on the counter, who looked the most likely to score.
But having soaked up the pressure, United wing-back George Baldock squandered a golden chance after 77 minutes.
Sub Richario Zivkovic’s in-swinging cross caught Jonny on his heels at the back post and Baldock nipped in ahead to meet it.
The goal was gaping six-yards out but with the rain lashing down Baldock could not make solid contact and it bounced harmlessly wide.
But no harm was done as with just seconds to go of the three minutes of injury time, Egan sparked wild celebrations after nodding home his second of the season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
