- Collins (19)
- Beattie (22)
- Date:2008-12-26
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Molineux Stadium
- Attendance:27106
- Referee:Bates, T
Live Commentary
90mins
The ref has blown his whistle for full time.
86mins
Sheff Utd are replacing Danny Webber with David Cotterill.
80mins
Matt Jarvis is being taken off, Sam Vokes has come on in his place.
62mins
The referee has booked Karl Henry.
59mins
Wolverhampton are replacing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake with Andy Keogh.
53mins
Stephen Ward is being taken off, Michael Mancienne has come on in his place.
47mins
Nathan Dyer goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
46mins
The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 1.
46mins
Ugo Ehiogu is replaced by Gary Naysmith.
45mins
Half time whistle is blown by T Bates
25mins
David Edwards goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
22mins
Goal!! James Beattie scores for Sheff Utd.
19mins
Goal!! Wolverhampton have scored with Neill Collins putting it in the back of the net.
0mins
It's 3pm on Friday, December 26th, the match has kicked off.
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Match Report
James Beattie kept Sheffield United firmly in the race for the play-offs as his 12th goal of the season denied leaders Wolves victory at Molineux.
Beattie's 22nd minute strike cancelled out Neill Collins' second goal in two games as Kevin Blackwell's side stretched their unbeaten away record to seven games.
But United will be wondering how they did not return to Bramall Lane with all three points.
They created a host of chances only to be denied by the Wolves' goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. He pulled off a string of impressive saves but was also at fault for Beattie's goal when he spilled a Kyle Naughton cross.
Wolves struggled to live up to their normal high standards in front of their own fans as they failed to win at Molineux for only the third time in 13 home games this season.
Despite drawing first blood through Collins in the 19th minute, Wolves can count themselves lucky to have got to half-time on level terms as United were dominant in terms of chances created.
But for the heroics of Hennessey, United would have been well in control.
He denied Danny Webber, Beattie and Brian Howard twice before Wolves took the lead against the run of play through Collins.
United paid the penalty for giving the Scotsman space to rise and head home a corner from Michael Kightly.
But Wolves joy was short-lived as United were back on level terms just three minutes later.
Hennessey initially denied Beattie but when the ball was played back into the area by Naughton the Wales international keeper made a crucial error when he spilled the cross and Beattie pounced from close range.
United were unfortunate not to go on and take a lead into the interval as Nathan Dyer and Ugo Ehiogu were both frustrated by Hennessey.
Wolves' 29-goal strikeforce of Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake found chances desperately hard to come by and their dismal day was summed up in the 48th minute when they both failed to score from inside the six-yard box - twice being denied by Ian Bennett.
United always looked the more likely side to score a decisive second goal only for Nick Montgomery to be frustrated by Hennessey and Beattie to then fire just wide eight minutes from time after outpacing Richard Stearman.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Team
Sheffield United Team
Wolverhampton Wanderers | Sheffield United |
Corners
| 4 | 4 |
Fouls
| 16 | 8 |
Goal attempts
| 12 | 18 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 8 |
Offsides
| 1 | 6 |