Frustration is the word on most United fans lips tonight, after seeing their team quite simply batter the league leaders for 90 minutes only to somehow lose 3-1.
Kevin Blackwell made just one change for the visit of Wolves, Gary Naysmith coming in for Sun Jihai, Billy Sharp once again started alongside James Beattie, and Halford regained his place on the right.
United gave themselves an uphill battle from the start for the second home game in a row, when they allowed Chris Iwelumo to waltz through the defence before rounding Kenny and putting Wanderers 1-0 up.
Billy Sharp was put through by Greg Halford and could have equalised but his effort was straight at Ikeme, and Halford headed just over soon after this.
United again went close, Howard flicking the ball wide with the outside of his foot, and also hitting a free-kick straight at the goalkeeper. Matthew Spring replaced the injured Gary Speed who Sam Ellis revealed had suffered a back injury which could see him out for a few days. Meanwhile, Wolves were forced into an early change too, as George Friend replaced the injured David Edwards.
Greg Halford launched another throw into the area and Matt Kilgallon connected perfectly with possible the most nonchalant volley, which brought a sensational save out of Ikeme. Moments later, Sharp upended him which would eventually lead to him being substituted, and replaced by original number 1, Wayne Hennessey.
Controversy then, five minutes after half time. Howard swung a corner into the near post, appeared to cross the line, but the linesman, who was stood right online didn’t give the goal. Following this, Beattie was out through, due to a poor back pass but his effort was saved.
Despite United’s efforts, they just couldn’t break through. Wolves showed why they’re top of the league, as they broke up the other end after a farsical United corner, and Henry dragged Chris Morgan out of position before beating him and squaring for Iwelumo to finish.
Then, with their next attack, Kightly again turned provider, and found Ebanks-Blake who twisted and turned until he set himself, to beat Kenny with a thunderous drive at the near post.
Halford then tried his luck from distance, but his effort was just wide, but it his trademark throwing that did lead to something. After his thunderbolt wasn’t cleared, Matthew Spring volleyed home with his left foot to get the Blades back in the game.
Both teams hit the bar before the end, ex Blades loanee Neill Collins for Wolves, and substitute Henderson for the Blades, but Mr Laws called time on the game, resulting in a second successive home defeat and a seventh straight win for Wolves.
Sam Ellis
‘We are disappointed at the way we lost the game and feel a bit hard done by, but if you give chances to top teams like Wolves they will punish you with goals.
‘They are a good side and better than anyone at the moment – they made us pay for our mistakes.’
‘We felt that we set off well, pressurised them and if we had kept the discipline and composure we would have caused them problems.
‘But hesitancy cost us a goal when a defender should have dealt with the ball, not the goalkeeper. It meant that we were up against for the next 85 minutes after such a good start.’
Speaking of Howard’s ‘was it/wasn’t it?’ goal from the corner:
‘It was a goal, we have seen it on the video and it was over the line. It was at a critical time and might have been a turning point, but that’s football and there is no use in crying about it – we have to get on with the next game.
‘We felt that we were Wolves equals in almost every department but there was more hesitancy for the other two goals and maybe we were unlucky on some more decisions.
‘When that sort of thing turns our way I think we will be up there with them. Wolves deserve to be leading the division, they are good and they make things go their way.’
Mick McCarthy
‘It was nice to get the seventh win but it was maybe a bit unexpected here.’
‘We knew it was going to be a tough game and that was the case.
‘It was fast and furious, and a real aerial battle, and while they had chances I thought we defended against it really well.
‘It was like the Somme out there with three of them carted off but then at the other end we’ve had some real quality finishes.
‘It takes a lot of different qualities to win a game and while the quality of Chris and Sylvan at one end has proved the key the platform was laid by some really stoic and resolute defending at the other.’