Pablo Sarabia's first-half header proved the difference as Wolverhampton Wanderers earned a 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Molineux.
A second successive Premier League victory lifts Gary O'Neil's side up to eighth, and they have now won as many Premier League matches after 26 games this season (11) as they did in the entire 2022/23 campaign.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |
Newcastle
NEW
|
38 | +23 | 60 |
| 8 |
Man Utd
MUN
|
38 | -1 | 60 |
| 9 |
West Ham
WHU
|
38 | -14 | 52 |
| 10 |
Crystal Palace
CRY
|
38 | -1 | 49 |
| 11 |
Brighton
BHA
|
38 | -7 | 48 |
How the match unfolded
Wolves named an unchanged starting XI from the side that won 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur, with Hwang Hee-chan passed fit after going down with what appeared to be an ankle issue during the warm-up.
Sheff Utd made four changes, with goalkeeper Ivo Grbic back having missed the last three matches with concussion. Elsewhere, Auston Trusty came in for the suspended Mason Holgate while Oliver Norwood and Rhian Brewster were also included.
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Wolves started on the front foot, but the best chances fell to Sheff Utd on the counter-attack.
Brewster had a shot blocked before his second effort was well saved by Jose Sa, and the forward then fired over after latching on to a flick from Jayden Bogle.
Shortly after, James McAtee failed to make the most of a great opportunity, shooting tamely at Sa.
Sheff Utd were left to rue those misses as Wolves made the breakthrough on the half hour. Rayan Ait-Nouri cut back onto his right foot and his cross into the box was met by Sarabia, who glanced his header over Grbic and into the net for his third league goal of the season.
Sheff Utd have now conceded 66 goals after 26 matches played in the Premier League this season, the most any Premier League team has ever conceded at this stage and the most at this stage of a top-flight season since Ipswich Town in 1963/64, with 74 after 26 matches.
Wolves had chances to double their lead before the break, but Pedro Neto and then Sarabia blazed shots over the crossbar as it remained 1-0.
There was an incident between Sheff Utd team-mates Vini Souza and Jack Robinson, who clashed after a chance for Wolves.
After regrouping at the interval, Sheff Utd started the second half positively, with Wolves struggling to get going as Sa was again called into action to deny the lively Brewster.
But the visitors were leaving spaces at the back, and Sarabia came close to scoring his second goal, unleashing a powerful drive from just outside the area which flew narrowly wide.
Chris Wilder used all five of his substitutes as Sheff Utd pushed for a late equaliser, which could have come following a long throw into the box, but the ball narrowly evaded the Blades' attackers and eventually bounced out for a goal-kick, much to the home side's relief.
Wolves had one final chance to double their lead, with Joao Gomes testing Grbic with a strike from 25 yards out, but they held on for the win which takes them onto 38 points.
Sheff Utd, who lost for the 19th time in the league, remain bottom with 13 points.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
38 | -18 | 32 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
38 | -33 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
38 | -37 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
38 | -69 | 16 |
Club reports
Wolves report | Sheff Utd report
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Key facts
Sarabia's opener was Wolves' 40th goal in the Premier League this term - with today being their 26th league game of the season, this is the quickest they've hit 40 goals in a top-flight campaign since 1971/72 (23rd game).
The Blades have also conceded 27 goals in the first half of Premier League matches this season, the most of any team in the competition.
Wolves have now won as many Premier League matches (11) this season after 26 games played as they managed in the entirety of their last campaign. They’ve only reached 11 wins quicker in the Premier League in two previous seasons (2018/19 after 25 matches and 2021/22 after 23 matches). Their 40 goals scored is also nine more than they managed last term (31).
Ait-Nouri provided his first Premier League assist of the season for Wolves’ opening goal, with what was his first big chance created of the campaign and the 17th different chance he has created this term. Ait-Nouri had gone 55 league matches without providing an assist for Wolves before today.