West Brom start new era with a draw
Sheffield United 1 - 1 West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion secured their first point since Carlos Corberán's departure on Christmas Eve, courtesy of Karlan Grant’s late first-half equaliser against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United initially took the lead through homegrown talent Andre Brooks, who netted a beautifully crafted first goal for the club. Despite the draw, the injury-hit Blades returned to the top of the Championship, at least temporarily, ahead of Leeds United’s late kick-off at Derby.
However, just as in their 2-2 stalemate at The Hawthorns three weeks earlier, Sheffield United’s hopes of victory were dashed by another deflected goal involving Tom Fellows.
For the managerless Baggies, the result capped off a mixed 2024. They end the year in eighth place, 13 points adrift of the top spot, having led the league back in mid-September. This was their 12th draw in 24 league games, following a four-match streak of two wins and two defeats. It also edged Albion back ahead of Preston and QPR as the Championship’s draw specialists.
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Albion were under the temporary stewardship of caretakers Damia Abella, Boaz Myhill, and Chris Brunt—the latter returning to Sheffield, where he began his senior career with Wednesday two decades ago.
Dealing with injuries to Mason Holgate and Alex Mowatt from their Boxing Day loss at Derby, the interim management made four changes, including handing Ousmane Diakite only his second league start. Coincidentally, his first also came in Sheffield, against Wednesday in September.
Unfortunately for Diakite, his heavy touch led directly to the Blades’ opener on 22 minutes. Brooks, showing quick feet and sharp instincts, dispossessed him, carried the ball across the edge of the box, and finished off a lovely move with a low left-footed shot after a clever backheel from Callum O’Hare.
Albion drew level in first-half stoppage time. Mikey Johnston’s speculative effort from outside the box ricocheted off Fellows and landed perfectly for Grant, who calmly drilled a low right-foot shot just inside the left post. It was Grant’s sixth league goal of the season, five of which have come away from home. He was later denied a second by Blades keeper Michael Cooper as Albion started the second half brightly.
Sheffield United nearly reclaimed the lead when O’Hare went down in the box under a challenge from Diakite, but referee Stuart Attwell waved play on.
The referee’s decisions remained a talking point late in the game. Blades playmaker Gus Hamer, already on a yellow card, was involved in a contentious challenge on Callum Styles. Despite Styles hitting the deck, Attwell opted for only a free-kick. In the end, it was Albion’s Styles who will serve a one-match ban, having earlier picked up his fifth booking of the campaign.
This Bluesky user was clearly impressed with the football on display!
This Sheffield United v West Brom game has been a fantastic watch for attacking football!
— Laura Lee (@lauramillz88.bsky.social) 29 December 2024 at 14:18
Sheffield United stumble again
When does a stutter turn into a stumble? After suffering their first home defeat of the season to Burnley on Boxing Day, Championship high-flyers Sheffield United dropped another two points at Bramall Lane against a managerless West Brom side.
Chris Wilder, experienced as he is, knows better than to overreact. However, with a New Year’s Day trip to promotion rivals Sunderland looming, this period is shaping up to be a testing one for his Blades, who seem to have lost some of their edge.
Speaking to the media after the match, the Sheffield United boss was keen to emphasise the positives. While it’s clear his team remains in a strong position, Wilder acknowledged there’s plenty of work still to be done.
