Wilder lauds ´best´ point of season after surviving ´massive´ West Brom test

Chris Wilder lauded Sheffield United’s “best” point of the season after overcoming a “massive test” for a draw at West Brom that sent them back to the Championship summit.

Tom Fellows’ equaliser for the hosts just after the hour sealed a share of the spoils at the Hawthorns, with the Baggies having now drawn 10 of their last 11 league games.

The 2-2 draw sent the Blades a point clear at the top of the Championship, moving past second-placed Leeds United after their 2-0 win over Derby County on Saturday.

Though United dropped points after being 2-1 up, Wilder lauded his side’s resilience in difficult conditions against last season’s play-off challengers.

“We were up against a really good team. We knew this was a massive test for us, and we showed great character to overturn a lead the way we did,” Wilder said.

“So I’m delighted with that. As far as I’m concerned, that’s our best, hardest-earned point of the season. It was so important we got something.

“We could easily have decided it wasn’t going to be our day. Let’s get back on the bus and get home and get in front of the fire. But they didn’t.

“It was tough out there. But this side is learning on the job. We had six 22-year-olds on the park at one stage playing against men, in men’s conditions.

“But they fought back and got a result.”

A point on the road. pic.twitter.com/0jibwwGxTr

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) December 8, 2024

West Brom took the lead in the 24th minute through Torbjorn Heggem, with the Norwegian heading home from Alex Mowatt’s inswinging corner.

However, two strikes in as many minutes from Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell put the visitors in front at the break, with full-back Harrison Burrows playing a huge role in both goals.

West Brom responded after the interval when Fellows’ attempted cross from the right corner of the area deflected wickedly into the ground off Gustavo Hamer, with the ball looping out of Michael Cooper’s reach.

In a topsy-turvy match, the Blades edged the match statistics, producing an expected goals (xG) total of 1.05 from their 12 shots to West Brom’s 0.73 from their 11 efforts.