Sheffield United played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw against managerless West Brom.
First-half goals from Andre Brooks and Karlan Grant meant that the points were shared at Bramall Lane.
United began to press the visitors from the off, forcing West Brom into numerous early misplaced passes.
This intensity led to the opening chance, as Brooks did well in winning the ball back and found Kieffer Moore alone in the box.
But the Welshman’s volley went harmlessly towards the corner flag.
Brooks was again involved shortly after when his curled effort narrowly flew over the bar.
West Brom’s first chance came through Callum Styles, whose strike lacked any conviction after a mazy run.
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Callum O’Hare’s classy backheel assist set up Andre Brooks for his first Sheffield United goal against West Brom.
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Karlan Grant’s fine finish for West Brom made it 1-1 against Sheffield United.
The Blades opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Callum O’Hare deftly backheeled a pass into the path of Brooks who took the ball in his stride and finished well under keeper Alex Palmer.
Josh Maja had a chance to bring the game level minutes later but lost his balance at the crucial moment.
Just after half an hour, Tom Fellows had an even better chance for the visitors.
The forward was left with an open goal after a Michael Cooper parried save, but his volley sailed over from close range.
West Brom continued to push forward, and the Baggies made it 1-1 in time added on at the end of the half.
United failed to clear their lines, and Grant fired a low effort past Cooper from the edge of the box.
Cooper’s outstretched hand prevented the visitors from taking the lead after the restart.
The Blades goalkeeper bravely got in between Grant and an open goal.
Again, Cooper came to the rescue as he palmed away Grant’s effort from the centre of the box.
United’s first meaningful attack of the second half came after the hour-mark with a strong run from Harrison Burrows, but his cutback failed to find a team-mate.
Strong appeals for a penalty were waved away after United’s Alfie Gilchrist was taken down in the area.
Tom Davies struck from outside the box, but his effort whistled past a post as the Blades grew into the half.
Further calls for a penalty were ignored when O’Hare was forced to the ground following a fast United break.
Davies saw his overhead kick attempt go wide after a long Jack Robinson throw with 20 minutes left to play.
Substitute Jed Wallace had a free-kick in a dangerous position for the Baggies, but Cooper watched it all the way.
Brooks was involved again for the hosts as his ball across the box was smashed over by Rhian Brewster from close range with five minutes left to play.
As the game entered stoppage time, both sides pressed but could not find a winner.
The managers
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder:
“We have to win but today what I learnt about my team was so pleasing.
“Everyone is so short-term; if we win, then we are going up, and if we lose, then we aren’t.
“It’s a young group that has been put together in about three and a half weeks, but we find ourselves on 51 points.
“The performance today was bigger than the result.”
West Brom’s caretaker manager Chris Brunt:
On another day, we could be coming away with all three points, similar to the home game [2-2 draw on December 8]. We were doing well but conceded at a bad time, but our response was great.
“It’s a positive performance. The Derby game was a bit of a hangover after Carlos (Corberan) leaving, and having played Sheffield United so recently the lads knew they could come here and more than match them.
“It’s been well documented that we have drawn too many games; it was disappointing that we got nothing against Derby, and it was important that we got something out of today.”
