For 83 years the fixture between United and Wolves was a regular top flight billing between 1893 and 1976. Wolves were one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and finished their first season third in the table and with a runners-up medal in the FA Cup.
There were some seasons of lapses though, with Wolves and United falling into the Second Division during the 1930’s (but never at the same time) and despite their long history the Midlands club didn’t win their first League Championship until 1954 – but by then already won leagues in Divisions Two (1932) and Three (1924) and added to their Fourth Division title in 1988 must make them one (if not the only?) side to have won the league in ALL four Divisions.
United won our first four meetings together, with our first on 30 September 1893 ending in a dramatic 4-3 win at Molineux and later in the season won 3-2 at the Lane. The following season United won 3-0 and 1-0 without replies before on 19 October 1895 a 4-1 result at Molineux finally gave the Wanderers their first victory over the Blades.
In our last meeting together before the turn of the century (14 October 1899) the Cutlers beat the Wolves by five goals to two; ‘At Bramall Lane on Saturday, Sheffield United continued their victorious career by inflicting a terrible defeat on the “Wolves.” Within the first three minutes Beers scored twice for United who led at the interval by three goals to one. In the second instalment the United continued to have the upper hand, and they finally won by five goals to two,’ reported the Belfast News-Letter.
On 17 October 1903 the Blades recorded their biggest victory to date over Wolves in a 7-2 victory at Bramall Lane. A brief report in The Times newspaper read; ‘Sheffield United again showed on Saturday that up to the present they certainly are the team of the season. They beat the Wolverhampton Wanderers very easily, and now hold an unbeaten record of seven wins. Perhaps the most interesting of the other matches was that between last year’s winner’s Sheffield Wednesday, who now stand second to Sheffield United, and Sunderland.’ That victory over Wolves was their highest of the season and despite starting the season off well in good spirits they couldn’t continue such form – they lost 1-0 at Molineux later in the campaign and after failing to win in our last four games of the season lost top spot to rivals Wednesday whilst the Blades finished 7th and Wolves 8th.
Wolves inflicted their biggest victory over Sheffield United on 20 February 1954, winning at Molineux by six goals to one.
Meetings between the two clubs were none more important than during our last spell together as a top flight club; in the 1975/76 season United were humiliated in defeat in both games against the Wanderers as United finished bottom of the league. Wolves recorded double victories over the Blades winning 5-1 at Molineux and 4-1 at the Lane, but despite showing much plucky courage they too (along with Burnley) were relegated.
Our last professional meetings came during the 2008-09 season when Wolves returned to the Premier League as Champions but first laid punishment on the Blades with a 3-1 victory at the Lane on 25 November; the visitors took a three goal lead via a brace from Chris Iwelumo and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake; substitute Matthew Spring fired home a stank consolation. That match coincided with being Gary Speed’s last action as a player before he retired through injury. On Boxing Day of the same year the Blades were more prepared than ever, but had to come from behind to draw the match 1-1 when currant Blades defender Neill Collins (19 minutes) headed home – however the lead was short lived as a lively James Beattie (22) turned in the box and fired home.
Wolves eventually won promotion as Champions with Birmingham City following as runners-up. United could have joined them but after impressing against Preston in the Play-Off Semi-Finals were once again beaten in the final, this time by Burnley.
|
At Sheff. Utd. (49) |
At Wolves (48) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
24 |
48.98 |
Wolves |
21 |
43.75 |
|
|
Wolves |
9 |
18.37 |
Sheff. Utd. |
10 |
20.83 |
|
|
Draws |
16 |
32.65 |
Draws |
17 |
35.42 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
98 |
2.00 |
Wolves |
90 |
1.88 |
|
|
Wolves |
71 |
1.45 |
Sheff. Utd. |
57 |
1.19 |
|
|
On Neutral Ground (0) |
Overall (97 matches) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
34 |
35.05 |
|
|
Wolves |
0 |
0.00 |
Wolves |
30 |
30.93 |
|
|
Draws |
0 |
0.00 |
Draws |
33 |
34.02 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
155 |
1.60 |
|
|
Wolves |
0 |
0.00 |
Wolves |
161 |
1.66 |
|
|
Records |
|||||
|
Highest Aggregate |
9 |
Sheff. Utd. |
7 - 2 |
Wolves |
1903/1904 |
|
Highest Sheff. Utd. score: |
7 |
Sheff. Utd. |
7 - 2 |
Wolves |
1903/1904 |
|
Highest Wolves score: |
6 |
Wolves |
6 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1953/1954 |
|
Season |
Date |
Home |
Score |
Away |
|
|
2008/2009 |
Fri 26 Dec |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Championship |
|
Tue 25 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 3 |
Wolves |
Championship |
|
|
2007/2008 |
Tue 01 Jan |
Wolves |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Championship |
|
Sat 15 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Wolves |
Championship |
|
|
2005/2006 |
Tue 22 Nov |
Wolves |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Championship |
|
Sat 15 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
Championship |
|
|
2004/2005 |
Sun 08 May |
Wolves |
4 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Championship |
|
Sat 27 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 3 |
Wolves |
||
|
2002/2003 |
Mon 26 May |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 3 |
Wolves |
Football League Play-Offs (Lvl 2) |
|
Sat 26 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 3 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
|
Sat 05 Oct |
Wolves |
1 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
2001/2002 |
Sat 29 Dec |
Wolves |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Mon 27 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
|
2000/2001 |
Tue 20 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
Tue 12 Sep |
Wolves |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1999/2000 |
Tue 26 Oct |
Wolves |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Sat 25 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
|
1998/1999 |
Mon 05 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
Tue 10 Nov |
Wolves |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1997/1998 |
Sat 17 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
Sat 16 Aug |
Wolves |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1996/1997 |
Fri 24 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 3 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
Sat 21 Sep |
Wolves |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1995/1996 |
Sat 06 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
Sat 28 Oct |
Wolves |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1994/1995 |
Sat 22 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 3 |
Wolves |
League Division One |
|
Mon 02 Jan |
Wolves |
2 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1989/1990 |
Sat 17 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Wolves |
Second Division |
|
Sat 07 Oct |
Wolves |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1988/1989 |
Tue 09 May |
Wolves |
2 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 08 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Wolves |
Third Division |
|
|
1984/1985 |
Sat 26 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Wolves |
Second Division |
|
Sat 25 Aug |
Wolves |
2 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1976/1977 |
Wed 09 Feb |
Wolves |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Tue 24 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Wolves |
Second Division |
|
|
1975/1976 |
Sat 13 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 4 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 11 Oct |
Wolves |
5 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1974/1975 |
Sat 08 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Tue 24 Sep |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1973/1974 |
Tue 05 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Tue 28 Aug |
Wolves |
2 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1972/1973 |
Sat 31 Mar |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 25 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1971/1972 |
Fri 28 Apr |
Wolves |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 11 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1967/1968 |
Sat 23 Mar |
Wolves |
1 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 28 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1964/1965 |
Sat 10 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 28 Nov |
Wolves |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1963/1964 |
Tue 31 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 3 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Mon 30 Mar |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1962/1963 |
Sat 19 Jan |
Wolves |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 08 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1961/1962 |
Sat 16 Dec |
Wolves |
0 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 19 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1955/1956 |
Wed 02 May |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 3 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 15 Oct |
Wolves |
3 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1954/1955 |
Sat 23 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 20 Nov |
Wolves |
4 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1953/1954 |
Sat 20 Feb |
Wolves |
6 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 03 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 3 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1948/1949 |
Tue 19 Apr |
Wolves |
6 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Mon 18 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1947/1948 |
Sat 13 Mar |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 25 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1946/1947 |
Sat 22 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 16 Nov |
Wolves |
3 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1933/1934 |
Sat 24 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 14 Oct |
Wolves |
3 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1932/1933 |
Sat 11 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 01 Oct |
Wolves |
5 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1905/1906 |
Mon 19 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 23 Dec |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1904/1905 |
Sat 05 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Mon 05 Sep |
Wolves |
4 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1903/1904 |
Sat 13 Feb |
Wolves |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 17 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
7 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1902/1903 |
Sat 21 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 22 Nov |
Wolves |
1 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1901/1902 |
Sat 29 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 30 Nov |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1900/1901 |
Mon 25 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 17 Nov |
Wolves |
3 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1899/1900 |
Tue 17 Apr |
Wolves |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 14 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
5 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1898/1899 |
Sat 24 Dec |
Wolves |
4 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Mon 12 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1897/1898 |
Sat 22 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 02 Oct |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1896/1897 |
Sat 06 Mar |
Wolves |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 23 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 3 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
|
1895/1896 |
Sat 08 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 19 Oct |
Wolves |
4 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1894/1895 |
Sat 19 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Mon 03 Sep |
Wolves |
0 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1893/1894 |
Sat 13 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 2 |
Wolves |
First Division |
|
Sat 30 Sep |
Wolves |
3 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |