Blades Leave It Late Again

Last updated : 26 April 2003 By @blades_mad1889

Paul Peschisolido struck in injury-time to keep Sheffield United in control of the fight for third position in Division One after a 3-3 draw with Wolves.

Peschisolido had opened the scoring after just two minutes but the Blades looked destined for a fourth home defeat of the season following goals from George Ndah and Dean Sturridge (2).

But Peschisolido was allowed to break clear in time added on and beat Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray with a quality volley.

United's start could hardly have been any better, the hosts taking full advantage of some early uncertainty in the Wolves defence.

Joleon Lescott's clearance was charged down by Peschisolido on the touchline, and the United forward ran in-field to the corner of the box before lifting a perfect lob over keeper Murray.

The Blades were denied a second after 10 minutes when Murray dived at the feet of of Steve Kabba to claw away an excellent pass from the lively Peschisolido, but United's rapid start was halted as Wolves suddenly forced an equaliser with a speedy counter-attack.

Sturridge collected the ball on the halfway line and fed a perfect pass to Ndah who outpaced the United defence and buried a low shot through Paddy Kenny's legs.

Wolves were desperately unlucky not to find the net again shortly after when Sturridge rattled the bottom of Kenny's post with a shot from the edge of the box, and United defender Shaun Murphy was then forced to scramble Mark Kennedy's scuffed effort off the line with half an hour gone.

But the United backline was caught out for the second occasion in injury-time, allowing Sturridge to punish some dreadful marking.

The Wolves forward was left alone on the edge of the six-yard box, and he drove a hopeful cross from Alex Rae past Kenny's outstretched hand.

United's response after the break was almost immediate, Mark Rankine dragging a shot wide from an excellent position, but another piece of woeful defending from Lescott handed the Blades an equaliser in the 55th minute.

Kabba chased a long pass into the box but, with the ball heading out of play, Lescott needlessly clattered into the back of the striker.

Michael Brown took responsibility for the penalty and hammered the ball past Murray from 12 yards.

But five minutes later, the Bramall Lane crowd was silenced again by the second penalty of the game. Robert Page brought down Colin Cameron inside the area, and Sturridge sent Kenny the wrong way with a shot into the side of the net.

The game looked to be getting away from United, but in the second minute of injury-time Peschisolido beat Murray with a stunning 25-yard volley which salvaged an unlikely point for the Blades.

Man of the Match: Paul Peschisolido