Sheffield United 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Monday, 14th September 2020 – 18:00
Premier League
Venue: Bramall Lane
Attendance: Behind Closed Doors
Referee: Mike Dean
| SHEFFIELD UNITED | 0 (0) |
| WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS | 2 (2) |
| Raul Jimenez 3, Romain Saiss 6 |
| SHEFFIELD UNITED | -V- | WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS | ||
| Aaron Ramsdale | 1 | Rui Patricio | ||
| George Baldock | 2 | Romain Saiss | ||
| Enda Stevens | 3 | Conor Coady | ||
| John Fleck | 4 | Willy Boly | ||
| Jack O’Connell | 5 | Marçal | B | |
| Chris Basham | B | 6 | Leander Dendonker | |
| John Lundstram | 7 | Joao Moutinho | ||
| Oli McBurnie | B | 8 | Adama Traore | |
| Billy Sharp | 9 | Daniel Pondence | ||
| John Egan | B | 10 | Raul Jimenez | |
| Oliver Norwood | 11 | Pedro Neto | ||
| Substitutes | |
| 68’ | Oskar Buur for Neto |
| 71’ | David McGoldrick for Basham |
| 76’ | Sander Berge for Norwood |
| 76’ | Ruben Neves for Pondence |
| 86’ | Vitinha for Moutinho |
| Unused | ||||
| Chris Burke | – | John Ruddy | ||
| Phil Jagielka | – | Fabio Silva | ||
| Wes Foderingham | – | Diago Jota | ||
| Ethan Ampadu | – | Ruben Vinagre | ||
| Ben Osborn | – | |||
| Managers | ||||
| Chris Wilder | – | Nuno Espírito Santo | ||
Notes
- Aaron Ramsdale made his debut for Sheffield United
- Marcal and Vitinha made their debuts for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Match Report
Early Setback Seals Opening Day Defeat for Blades
Sheffield United’s return to Premier League action began frustratingly as two early goals from Wolverhampton Wanderers condemned Chris Wilder’s side to a 2–0 defeat at Bramall Lane.
The Blades were punished inside the first six minutes, with Raul Jimenez rifling into the roof of the net after Daniel Podence burst clear down the right and delivered a low cross. Just three minutes later, Wolves doubled their advantage as Romain Saiss rose highest to head home from Pedro Neto’s corner following a Ramsdale save.
Wilder handed goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale a second debut for the club. At the same time, new signings Oliver Burke, Ethan Ampadu, and Wes Foderingham were named among the substitutes, joined by the returning Sander Berge and David McGoldrick.
Despite the nightmare start, United gradually grew into the contest. McBurnie forced a save from Rui Patricio late in the first half, and after the interval, the home side dominated possession, creating several promising chances. Fleck struck the post after being set up by Lundstram, and Baldock’s rebound was deflected wide by Coady.
United’s best spell came in the second half, full of pressure but little reward. Egan’s foray forward nearly paid off, Sharp missed narrowly, and McBurnie was denied late on by a goal-line clearance from Saiss, summing up the Blades’ misfortune in front of goal.
At the other end, Ramsdale was sharp to deny Saiss a second goal, while Jimenez and Traore kept the home defence on their toes.
Despite their relentless push and a flurry of late corners, United couldn’t break Wolves down. The visitors’ early strikes proved decisive in a fiercely contested and open encounter.
UP THE BLADES 
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