Championship: Sheffield United 1 – 1 West Bromwich Albion Final Score

In a gripping encounter at Bramall Lane, West Bromwich Albion finally halted their slide down the Championship table, salvaging a point under interim management with a dramatic late equalizer from Karlan Grant on the stroke of halftime.

The Blades surged ahead through an exquisite strike from their own home-grown talent, Andre Brooks, who notched his first professional goal in style. Despite the setback, this draw was sufficient to restore Sheffield United to the summit of the Championship, nudging them ahead of Leeds United as the late kick-off beckoned.

The unfortunate Blades were left lamenting yet another slice of fortune that saw them concede in a similar fashion to their recent encounter with the Baggies, where a lucky deflection had marred their hopes.

Thus, the Baggies conclude 2024 in eighth position, staring up at the championship leaders from 13 points away, after a rollercoaster start to the season when they were perched at the top of the league in September. With this being their 12th draw in just 24 outings, they reclaim their status as the draw specialists of the second tier, offering a remarkable testament to their inconsistent form this term.

Now, under the makeshift leadership of Damia Abella, Boaz Myhill, and the ever-enthusiastic Chris Brunt—who returns to the city where his professional journey at Sheffield Wednesday began two decades ago—the resurgent Baggies displayed tenacity and resilience in the face of adversity.

In the wake of injuries to key players Mason Holgate and Alex Mowatt, the caretaker management team of West Bromwich Albion opted for four significant changes in lineup, showcasing their tactical flexibility. Among the adjustments was a rare start for Ousmane Diakite, whose only other league start came earlier this season in Sheffield. However, alas, it was Diakite’s misstep that directly led to the opening goal of the match when he was dispossessed by the agile Brooks.

After brilliantly weaving his way past Diakite, Brooks received a deft back-heel from Callum O’Hare, dashing into the box to unleash a low strike that left the Albion defenders stunned.

Yet, just when it looked as if the Baggies were staring down the barrel of defeat, they equalized in an explosive first-half injury-time surge. A speculative shot from Mikey Johnston, which seemed harmless enough, fortuitously rebounded off Tom Fellows and fell perfectly for Grant, who seized the moment with a finely executed shot that nestled just beyond the outstretched hand of the keeper—his sixth league goal of the campaign, and yet another indication of his growing importance in this West Brom side.

As the second half unfolded, Albion continued to press, yet it was Grant who almost added to his tally, thwarted by a fine save from Blades’ keeper Michael Cooper. A near miss for the Baggies certainly, but Sheffield United’s tenacity nearly paid off when O’Hare was brought down in the box, only for referee Stuart Attwell to overlook what many believed was a clear penalty.

The referee’s influence proved pivotal as Gus Hamer teetered on the edge of dismissal after a reckless challenge on Callum Styles; unfortunately, Styles was the only player with consequences, having received his fifth booking of the season and a subsequent one-match ban.

As the clock turns to New Year’s Day, both teams eye a fresh start.

West Bromwich Albion will kick off 2025 with a home clash against Preston, a match set for the early afternoon at 15:00 GMT—a chance to capitalize on their newfound momentum.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United faces a tougher task, as they travel to Sunderland for a late evening encounter at 20:00 GMT, a test of their resilience against a team poised to capitalize on their current form.

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Sheffield:

“We are so stretched it’s unbelievable, and I’m so proud of my team. I thought we were light at the start of the season.

“But I’ve learned so much about their attitude, especially late on. A few of them have not been well this week, but they left everything out there.

“We were actually really disappointed to go in 1-1 at half time. But we were pushing and pushing to get a winner. We were bold, we were brave.

“Andre Brooks was outstanding. He needed to do more Monday to Friday in training—but I was delighted for him to get that goal.”

West Bromwich Albion joint caretaker boss Chris Brunt told BBC Radio WM:

“We were a little bit flat first half on Boxing Day but we carried on from the second-half performance for the whole 90 minutes.

“On another day we could have come away with all three points—and I don’t think anybody could have questioned that.

“The way Karlan Grant has come back this season has been a breath of fresh air. He’s been written off by so many but he’s been outstanding so far this season.

“It’s all about keeping the players in the right mindset at the current time. All we can do for now is take each game as it comes.”