Sheffield United 1 West Brom 1: Albion display true grit to claim deserved point

The managerless Baggies signed off for 2024 with a 12th Championship draw of the season - and first in five games since the pair did battle at The Hawthorns on December 8.

Back then Albion were still under Carlos Corberan, but the second clash without the Spaniard went considerably better from a performance perspective than the first at Derby.

Sheffield United youngster Andre Brooks opened the scoring midway through the first half from an Ousmane Diakite error on just the midfielder's second league start. But Diakite and the Baggies responded with admirably grit and character.

A point was the least Albion's interim team of Chris Brunt and co. deserved and Karlan Grant's equaliser on the stroke of half-time ultimately delivered it.

Both had spells after the break. Albion were direct, purposeful and full of intent. They worked relentlessly but showed an attacking flair too.

A difficult period for the Baggies was not helped by the absence of key midfielder Alex Mowatt, who was missing from the teamsheet.

Mowatt's status was described as a "knock" with Albion hopeful of nothing more serious in the busy spell. In came Diakite for just his second Championship start - three months after a struggle in his first across the city at Hillsborough.

The Baggies wobbled in the opening exchanges. Diakite, Kyle Bartley and Darnell Furlong guilty of loose passes the likes of which had marred the Boxing Day defeat at Derby.

Powerful and wily Blades frontman Kieffer Moore might have done better with an early chance from a right-sided cross before dangerous left-back Harrison Burrows sent a cross just too high.

Albion got to grips with things, though, with Brunt and Damia Abella prowling the technical area. The Baggies looked especially lively down the left side with Callum Styles and Grant back in the side, combining with Mikey Johnston.

Styles' mazy run drew a save from Michael Cooper from the off-balance full-back's weaker right foot.

The visitors had settled and a few niggling officiating decisions had taken early wind from hosts' sails - or seemingly so.

Midway through the half United led from the Baggies' own downfall. A nothing long ball from the hosts' backline was headed out by Torbjorn Heggem towards Diakite.

The Malian midfielder could not control the ball. It bounced off his boot like a trampoline to Brooks.

The youngster did the rest via a neat one-two with Callum O'Hare and a fine low finish for his first Blades goal.

For Diakite, given a chance after Uros Racic struggled the other night, it was a shame as the midfielder had started to grow into the clash.

Albion were a threat and responded well to the error. Grant was sharp and fed Josh Maja but his finish was tame.

United's Sydie Peck fired well from range but the Baggies found their stride again and should have equalised on half hour.

Grant's cross-shot was only parried by a stranded Cooper who should have been picking the ball out of his net but for Tom Fellows' side-footed volley flying over an unguarded net.

Moore headed over at the back post but Albion had done more than enough to worry their hosts. A lengthy period of stoppage time for niggling stoppages was just the job for Albion.

The returning Jayson Molumby added so much energy and directness to Albion's game. So often he drove them on and did so again here, exchanging passes with Furlong.

Johnston picked it up and saw a strike blocked inadvertently by Fellows in the box. But the ball fell nicely to Grant - and he did the rest from the edge of the D.

Not for the first time this season, the rejuvenated attacker struck a low effort laced with venom with pinpoint accuracy into the corner for a deserved equaliser for half-time.

Albion picked up where they left off as goalkeeper Cooper somehow clawed Molumby's deflected cross away with Grant about to convert.

It was one-way Baggies pressure for 15 or 20 minutes as Grant was this time denied from range. The visitors swarmed all over the Blades.

Wilder's men tried to find another gear at the midpoint of the second period but Peck once again shot off target from distance.

United did begin to up the ante on the workmanlike Baggies, who defended manfully. Albion cleared cross after cross and through themselves at a serious of high balls. A couple of handball claims rightly fell on dear ears, as did an alleged Diakite barge on O'Hare.

Both management teams went for it with their changes and a competitive, watchable game continue right until the closing moments. Substitute duo Jed Wallace and Grady Diangana were a threat on the break. Molumby ran the midfield.

Wallace had a top corner-bound free-kick clawed away by Cooper. But it was the hosts who had the better late chance.

Lively youngster Brooks was a menace and his low cross picked out sub Rhian Brewster at the back post but the forward could only sky a gaping opening.

Back pushed Albion with a series of dead balls at the death of a pulsating contest, but both had to make do with a point.

Albion (4-4-2): Palmer; Furlong, Bartley, Heggem, Styles; Fellows (Cole, 72), Diakite (Swift, 81), Molumby, Johnston (Diangana, 72); Grant (Wallace, 66), Maja (Dobbin, 80).

Subs not used: Wildsmith, Frabotta, McNair, Racic.

Sheffield United (4-2-3-1): Cooper; Gilchrist, Ahmedhodzic, Robinson (c), Burrows; Davies, Peck (Brewster, 73); Brooks (McCallum, 87), O'Hare, Hamer; Moore.

Subs not used: Davies, Baptiste, Norrington-Davies, Marsh, One, Blacker, Colechin.

Attendance: 29,123

Referee: Stuart Attwell