Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves: Player Ratings as Early Onslaught Downs Blades

14 September 2020 10:07

Wolves showed no signs of rustiness as they sprung out of the traps to notch their first Premier League win of the season against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Monday evening.

The visitors raced into an early lead, with Raul Jimenez's superb finish and Romain Saiss' looping header giving Chris Wilder's side a mountain to climb with just six minutes on the clock.

The home side regrouped and came within inches of halving the deficit when John Fleck's crisp strike cannoned off the post, but that was as close as they came as Wolves secured the away win.

That's the admin out of the way, let's get stuck into the player ratings.


SHEFFIELD UNITED

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Aaron Ramsdale (GK) - 5/10 - Won't be particularly delighted with his Blades Premier League debut. Could have done better with Saiss' header and looked suspect when leaving his line.

Chris Basham (CB) - 5/10 -
Couldn't get to grips with Jimenez at all and struggled with the Mexican's movement all evening.

Jack O'Connell (CB) - 5/10 -
Much like his centre-back partner, O'Connell was run ragged by Jimenez. Offered the occasional foray into the Wolves half but never really looked like sparking a revival.

John Egan (CB) - 5/10 -
Looked reckless and can count himself lucky not to have been sent off in the second half after a late challenge.


2. Wing Backs & Midfielders


George Baldock (RWB) - 5/10 - Struggled to impact the game as much as he would have liked. Showed plenty of endeavour down the Sheffield United right but struggled against Fernando Marçal.

John Lundstram (CM) - 5/10 - Needlessly lunged in at Daniel Podence in the buildup to Wolves' opener and set the tone for his evening in the process.

Oliver Norwood (CM) - 5/10 -
Against a well-drilled Wolves side his quality of passing was crucial to the home team, but he never really found his range.

John Fleck (CM) - 6/10 -
Came close with a very good strike which hit the post and was the best of a pretty poor bunch. Struggled to get close to the maestro Joao Moutinho.

Enda Stevens (LWB) - 6/10 - Showed plenty of endeavour down the Sheffield United left but to no avail. Could have been key with Adama Traore failing to track his man, but didn't possess the quality needed in the final third.


3. Forwards

Oli McBurnie (ST) - 6/10 - If there's one thing you know you'll get from McBurnie it's work rate. The forward worked tirelessly but struggled at times against a physical Wolves back three.

Billy Sharp (ST) - 5/10 -
Completely starved of service and couldn't get a foothold in the game. Difficult to see why he started ahead of David McGoldrick given the Irishman's impact when he came off the bench,


4. Substitutes

David McGoldrick (ST) - 7/10

Sander Berge (CM) - 6/10


WOLVES

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Rui Patricio (GK) - 6/10 - Wasn't overly worked but looked solid whenever he was called upon.

Romain Saiss (CB) - 8/10 -
Defensively solid and a constant threat from corners. Opened his season's account and came within a whisker of matching last year's tally of two Premier League goals.

Conor Coady (CB) - 7/10 -
Marshalled the Wolves backline fantastically. May not possess the physical presence of his centre-back partners but his nous and positioning is top class.

Willy Boly (CB) - 7/10 -
A monster at centre-back. Never looked flustered as Sheffield United began to hoist balls into the box late on. Did very well against the physical McBurnie.


6. Wing Backs & Midfielders

Adama Traore (RWB) - 5/10 - Clearly singled out as Wolves' danger man, but spent all evening performing needless flicks in his own half and getting the basics wrong.

Leander Dendoncker (CM) - 6/10 -
Did well alongside Moutinho. Not afraid to do the dirty work alongside the silky Portuguese midfielder.

Joao Moutinho (CM) - 7/10 -
Pulled the stings for the visitors and even at 34 shows no signs of losing that cutting edge.

Fernando Marçal (LWB) - 7/10 -
Was starved a little of the ball with Wolves looking to feed Traore down the right but looked dangerous whenever given the chance.


7. Forwards

Pedro Neto (RW) - 5/10 - Never really looked like getting into the game, looked tidy in the first half but not a surprise to see him hooked in the second.

Raul Jimenez (ST) - 8/10 - The best player on the pitch in the first half by a long stretch. Struggled a little more in the second but always looked a threat on the break.

Daniel Podence (LW) - 6/10 - Played a starring role in Jimenez's opener but didn't really impose himself on the game as he would have liked.


8. Substitutes

Oskar Buur (RB) - 5/10

Ruben Neves (CM) - 6/10

Vitor Ferreira (ST) - N/A


Source: 90min