West Brom 2 Sheffield United 2: Report as much-improved Baggies push leaders hard

The much-improved Baggies deservedly led against the Blades but a torrid two minutes saw the high-flying visitors turn the tables into a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Carlos Corberan's men rallied in a fairly even second period and Tom Fellows' heavily-deflected first goal of the season on the hour earned a share of the spoils in miserable Storm Darragh conditions.

Wins continue to elude eighth-placed Albion - who now have one victory in 13 with 10 of those draws - but while several draws have been uninspiring and lacked intent, this one saw the Baggies take a giant stride in terms of attack with wingers Fellows and the electric Mikey Johnston leading the way.

Albion were utterly dominant for 15 minutes in the swirling conditions in the Black Country. Corberan's side were clearly looking to unsettle the Blades' makeshift centre-back pairing of Jack Robinson and Alfie Gilchrist.

In that early period Corberan's men flashed and hung up five or six seriously dangerous deliveries, all of which were just unable to be turned towards goal by intended targets, including Kyle Bartley, Fellows and Karlan Grant.

As Chris Wilder's side struggled to break out of their own half, Albion's Darnell Furlong moved the ball forward so intelligently. But it was the other flank where Johnston - a summer United target - and Callum Styles, both recalled to start, proved dangerous in their combinations.

Johnston tested Michael Cooper from range in the tricky conditions before the keeper back-peddled nervously to tip a floated Jayson Molumby cross over his own bar.

Albion's start warranted a goal and an advantage and the hosts were able to make it count on 24 minutes.

One dangerous Alex Mowatt corner had been cleared for another and the second did the job. His delicious inswinger was met on the glance by Heggem, who guided his header perfectly into the bottom corner with Cooper motionless.

The lead was fully deserved and Albion looked like trying for more as Grant tested Cooper from range.

The Blades woke from their slumber on half hour. Referee David Webb was strong and spot-on to caution Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as he tried to win a penalty from Molumby but dived.

But 10 minutes before the break the visitors equalised through ex-Villa and Coventry man O'Hare, who was the right man at the right time to poke home after Heggem had cleared a Harrison Burrows cross on to partner Bartley in Albion's six yard box.

That was a blow but two minutes later was a real sucker-punch.

Albion were inexplicably masters of their own downfall as Alex Palmer passed out to Heggem on the left side of his backline and the Norwegian's radar was off.

Heggem's clipped ball out fell straight to Gustavo Hamer and the Brazilian immediately fed the dangerous Burrows once again.

The left-back's cross was inch-perfect and expertly converted into the far corner by Campbell, son of the late Hawthorns hero Kevin, for an immediate turnaround.

Shellshocked Albion wobbled like a dazed boxer and the Blades might've found a killer third but midfielder Sydie Peck's curler from range was just an inch too high.

A half-time deficit felt undeserved but Corberan's men paid for a shocking couple of minutes. Things could've become worse immediately after the restart but Palmer was this time on hand to palm away a Campbell effort across goal. The Blades goalscorer was withdrawn shortly afterwards with a hamstring injury.

Albion recovered their composure and threat soon after. Johnston was at the heart of most good against another of the division's big-hitters interested in his services in the summer.

The former Celtic man was the catalyst to the Baggies' equaliser just after the hour.

In his own left-back position he nutmegged a red and white shirt before a wonderful low crossfield pass found Josh Maja. The striker had been quiet to that point. He fed Fellows on the right.

Fellows, busy throughout, cut into the box on his left and the rest owed to good fortune. The academy graduate let fly and his strike took a huge deflection off Hamer and looped high into the air, eventually over Cooper and into the top left corner. It was Fellows' first goal of the season.

The roof came off The Hawthorns with the hosts back on top. A rare foray forward from the visitors saw Palmer save from Rak-Sakyi as a Grant strike, heading just off target, cannoned Maja.

Corberan's men were on top into the final 10 minutes as Johnston wastefully lashed over before Furlong flicked a Grant corner wide.

Late changes inside the final 15 minutes didn't help find a late winner, but it was the hosts pushing to find that third goal on an afternoon that feels like progress for Corberan's side.

Albion (4-4-2): Palmer; Furlong, Bartley (c), Heggem, Styles (Holgate, 82); Fellows, Molumby, Mowatt (Racic, 73), Johnston (Cole, 87); Grant, Maja (Swift, 87). 

Subs not used:  Wildsmith, Frabotta, Diakite, Dobbin, Wallace. 

Sheffield United (4-2-3-1): Cooper; Seriki (Shackleton, 86), Gilchrist, Robinson (c), Burrows; Souza, Peck; Rak-Sakyi (Brewster, 75), O'Hare (Norrington-Davies, 86), Hamer; Campbell (Oné, 57).

Subs not used: A Davies, McCallum, T Davies, Baptiste, Brooks.

Attendance: tbc



Referee: David Webb