Last-gasp Sheffield United provide another glorious moment in fairytale season by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers

Instead of being taken aback by an impromptu hug from Jose Mourinho in front of the TV cameras after Sheffield United's 3-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur last week, it was more straightforward when Wilder shook hands with a visibly dejected Wolves counterpart Nuno Espirito Santo at the final whistle.

Rest assured, the respect between the pair - which was expressed with warmth and sincerity in the pre-match preliminaries - will endure.

Their standing as being the division's high managerial achievers this season alongside Jurgen Klopp will also be preserved. But just like last Thursday, the spoils were also pocketed by Wilder and not by his Portuguese rival - albeit in far more dramatic and last-gasp fashion than last week.

A side whose record in the second half of games usually precedes them, Wolves suffered a taste of their own medicine when John Egan proved that goals, just like London buses, often follow each other after Sunday's leveller at Burnley.

Implored by his manager to trouble the scoring charts with greater regularity, the Irishman crowned an immaculate defensive display with the game-breaking moment in the third minute of stoppage-time - thumping a fine header in the net at the Shoreham Street End following OIi Norwood's delivery.

No Unitedites may have been present, but the explosion of joy and guttural roar from the home bench was a fair substitute, with Wilder's touchline celebration sprint being another moment to behold in a remarkable season as the Blades secured three successive home wins at top-flight level for the first time since 1993.

It was a moment that will please Wilder as much as any other this season.

A campaign which looked like potentially petering out a few weeks ago has now been magnificently revived, with the Blades back above Arsenal and Tottenham in a story that just keeps giving as they moved within a point of vanquished Wolves. Only a fool would have doubted them.

Just Liverpool and Manchester City had conceded fewer home goals than United in 2019-20 - while on the road, Wolves's points tally is only bettered by the newly-crowned champions and the recently deposed ones.

It is those sort of statistics that made for such a fascinating cocktail ahead of this meeting of two sides who have illuminated the Premier League scene and emphatically proved there is life beyond the 'Big Six' and done the top-flight a huge service in the process.

The talk from both managers amid the mutual appreciation society was of two talented opposing sides, but with the hunger and work ethic to match.

On a gloomy early evening which could not have masqueraded itself as summer if it tried, plenty of perspiration was expended and while both teams could not crack the code in the first half, it was Wolves who showed the glimpses.

They chiefly arrived at the nimble feet of Diogo Jota who had his moments.

Just after the half hour, he produced a delightful run before being blocked by the returning Jack O'Connell, with an elegant free-kick from Ruben Neves which clipped the bar almost breaking the impasse in head-turning fashion.

On the opposing flank, the inherent dangers of Adama Traore ensured that he was policed by several numbers in red and white for the most part.

On the one occasion that the speedster manufactured half a yard and sent over a trademark delivery, Dean Henderson was there to claim Jota's header.

Wolves slipped into gears a couple of times, but in the main, this was a keenly-fought affair as many would have suspected beforehand and a bit of a chess match - although an absorbing one nevertheless.

United's most dangerous moment arrived when Oli McBurnie connected well with a first-time header from O'Connell's quality - but instead of flying either side of Rui Patricio, it flew straight at him.

It continued to resemble a well-balanced affair on the restart in a game high on shape and technical order, with the impression quickly emerging that one goal would be enough for either side.

It nearly came when Billy Sharp's endeavours were almost rewarded when he was a whisker away from turning in Stevens's delicious low centre - in the some of moment he has feasted on in his goal-laden career.

The Blades threat was more discernible on the restart as they took the game more to Wolves, but given their second-half record, there was no panic from those in gold, who were eyeing their fourth straight away victory in the top-flight since 1980.

There was a sting. The unquenchable hosts persisted and kept with it and after an unlikely source in George Baldock spurned a headed chance following a cross from substitute Richairo Zivkovic, Egan showed him the way in memorable fashion.

Sheffield United: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O'Connell; Baldock, Berge, Norwood, Osborn, Stevens; McBurnie (Mousset 49), Sharp (Zivkovic 71). Substitutes unused: Lundstram, Jagielka, K Freeman, J Robinson, Moore, Rodwell.

Wolves: Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Traore (Dendoncker 79), Jiminez, Jota. Substitutes unused: Jordao, Podence, Gibbs-White, Ruddy, Vinagre, Campana, Kilman, Buur.

Referee: M Atkinson (West Yorkshire).