Wolverhampton W 2 Sheffield United 0: Weir detects positives but Blades now bottom

After slipping to their sixth successive league defeat against a Wolves side including former Blades playmaker Kevin McDonald, Weir said: “I thought the lads’ effort and application were top notch. The standard of the play in the first half was very, very good.

“It’s hard to be positive but we have to be. I thought we did a lot of good things. We controlled the game, passed the ball and we made opportunities but obviously didn’t do enough to get in front.”

Second-half goals from Leigh Griffiths and Bakary Sako saw third-placed Wolves to victory.

Kenny Jackett’s Wolves have won seven of their last eight matches but this latest loss was tough on the visitors, who dominated for long spells in the first half.

Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme made two good early saves to deny former Walsall favourites Florent Cuvelier and Febian Brandy, who went close twice more after being set up each time by ex-Birmingham City striker Marlon King, who was barracked by the home fans as much as McDonald was by the Blades’ visiting support.

Wolves introduced Kevin Doyle for Bjorn Sigurdarson at the break and they looked a different side.

Griffiths bundled in his fifth goal of the season on 65 minutes. Batth launched the ball forward, Sako crossed and the striker scrambled home from close range after his first effort had been blocked by United goalkeeper George Long.

Wolves had a penalty appeal rejected and a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside before Sako wrapped up things with a thunderbolt of a shot from 30 yards in the final minute.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ikeme, Doherty, Batth, Ricketts, Golbourne, Edwards (Forde 79), McDonald, Price, Sako, Sigurdarson (Doyle 46), Griffiths (Cassidy 73). Unused substitutes: Elokobi, Stearman, Evans, McCarey.

Sheffield United: Long, McMahon, Maguire, Collins, Hill, Doyle, Brandy (Ironside 90), Cuvelier, Baxter, Hall (Taylor 80), King. Unused substitutes: Howard, Westlake, Flynn, McGinn, McGinty.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Man of the match: Carl Ikeme.