Sheffield United suffered a cruel 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane on Sunday, beaten by a stoppage-time goal from veteran striker Raul Jimenez. The result leaves Chris Wilder's side with two losses in a row, their recent form now reading three wins and two defeats from the last five outings. They will need to improve quickly for their next match, a home fixtures against Lincoln City on 10 October.

Jimenez, the 35-year-old Wolves captain, entered the fray as a substitute and swept home from close range in the 90th minute to decide a tight Championship contest. The Blades had defended resolutely for long periods but were punished for a single lapse at the death.

A game of few chances

The first half was a cagey affair, with the home side registering just two touches in the Wolves penalty area. The visitors created the clearest opening after 19 minutes when a cross from Rodrigo Gomes found Marshall Munetsi, whose shot was well saved by United goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

Mateus Mane had a penalty appeal waved away early in the second half when his flick struck the arm of defender Mark McGuinness, with referee Rob Jones awarding only a corner. Sky Sports co-commentator Gary Rowett felt United were fortunate. "His arm comes out, it hits him on the end of the arm," Rowett said. "I think Sheffield United have probably got away with one there."

Wolves threatened again when Hugo Bueno's effort from the edge of the box flashed just wide of the post. At the other end, debutant Jordan Ayew, introduced from the bench, almost marked his first appearance with a goal, dragging a shot across the face of goal and past the far post.

Late heartbreak

Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Jimenez struck. The Mexican forward found space inside the six-yard box to convert a low cross and snatch all three points for the visitors. It was his third goal of the season, a key contribution reflected in the team's overall stats.

Blades manager Chris Wilder pointed to the fine margins at this level. "It's top-end Championship football when you're playing teams like we have done today," he said. "They punish you if you just switch off for a moment."

Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto praised his captain's impact from the bench. "He's 35 years old, so we have to manage him the best way," Peixoto explained. "Raul, as a captain, helped the team from the bench, not only with the goal he scored, but he helped to defend the set-pieces."

The defeat continues a pattern of high-scoring games at Bramall Lane ending, with the Blades having both scored and conceded in 14 of their previous 15 home league matches before this shutout. Wilder's squad has been hit by injuries, with Femi Seriki, Harrison Burrows, Ryan One, Sam McCallum, Tahith Chong and Tyrese Campbell all currently sidelined.

United must now regroup during the international break. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Lincoln City on 10 October.

First reported at skysports.com