Pablo Sarabia's first-half header proved the difference as Wolverhampton Wanderers earned a 1-0 win over Sheffield United at Molineux.

A second successive Premier League victory lifts Gary O'Neil's side up to eighth, and they have now won as many Premier League matches after 26 games this season (11) as they did in the entire 2022/23 campaign.

How the match unfolded

Wolves named an unchanged starting XI from the side that won 2-1 at Tottenham Hotspur, with Hwang Hee-chan passed fit after going down with what appeared to be an ankle issue during the warm-up.

Sheff Utd made four changes, with goalkeeper Ivo Grbic back having missed the last three matches with concussion. Elsewhere, Auston Trusty came in for the suspended Mason Holgate while Oliver Norwood and Rhian Brewster were also included.

Wolves started on the front foot, but the best chances fell to Sheff Utd on the counter-attack.

Brewster had a shot blocked before his second effort was well saved by Jose Sa, and the forward then fired over after latching on to a flick from Jayden Bogle. 

Shortly after, James McAtee failed to make the most of a great opportunity, shooting tamely at Sa.

Sheff Utd were left to rue those misses as Wolves made the breakthrough on the half hour. Rayan Ait-Nouri cut back onto his right foot and his cross into the box was met by Pablo Sarabia, who glanced his header over Grbic and into the net for his third league goal of the season.

Sheff Utd have now conceded 66 goals after 26 matches played in the Premier League this season, the most any Premier League team has ever conceded at this stage and the most at this stage of a top-flight season since Ipswich Town in 1963/64, with 74 after 26 matches.

Wolves had chances to double their lead before the break, but Pedro Neto and then Sarabia blazed shots over the crossbar as it remained 1-0.

Sheff Utd started the second half positively, with Wolves struggling to get going as Sa was again called into action to deny the lively Brewster.

But the visitors were leaving spaces at the back, and Sarabia came close to scoring his second goal, unleashing a powerful drive from just outside the area which flew narrowly wide.

Chris Wilder used all five of his substitutes as Sheff Utd pushed for a late equaliser, which could have come following a long throw into the box, but the ball narrowly evaded the Blades' attackers and eventually bounced out for a goal-kick, much to the home side's relief.

Wolves had one final chance to double their lead, with Joao Gomes testing Grbic with a strike from 25 yards out, but they held on for the win which takes them onto 38 points.

Sheff Utd, who lost for the 19th time in the league, remain bottom with 13 points.

Club reports

Wolves report | Sheff Utd report

Match officials

Referee: Darren Bond. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Graham Scott. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.