Sheffield United: How year of triumph ended on a low note: Blades 0 Bolton Wanderers 1

Already trailing to Gary Madine’s eighth goal of the season, a finish so simple it could have passed as a belated Christmas present, defender Jack O’Connell charged upfield and swept a delightful cross into Bolton Wanderers’ penalty area only for Leon Clarke to mistime his jump.

It was the type of opening Chris Wilder’s side created on countless occasions without, until the predictable last-gasp onslaught, ever really threatening to take. The end result was a defeat their manager described as a “massive opportunity missed” and a first Championship away win for the visitors in 999 days.

“I don’t want us to consolidate,” Wilder said. “I want us to kick on. I don’t want us to be that side that’s being talked about in good ways, which I think we are, but has now taken four points from five home games.”

Madine, thanks to a four-year spell with Sheffield Wednesday and foolhardy comments about Billy Sharp on social media, is the bête noire of Bramall Lane. But, after being booed before kick-off, some excellent wing play and woeful defending combined to ensure he had the last laugh.

Antonee Robinson, the Wanderers full-back, had already caused United’s rearguard all-sorts of problems when he burst down the flank and produced the type of centre strikers dream about. Madine could not miss but, as Wilder later acknowledged, the fact he was left unmarked inside the six-yard box provoked questions afterwards.

“There wasn’t anything tactical about their goal,” Wilder said. “If there was, it would have happened four or five times. It happened once. We defended poorly, got involved in a scrappy game and then couldn’t find that bit of quality I thought would see us go on to win.”

MAIN MADINE

Wilder, whose demeanour suggested United’s post-match inquiry had not been as cordial as he tried to suggest, admitted Madine had been the most effective player on the pitch when, over an hour and a half after the final whistle, he finally arrived to face the media.

True, the 27-year-old’s physicality and perseverance provided Wanderers with a platform in the game. But Karl Henry and Darren Pratley also dominated the midfield and prevented the hosts from translating possession into clear-cut opportunities.

When they did, particularly after George Baldock’s introduction following Madine’s effort, either the final ball was poor or profligacy criminal.

Ben Alnwick, the Wanderers goalkeeper, saved well from Clarke and the United substitute but otherwise enjoyed a relatively trouble-free afternoon.