Sheffield United returned to the top of the Championship but had to settle for a point as Tom Fellows’ second-half equalizer held West Brom to a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns.
The Blades moved a point ahead of Leeds as they extended their unbeaten run to eight matches, while the Baggies drew for the 10th time in 11 games.
Torbjörn Hagem nodded in his first goal of the season to take a deserved lead, but United turned the game around with two goals in 98 seconds through Calum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell to take the lead at the break.
West Brom haven’t lost since their defeat at Middlesbrough in early October, but that run was in danger until Fellowes’ sloppy effort cost both sides points.
Baggies boss Carlos Corberan brought on Callum Styles, Jason Molumby and Mikey Johnston in place of Mason Holgate, Uros Racic and Lewis Dobbin, while the suspended Harry Soutari replaced Femi Serik in a Chris Wilder-imposed change.
The home side registered their first shot on target when Johnston decided to test Michael Cooper from distance with a power shot straight at the keeper.
The Baggies made their early pressure count with the opening goal.
The Blades almost fired in the initial corner but Hegham rose highest to meet Alex Mowat’s second curling cross to head into the far corner.
United were on the ropes and in danger of going two down as Carlan Grant found himself in space but headed straight at Cooper.
United briefly thought they had a penalty when Jesuru Rak-Saki appeared to go down under a challenge from Mollumby, but referee David Webb pointed the other way and booked the Blades winger for simulation.
United leveled in the process when Hegham’s attempt to clear Harrison Burrows’ cross deflected off Kyle Bartley and landed kindly for O’Hare to head home.
Less than two minutes later, they turned the game on its head. Burrows once again sent in the same cross as the first goal, but this time he found the onrushing Campbell to deflect the ball home from close range.
Gustavo Hamer’s brilliance in the middle of the pitch created a chance for Campbell, whose fingertips from Alex Palmer prevented the Badminton from going further ahead.
West Brom were on level terms just after the hour when Fellowes cut inside and his shot bounced off the Hammers and past Cooper to make it 2-2.
Rak-Saki continued to cause problems for the hosts. He used his pace on counter-attacks, but his shot was straight at Palmer.
Neither side pulled a punch in search of a winner, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils to continue their respective unbeaten runs.
The leaders
“West Brom” Carlos Corberan.
“When the results aren’t good, it’s hard to believe the coach. When they’re good, they think you’re a genius.
“This group of players has something special, they don’t make excuses. When I came to this club two years ago, we faced difficulties, but this team never stopped fighting.
“This year we compete a lot with restrictions, we don’t make excuses in difficult moments.
“When things don’t go well, the easy way out is to find an excuse. Some of these players have a lot of personality to keep growing and use these difficult moments to improve.”
“Sheffield United” Chris Wilder.
“It is certainly our best result this season.
“At one stage we had six under-22s on the pitch and they are learning at the top of the division.
“This (West Brom) is a big test for us, a great club, a great squad of players and the top four right there.
“Their record this season, (they’re) probably a bit disappointed and haven’t turned draws into wins, but they were aggressive with the press and stopped us and (it) was a huge test for us.
“(We were) a bit naive at times, Gang Ho. I have to tone it down a bit and teach them, but what I don’t want to take away is their ambition and personality to achieve.”
