West Brom interim boss Chris Brunt was pleased with his side’s display in their 1-1 draw at Sheffield United and felt they could have come away with all three points on another day.
First-half goals from Andre Brooks and Karlan Grant meant the points were shared.
Brunt said: “On another day, we could be coming away with all three points, similar to the home game [2-2 draw on December 8]. We were doing well but conceded at a bad time, but our response was great.
“It’s a positive performance. The Derby game was a bit of a hangover after Carlos (Corberan) leaving, and having played Sheffield United so recently the lads knew they could come here and more than match them.
“It’s been well documented that we have drawn too many games; it was disappointing that we got nothing against Derby, and it was important that we got something out of today.”
Brunt did not give much away when asked about West Brom’s current managerial search, saying: “As far as I am aware, we will be preparing for the game against Preston and hopefully go one better and get a win.”
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder was “delighted” after the game and felt the crowd drove the team on in the last 20 minutes.
Wilder said: “We have to win but today what I learnt about my team was so pleasing.
“Everyone is so short-term; if we win, then we are going up, and if we lose, then we aren’t.
“It’s a young group that has been put together in about three and a half weeks, but we find ourselves on 51 points.
“The performance today was bigger than the result.”
Wilder was eager to remind people of the Blades’ recent success, saying: “We have had two promotions and three years out of six in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final. So, it has not been a bad period for the club; we have to take stock after today and acknowledge that we are all right.
“We were effective; if we have an opportunity to put a cross in, then we will put a cross in.
“It was disappointing to come in at half-time at one each. I thought we dominated the first half.
“They were in the Premier League for 15 years. They are a big club, but they are still behind us.
“The team’s character was tested at half-time; they had five minutes at the start of the second half, which we rode out and then came roaring back.
“We had players out on their feet, desperate to win a football match for this football club. That speaks volumes about what we are trying to achieve and how we are going about it.”
