Wolves 1 Sheffield United 1
JAMES Beattie cancelled out Neill Collins' opener for Wolves as Sheffield United held the Coca-Cola Championship leaders 1-1 at Molineux.
Wolves defender Neill Collins opened the goalscoring with a close-range header in the 18th minute after good wing work from Michael Kightly but the league leaders' ascendancy was abruptly halted three minutes later by James Beattie.
The former England striker used all his predatory instinct to tap home from close range after goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey had made two fantastic saves.
Highly-rated Hennessey, who has been touted as a potential January transfer target for Arsenal, was on top of his game and had to be at full stretch to keep United from taking all three points in the second half.
Wolves went into the match knowing that a victory would extend their lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship to 10 points should second-placed Reading fail to overcome in-form Cardiff, but it was the visitors who started the brighter.
Striker Danny Webber should have put the Blades into a fourth-minute lead when he broke through the centre of the static Wolves defence to find himself one-on-one with Wayne Hennessey but the Wolves keeper smothered bravely at Webber's feet.
But the league leaders' first threatening move was decisive as Collins netted for the second time in two games.
The towering centre-back was on hand to head home in the 19th minute as he rose above the United defence to power home Michael Kightly's cross from close range.
But just when it seemed Mick McCarthy's men were becoming invincible, the visitors struck back three minutes later to quell the festive cheer at Molineux.
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