Mick McCarthy says half-time tinkering to the side was crucial to Wolves' comeback success at Cardiff on Wednesday night.
Wolves found themselves in front through Michael Kightly, but a penalty from Robbie Fowler and a goal from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gave the home side the advantage at the break.
But McCarthy made tactical changes at half-time, with Stephen Ward and Freddie Eastwood also coming on early in the second half, and Wanderers turned the game around.
Kightly grabbed his second to level the scores and then Jody Craddock headed in the winner on 74 minutes.
The result moves Wolves up to third in the table and the manager was delighted, saying: "I feel much better after this win because we have been well beaten on our last two previous visits. We started well with an early goal but gave away yet another penalty and their second goal was of Premier League standard."
04 10 2007
Robbie Fowler could find himself in hot water with the Football Association after a row with Sheffield United supporters during the aftermath of Tuesday's game at Bramall Lane.
The Cardiff City striker, who scored a controversial penalty during the 3-3 draw with Bryan Robson's side, was allegedly involved in a verbal altercation with at least two home fans as he made his way from the stadium to the team bus.
Eyewitnesses say that Fowler and his team mate Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were singled out for particular attention by United fans at the players' entrance.
But unlike the former Holland international, they claim that Fowler swore and responded in a manner which has prompted one to write a letter to Soho Square demanding that officials launch an investigation into his conduct.
Tempers were running high after a dramatic game which saw United surrender the lead before coming from 3-1 down to snatch a point with two goals in the last five minutes.
But with Keith Gillespie (hamstring) joining Gary Naysmith, Nick Montgomery and Derek Geary on the list of likely absentees from Saturday evening's visit to Bristol City, Robson has stepped up his effort to make at least one loan signing before the weekend.
Assistant manager Brian Kidd was scheduled to host this afternoon's press conference at Shirecliffe.
Meanwhile, United's decision to extend their youth development network to the east coast is already reaping dividends after the club's decision to offer Darren Clough extended schoolboy terms.
The 16-year-old from Scarborough impressed during a trial match against Bradford City and is now eligible to play for United's academy.
Clough was recommended to United by coaches at the town's school of excellence.
United stepped in to save the scheme after Scarborough Football Club went bust earlier this year and plc chairman Kevin McCabe has pledged funds to help build a new sporting facility in nearby Eastfield.
Representatives of Scarborough Athletic supporters' trust were at the Cardiff game.
02 10 2007
The message from within the Sheffield United squad to disgruntled fans calling for a change in management is: 'Don't be daft.'
With Cardiff City at Bramall Lane tonight in a Championship clash, support from players for boss Bryan Robson is loud and clear.
Midfielder Stephen Quinn said: "I think that it is ridiculous to call for the manager's head at this early stage. He's still trying to find his feet and trying to find his best 11. It's silly saying things like that. We'll get things right."
Robson's own reaction is cool.
He said: "Of course there's dissatisfaction and there should be. We're dissatisfied with the results. It's frustrating. You're always going to have scrappy performances if you give goals away like we do. You expect the fans to be frustrated. We're expecting to be at the top of the league and we're not. We're closer to the bottom of the league. You are always under pressure in this game to get a win."
United pair Nick Montgomery and Gary Naysmith are fitness doubts ahead of tonight's game, while Robson was critical of the performance on Saturday against Southampton which ended in a 2-1 defeat.
He said: "We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. We get off to a really good start, we're playing well, we get a goal and you're thinking we'll continue where we left off against Morecambe, but we keep giving away bad goals. We did it again at the weekend. As soon as we rectify that we'll be okay. All the lads can do is go out on the training pitch and try to put things right."
He added: "Where we've fallen down this season is at a lot of set-plays. People have just put the ball in the box and we've conceded a lot of goals. That's either because of good play from the opposition or it's bad defending. That's what we've got to put right."
Cardiff come with the most experienced strikeforce in the Championship. Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink spearhead their goal threat and both have vast experience of the Premier League.
"Cardiff are favourites to be in the top six," Robson reckoned. "Fowler and Hasselbaink are top players towards the ends of their careers but they've still got a lot of knowledge of how to help the squad. We're going to have to be right on our toes but I think we can cause Cardiff a lot of problems going the other way."
Quinn added: "Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has got on the scoresheet in the last few games for Cardiff and I think we're going to have a tough game ahead of us. Not a lot has gone right for us. I'm sure the lads are working hard. Hopefully, we can change things around starting tonight. We seem to get off to a good start in games and once we concede a goal I think the lads' heads drop. We just need to correct that."
25 09 2007
Cardiff boss Dave Jones hailed veterans Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink after they combined to send West Brom crashing out of the Carling Cup at The Hawthorns.
Fowler, with a double, Hasselbaink and fellow veteran Trevor Sinclair were all on target in the opening 30 minutes to end Albion's 100% home record.
Albion gained some consolation through an Ishmael Miller double but that could not take the gloss off the win for Jones who was delighted to see Fowler and Hasselbaink on the scoresheet.
He said: "I have said all along that once the two of them get fitter they will score goals at this level. They scored at the top so they can certainly score at this level. We set our stall out and I don't think they could live with us in the first half hour. There were some terrific goals and at 4-1 at half-time it was just a case of going out and shutting the game down. My lot were trying to get the fifth and there was no need because it would have come naturally with Albion sending more men forward we would have picked them off. We knew that Albion would have a real go but it was a case of us keeping the ball to take their hope away. I am going to enjoy this because to come to Albion and play as well as we did for that first half is something I want to enjoy as it showed what we are about. I had said that one day if we clicked someone would get a pasting and that happened in the first half an hour."
Cardiff broke the deadlock after just three minutes when Stephen McPhail whipped a low right-wing cross into the penalty area.
It flashed across a crowded goalmouth to fall invitingly at the feet of Fowler whose rising drive from 12 yards gave goalkeeper Dean Kiely no chance.
Hasselbaink doubled their advantage after 22 minutes when he was left in acres of space 25 yards from goal.
Albion central defenders Martin Albrechtsen and Shelton Martis backed away from him and Hasselbaink took full advantage of the space to beat Kiely.
Cardiff effectively made the game safe four minutes later when Hasselbaink released Joe Ledley who was brought down by Martis and referee Peter Walton had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Fowler calmly stepped forward to send Kiely the wrong way from the spot - taking his tally to four in two games after opening his Cardiff account with a double against Preston last weekend.
Albion were still reeling from that setback when Sinclair increased their gloom in the 29th minute after ghosting in at the far post to convert Tony Capaldi's left-wing cross.
To their credit, Albion did try and find a way back into the game and were rewarded almost immediately when Craig Beattie hit the post and Miller pounced on the rebound to beat Michael Oakes with a low drive after 32 minutes.
Miller then capped his hard-working display when he was hauled down by Chris Gunter three minutes from time and converted the resulting penalty.
The result left Albion manager Tony Mowbray stunned. Mowbray, who made seven changes to his starting line-up, saw his shadow squad overrun in the first-half.
He said: "The game was lost in that first 30 minutes. But the bigger picture gives me some food for thought on one or two players. It is a learning curve for me about my squad and my team, the ones you can trust and the ones you can't. The first half an hour was a bit too much for some of them. I don't feel let down. It is a process you have to go through. You have to put players in to see if they can sink or swim. One or two will find it more difficult to get run outs now and there have been a few lessons learnt by us all. It was a bridge too far for us. I will take responsibility for the changes we have made. I was pleased with Ishmael's two goals and the fact we kept going. But Cardiff were very determined and it was too much for us in the opening half an hour. I don't want them to have the same time and space when they come back in the league. I am now looking for a response from the team on Sunday when we play Queens Park Rangers and we will be trying to put things right at the weekend."
