Chris Wilder made 10 summer signings and broke Sheffield United’s transfer record on four occasions this summer, but an evergreen and unwavering source fashioned a late equaliser here, with Billy Sharp scoring his first
Premier League goal to salvage a point and ensure an enjoyable return to the top flight after a 12-year hiatus. Six minutes after stepping off the bench – and with only two minutes of normal time to play – Sharp reacted quickest as the ball pinballed around the Bournemouth box to poke home and cancel out Chris Mepham’s opener for Eddie Howe’s side.
Sharp was one of four players here that started this journey with Wilder in League One three years ago, along with John Fleck, Chris Basham and Jack O’Connell, and his late leveller kickstarts the next chapter of this extraordinary ride under Wilder, a boyhood Blade himself. Sharp, who scored 24 goals in the Championship last season, has waited a lifetime for a real crack in the top flight – this was only the 33-year-old’s third appearance in the Premier League – and the striker and captain came up with the goods.