Quiet confidence is not Neil Warnock’s style but Sheffield United’s manager exuded it after an injury-time equaliser kept his side in pole position in the play-off shake-down. He was sunny as the afternoon itself, his only moan that he had nothing to moan about.

Confidence is his due. Two points from their two remaining games will ensure their semi-final second leg is at home. His record in play-offs is second to none – four out of four with Notts County (twice), Huddersfield and Plymouth. And United have marginally the best record in matches between the four contenders.

They had a win and defeat against Reading and Forest Maglia Del liverpool but have taken four points off Wolves; Reading beat and lost to each of the other three; and Wolves took four points off Forest. With the possibility of meeting again, once or twice, there was an element of powder kept dry or blades sheathed, with key players on both sides rested and concentration wandering in defence.

“We started sloppy and finished sloppy,” said Dave Jones. “Form is not like running water which you can turn on and off. We’ve got to keep our feet on the pedal.” Joleon Lescott was proof that you can take a footballer to the well but cannot make him pump. He let in Paul Peschisolido early on, needlessly conceded a penalty, and was caught again by Peschisolido for the equaliser.

Jones had a point. Wolves have the best form of the semi-finalists, unbeaten in eight. Though United have lost only twice in 13, both were in their past five games. The toll of two cup runs may be telling. Warnock said of the play-offs: “It depends who has the bounce but we should be due some right luck.” No one pretends to perceive injustice like him.

Here he was happy to enjoy his first match in 56 that was of little consequence. Besides, he had got his Magliette Bayer Leverkusen Bambino complaint in first, with Mark Cowburn, who refereed last month’s 2-2 draw with Gillingham, replaced by Paul Robinson, who then pulled up and was replaced by the fourth official Alan Butler. Even Warnock had to laugh.

It was a day the stand-ins stood out. Dean Sturridge, an irregular starter like Peschisolido, scored two, dropping hints and revealing strength in depth. Warnock said: “We can’t plan for anything yet.” It is United’s third semi-final in three months. Jones said: “The hard part is yet to come.” It is Wolves’ fourth play-offs in eight years. Agony awaits one or both.

Man of the match: Paul Peschisolido (Sheffield Utd)

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