2003 Football League First Division play-off Final

This was Sheffield United's second appearance in the second tier play-off final, having lost the 1997 Football League First Division play-off Final 1–0 to Crystal Palace.[9] Wolves were making their fourth appearance in the play-offs but this was the first time they had progressed beyond the semi-final.[9] Brown was Sheffield United's top scorer with 16 league goals during the regular season, while Kenny Miller was Wolves' leading marksman with 19.[10] Wolves had last played in the top tier of English football in the 1983–84 season when they were relegated, finishing bottom of the division, 12 points adrift of Notts County above them.[11] Sheffield United had played in the second tier since being relegated from the Premier League in the 1993–94 season.[12]

Before the match, Wolves manager Dave Jones spoke of the speculation over his position: "I try not to read anything in the papers which is about myself because if I read everything about what everybody thinks of me I'd end up going mad ... I've been likened to a murderer in Coronation Street and then someone out of Brookside ... We have one game to go now and if it does not happen for us then an awful lot is going to be written about me and the club".[13] His chairman, Jack Hayward, had owned the club for 13 years without promotion and suggested he would consider his position should Wolves not be promoted this time.[14] Denis Irwin, Wolves' 38-year-old defender, suggested that even if his side won promotion, he would possibly retire rather than participate in the Premier League: "I'm not getting any younger and I wouldn't want to be in the Premiership if I didn't feel I could do myself justice".[15] Kenny, Sheffield United's goalkeeper and player of the year, was determined to stake a claim for an international call-up for the Republic of Ireland national football team, and suggested that Premier League football would be beneficial: "If I was playing regular Premiership football next season, it do my chances of an Ireland call-up no harm".[16]

In their first meeting of the regular season Sheffield United had won 3–1 at Molineux in October 2002.[17] The return game was the sides' penultimate league match of the season and ended in a 3–3 draw at Bramall Lane.[18] The referee for the final was Steve Bennett representing the Kent County Football Association.[19] Winning the final was estimated by the BBC to be worth up to £15–20 million to the successful team.[19] It was the third time the second tier play-off final was hosted by the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.[20] George Ndah was expected to be available for selection for Wolves, after suffering a knee injury, while Sheffield United's Stuart McCall had recovered from an ankle injury.[13] Dean Windass was omitted from the United squad and opted not to travel with the team to the Millennium Stadium.[14] Bookmakers were unable to choose a clear favourite, suggesting either team were equally likely to win the match.[15] The match was broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports.[13]

The match kicked off at 3 p.m. on 26 May 2003 in front of a Millennium Stadium crowd of 69,473.[21][22] After four minutes, Nathan Blake dragged his shot wide of the Sheffield United goal. Two minutes later, Mark Kennedy opened the scoring for Wolves with a low drive into the corner of the net from 20 yards (18 m) after receiving a pass from Miller.[23] In the 12th minute, Kenny caught a back-header from Phil Jagielka just ahead of Blake. Peter Ndlovu's strike for Sheffield United on 17 minutes went wide of the Wolves goal and despite United having more possession, Wolves doubled their lead in the 22nd minute: Colin Cameron's shot was deflected behind by Kenny, and Blake headed in from close range from the resulting Miller corner. In the 36th minute, a cross from Curtis found Ndlovu in the Wolves penalty area, but Joleon Lescott cleared the danger. Three minutes later, Matt Murray was forced to make a save to prevent Paul Ince scoring an own goal. Irwin was then booked for a foul on Ndlovu, before Wolves established a three-goal lead shortly before the half time interval when Miller converted a cross from Newton.[22][24]

The Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock was sent to the stands at half time after repeatedly criticising the referee. United made the first substitution of the game at the start of the second half, with McCall coming on to replace Mark Rankine. A minute later, Bennett awarded United a penalty after adjudging that Wolves' defender Paul Butler had handled the ball. However, Brown's spotkick was pushed away by goalkeeper Murray. Despite having the majority of the possession, United were unable to score and in the 64th minute made their second change of the afternoon with Ndlovu being replaced by Peschisolido. Murray saved a Peschisolido header before pushing a Michael Tonge free kick onto the post, the rebound being struck over the bar by Page. United made their final substitution of the game in the 74th minute, with Wayne Allison coming on to replace Asaba. A minute later, Wolves made their first change of the afternoon, with Dean Sturridge replacing Miller. Tonge and then Brown were both shown a yellow card and in the 88th minute, Wolves' Adam Proudlock was brought on in place of Blake. No further goals were scored as the match ended 3–0 to Wolves who secured their place in the top tier of English football for the first time in almost 20 years.[11][22][24]