Match report
David McGoldrick wasted a golden chance to take Sheffield United to the top of the Championship when he missed a first-half penalty but Cameron Dawson’s fine save, and the point it guaranteed, offered relief to Wednesday’s manager, Jos Luhukay.
Luhukay made four changes as Wednesday attempted to stop a run of four consecutive defeats. The first 30 minutes were played at a fierce tempo with United dominating possession, and this earned an early reward for the Blades with the penalty.
Wednesday had been fortunate to escape punishment after Joey Pelupessy came in late on Mark Duffy, but when the winger went down under a challenge from Morgan Fox in the Wednesday area, Andrew Madley immediately pointed to the spot.
McGoldrick, who had replaced Leon Clarke up front in one of three United changes, shot low to Dawson’s left but the goalkeeper guessed right to save superbly. United did not let up and forced a series of corners as the half drew to a close, but the visitors held firm.
Dawson was tested by McGoldrick’s left-footed shot soon after the break but Wednesday’s backline maintained their discipline. As the game entered the final 20 minutes the visitors struggled to get out of their own half, but Dawson’s goal rarely came under direct threat in the heavy rain.
McGoldrick was swapped for Clarke and Wednesday earned a rare half-chance when a flicked defensive header almost fell for Ash Baker in front of goal.
But Billy Sharp had the best opportunity of the second half but headed Jack O’Connell’s corner wide. United are level on 30 points with the leaders, Leeds, and Norwich City in third spot.
That’s it for the live blog – but we will add a match report above imminently. Thanks for reading along, and enjoy your weekends.
What that means for Sheffield United is that they’re back in the top two, sandwiched between Leeds and Norwich on goal difference. That will be the coldest of cold comfort this evening, I would imagine.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds | 16 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 | Sheff Utd | 17 | 8 | 30 |
| 3 | Norwich | 16 | 7 | 30 |
| 4 | Middlesbrough | 16 | 9 | 28 |
| 5 | Derby | 16 | 8 | 28 |
Here’s Billy Sharp: “I thought we were the better team, but we just couldn’t break them down. I should have put that chance away, I thought I’d got enough on it, but it went wide. They defended well, to be fair.”
...and Wednesday keeper Cameron Dawson: “Luckily I guessed right and made the save. Our first clean sheet this season, but I’m sure the fans will take that.”
Full time: Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Fleck and Norwood stand over it, Norwood strikes it... and Dawson turns it away from the top corner! Wednesday have got a point!
93 mins: Clarke has his shirt pulled by Thorniley, 25 yards out – and United will have one more chance to win the derby...
92 mins: What a chance! O’Connell wins a corner, Sharp meets it with a header – and it flashes wide of the far post! He can’t believe he’s missed it.
91 mins: Duffy and Stevens link up again down the left, but Stevens’ loose touch allows Hector to send it sailing into the stands.
90 mins: Matias gets his boot to an awkward rebound and hooks an effort on goal that will at least count as on target. Three added minutes...
89 mins: United pack the penalty area but Norwood’s delivery, some 30 yards from goal, is all out of goose.
88 mins: Clarke has struggled to get involved, but he turns Hector in midfield here. The centre-back hauls him over and takes the booking.
Updated
86 mins: Matias finds Baker on the break, and Wednesday win another corner – which O’Connell clears. Does anyone fancy winning this?
85 mins: The hosts get an advantage as Baker hauls Stevens down. Duffy moves forward and shoots from distance, but it’s easy enough for Dawson.
84 mins: Bannan hares back to snuff out a potential United break. Have the hosts run out of steam here?
82 mins: Sharp is dispossessed and Wednesday sweep forward, Matias winning a free kick as Stevens clips him in midfield. Bannan lofts the ball into the area, but Fox and Lees get in each other’s way.
80 mins: From the corner, the away fans appeal for handball as Matias’ shot cannons off Basham. It hit him square in the face, then bounced off his arm. No pen. Fletcher tries to lift the ball back into danger, but Henderson races out to smother it.
79 mins: First change for the visitors: Marco Matias replaces Penney in midfield.
78 mins: Clarke gets involved, wriggling to the byline but struggling to find a team-mate. Wednesday break and Basham’s flick so nearly lands at the feet of Baker, charging forward from right-back!
76 mins: A nice stat from our friends over at WhoScored – United have attempted 30 crosses, not including corners.
75 mins: First change for the hosts – McGoldrick is replaced by Leon Clarke, who scored twice in the 4-2 win at Hillsborough last season.
73 mins: United just keep coming, Stevens linking up with Sharp and forcing another last-ditch tackle. The corner bobbles off John Egan and lands in front of goal – but a Wednesday boot hoiks it clear.
72 mins: It’s swung into the danger area in front of an expectant away end, but McGoldrick heads clear.
71 mins: Wednesday’s defence stand firm again, and now they break downfield and get a corner of their own...
70 mins: A first booking of the night, for Wednesday’s Barry Bannan. The referee played advantage, from which United have gleaned another corner.
69 mins: A deflected cross almost loops to Freeman in the middle, but Tom Lees is there again to clear the danger.
68 mins: This game could use a goal, particularly after I bigged it up so fervently earlier on.
66 mins: The home side come again, but Basham’s cross lands on the roof of the net. In the crowd, former Blades Kyle Walker, Phil Jagielka and Harry Maguire have all been picked out by Sky’s roving cameras.
64 mins: Norwood’s pass from deep is cut out, and Wednesday have a chance to attack. They pass it around, then back, all the way to Dawson. Cagey, to say the least.
62 mins: 70% possession, 11 shots, nine corners, but the hosts still haven’t got that goal – and for all their pressure, Dawson has not had a big save to make since the penalty.
60 mins: United keep up the pressure, Duffy standing the ball up toward the far post, where Dawson claims it. Fox had an armful of O’Connell’s shirt – he was lucky the assistant didn’t spot it.
58 mins: Freeman crosses from the right, Lees clears, and United have another corner. It’s a poor one, lashed away at the near post by Adam Reach.
Updated
57 mins: The visitors break, Bannan winning the ball well in midfield and playing in Baker down the right. His cross is towards Fletcher, but gathered by Henderson, who warms his gloves with the catch.
56 mins: Norwood fires a low cross-shot that almost lands at Duffy’s feet, before Hector bloots it downfield...
Updated
55 mins: The hosts have resumed their position deep in Wednesday territory, but can’t quick unpick their defence. Billy Sharp’s cross is pinged towards no-one in particular.
53 mins: Adam Reach, who loves a long-ranger, finally gets a sight of goal from 25 yards – but balloons it over the bar. The resultant ‘waaaaheeeey’ from the home fans is one of relief.
52 mins: Freeman and Norwood combine down the right, the latter’s clipped cross failing to pick out a striker. The rain’s really coming down out there.
51 mins: United still enjoying most of the ball, but Wednesday are making it tougher for them to get upfield.
49 mins: Pretty much all McGoldrick’s work here, as he picks up the ball, ambles forward, plays a one-two with Basham, twists towards goal and shoots. It’s well struck, but straight at Dawson.
48 mins: The tireless Norwood gets back to nick the ball away from Fletcher, who was weighing his options in a promising position.
47 mins: Here’s a stat – of the last 18 goals Wednesday have conceded, 16 have come in the second half.
Peep!
We’re back under way, the home fans indulging in a rousing sing-son as the second half starts.
“Steel City Derby? I’m watching Bolton v Ipswich” fumes Adam Hirst. “What is the problem with stripes on the back anyway?”
I agree – the lack of more than a hint of red on the back of the United kit is very troubling.
Updated
Half-time reading
Barney Ronay on another northern derby game happening this weekend:
Half time: Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday get to the interval on terms, despite relentless pressure from the hosts. United’s best chance came from the penalty spot, but Cameron Dawson pulled off a fine save to deny David McGoldrick. More soon.
Updated
44 mins: Pelupessy gets tired of Duffy’s trickery and hacks him down in the middle of the Wednesday half. He escapes a booking. One minute of added time.
43 mins: Fletcher thunks the first corner away, but John Egan, United’s non-attacking defender, climbs to meet the next one. Tom Lees gets their first, but Wednesday are incorrectly awarded a goal kick.
41 mins: Wednesday have been able to ease the pressure in the last five minutes, but United find a pocket of space and work it around the edge of the area. McGoldrick plays Stevens in with a lovely flick, but his near-post cross is cleared.
40 mins: Reach picks up the ball on the edge of the United area, but is quickly closed down.
38 mins: Another booming cross from O’Connell, but this one is overhit. I have a lot of time for Chris Wilder’s overlapping defenders, particularly with two lads who look like your traditional centre-backs.
36 mins: Wednesday enjoy a rare spell of possession in the opposition half, and are met with hearty whistles from the home crowd. Penney looks for a free-kick in a dangerous spot down the right, but doesn’t get it.
35 mins: Fleck bends another testing cross in, but Dawson is able to collect, the strikers still not quite picking their runs.
32 mins: Thorniley does well to deal with another dangerous low cross from O’Connell. The visitors are at least standing firm against this relentless pressure.
31 mins: Stevens is flagged offside down the left flank. With Duffy switching sides and O’Connell pushing forward, poor Ash Baker is a busy man on the right for Wednesday.
29 mins: Duffy drops his shoulder, motors into the box and curls an effort towards the far corner. May have been going wide, but Hector nods it behind, just to be on the safe side.
26 mins: Norwood pings a superb diagonal ball to Basham, the other attacking centre-back. His cross is drilled towards Sharp, who doesn’t have time to steer an awkward header on target.
25 mins: If United aren’t ahead by half-time, it’ll be a miracle.
24 mins: Oliver Norwood, something of a promotion specialist after going up with Brighton and Fulham, takes a touch and steers a shot just beyond the top corner.
23 mins: United ping the ball around before O’Connell, nominally a centre-back, overlaps down the left. His low ball is cleared nervously by Hector.
20 mins: Mark Duffy cuts back to Stevens, who is closed down. The chances coming so often for the hosts just now, though. Wednesday belt the ball away and Steven Fletcher, canny as the day is long, draws some sting with a long wander upfield. He eventually crosses towards Penney, who goes down in a heap – but replays show O’Connell didn’t make contact.
Updated
19 mins: United keep the pedal to the metal, the latest lightning move ending with Enda Stevens’ cross just failing to pick out Sharp.
18 mins: Fleck barrels forward from midfield and shoots, but it drifts well wide.
17 mins: United are trying their best not to let that miss affect them, still buzzing around midfield gamely.
Penalty saved!
McGoldrick steps up and fires for the far corner - but Dawson gets down brilliantly to turn it around the post! Justice served – Duffy appeared to trip over his own feet.
Updated
Penalty to Sheffield United!
Oh dear – this looks pretty soft to me, Mark Duffy going down under Morgan Fox’s challenge in the box. But Andrew Madley points to the spot!
12 mins: A spell of scrappy possession, not that it quiets the absolute din around Bramall Lane one decibel.
More musical fan news:
@niallmcveigh ABC's Martin Fry is an Owls fan apparently pic.twitter.com/btKaSyAi01
— Paul Howarth (@TOOFEE) November 9, 2018
Will it be The Look Of Love or a Poison Arrow for Fry tonight? I’m here all week.
9 mins: ...and from the corner, the visitors really should score! The ball drops to Morgan Fox, charging in under pressure, but the full-back scoops the ball high over the bar!
8 mins: Wednesday venture upfield and as Adam Reach toepokes a cross-shot across goal, Basham has to be alert to turn it behind...
6 mins: It’s been an ominous start for the blue half of Sheffield – their team are sitting deep and hoping for the best so far.
4 mins: Woof! What a hit from Fleck, 25 yards out – it bends ever closer to Dawson’s left-hand post, but the keeper gets across to tip it away. From the corner, Basham heads over.
3 mins: United stay on the front foot, and Wednesday centre-back Tom Lees has to be alert to cut out a cross swept in towards Sharp.
1 min: The hosts link up nicely, Mark Duffy finding space and finding Sharp, who can’t pick a pass to McGoldrick.
Peep!
Here we go, then.
Before kick-off, the raucous volume around Bramall Lane drops for a Remembrance Day minute’s silence.
“Paul Heaton is in the red corner? Are you sure?” asks Peter Oh. “I know he sang ‘Old Red Eyes is Back’ but I thought he only has eyes for Inter Milan.”
My sources (Wikipedia) tell me Heaton lived in Sheffield as a youngster, and supported United because his older brothers followed Wednesday. But I wouldn’t put money on it.
Team news
United: Henderson; Basham, Egan, O’Connell; Freeman, Norwood, Fleck, Stevens, Duffy; McGoldrick, Sharp.
Subs: Baldock, Clarke, Coutts, Stearman, Johnson, Moore, Washington.
Wednesday: Dawso;, Lees, Fox, Thorniley; Hector, Baker, Pelupessy, Bannan, Penney; Reach, Fletcher.
Subs: Palmer, Onomah, Nuhiu, Lucas Joao, Marco Matias, Wildsmith, Pudil.
Referee: Andrew Madley (West Yorkshire)
Like many outside South Yorkshire, the mention of this game takes me straight back to the 1993 FA Cup semi-final. Wednesday won 2-1 in extra time, and went on to lose the final to Arsenal, who won a derby of their own against Spurs in their semi-final. The same two sides met in that year’s League Cup final, with the same result. But never mind that! Just look at this footage. Old Wembley! Balloons! Chris Waddle! Brian Deane! Laver! Sanderson! The way the winning goal doesn’t even ripple the net! This is the good stuff.
Tonight...
— Bands FC (@_Bands_FC) November 9, 2018
Hysteria? Different Class? Mistakes, misfits?
Erm...Pour some sugar on me? Maybe that last one doesn’t work.#sufc #swfc #SteelCityDerby pic.twitter.com/i98dmIfCO1
Sheffield is a famously musical city, but Wednesday definitely win in the band-fan stakes. Def Lep singer Joe Elliott joins Paul Heaton and, weirdly, Flea in the red corner. The blue corner can boast Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley, Arctic Monkeys, half of the Human League and one-fifth of the Jackson Five (Jermaine, who also has a soft spot for QPR).
Preamble
From Der Klassiker to the Superclásico via the Manchester derby, it’s a red-letter weekend for those of us fortunate enough to like football. It’s starting early too, thanks to a Friday night Sheffield derby under the lights at Bramall Lane. But does it meet the six-step Proper Derby Test?
1) Proximity Grounds less than five miles apart, in the same city. Next question.
2) History These two first faced off in 1890 and have been battling for city-wide supremacy ever since. This will be their 143rd meeting.
3) Competitiveness Second to none. United have won 49, Wednesday 48, with 45 draws. Both teams have bounced around the divisions but these games are almost always close. The last proper thrashing belonged to Wednesday in 1979, while United’s 4-2 win last season was the biggest by either side in a decade.
4) Colours Red and white, blue and white. Absolutely textbook.
5) High stakes In the 21st century, only United have played top flight – and that was just one, Carlos Tevez-blighted season. Wednesday had seemed closer to the promised land in recent seasons but as they have dropped, United have climbed. They’ll go top with a win and condemn Wednesday to a fifth straight loss. All of which means defeat for either side is an even grimmer prospect than usual.
6) The name Come on. The Steel City Derby. It sounds like a deleted scene from Mad Max. Who wants to miss that? Kick-off is at 7.45pm, GMT.
