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Is fate building us up for a derby day turn-around?
IT feels like someone or something is setting things up, as though the football fates are planning a special surprise.
Three games in a week each, three wins for one side, three defeats for the other ahead of the second Sheffield derby of the season.
United, in the space of seven days, have emerged not only as prime contenders for the second automatic promotion spot but are getting to the point where their fans are starting to dream of a title challenge.
Wednesday on the other hand have been going backwards as fast as they can.
Three uninspiring defeats to Exeter, Stevenage and Chesterfield makes it look like Gary Megson’s side are running out of steam at exactly the wrong time.
United marching on.
Wednesday hanging on.
Since their brace of defeats against Charlton and Birmingham, the Blades have beaten Wycombe, Huddersfield and Preston, one a cruise, one a scrap and the other a smash and grab.
Promotion form or what?
Not only that, they have three eminently winnable games to come after Sunday - when they could be 11 points above their fiercest rivals - hosting bogey side Scunthorpe and Oldham and travelling to Walsall.
Wednesday have games against Rochdale, Bury and Bournemouth, but the odds are stacked in United’s favour to be out of sight by mid March if they can win on Sunday.
But that’s the problem. A Blades win would be just too good to be true.
Their run of victories will mean very little on Sunday.
Wednesday, fired by their fans’ ferocity and a determination to get back in the race, will be a fearsome prospect.
A full house with memories of the two-goal comeback at Bramall Lane stamped into the DNA of their season, the Owls will probably play on the break and prosper.
Unless United really are the real thing, Wednesday will thrive.
If United do come through this sternest of tests with even a point they are set fair for that second automatic place, home for tea and medals by early May.
This column predicted the 2-2 in October and is forecasting a 2-1 Owls win on Sunday.
Or is that just tempting fate?
The disturbuing farce in Munich on Saturday night took all the headlines and understandably so when one man smashes another with a camera tripod and the second threatens repeatedly to shoot the other - in a press conference. Not very classy, lads.
Compare that to the dignity, bravery and sportsmanship of one Jason Booth on Saturday night at Magna. Outboxed but still landing the punch of the night, Booth sat on the edge of the canvas post-fight. Gap-toothed and battered, he spoke in warm, respectful tones about his conqueror, Kid Galahad. Booth, who has known the highs of a world title fight and the lows of alcoholism, did himself and his sport great credit when other, bigger earners were doing their worst to drag it through the gutter.
The next time anyone tries to convince you that Scottish football is anything but irrelevant ask them this.
In which other league in world football could the team second in the table be deducted ten points and stay second, six points above third place?
Answer: None. How long before we have Rangers and Celtic in the Premier League or Championship so they can make a decent living?
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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Comments
There are 77 comments to this article
Page 1 of 6
mackemblade
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:02 PM#76 Ukip: Whilst we did'nt win many that season I do believe that Exeter @ home was one of the few. Also & we didn't "go down to 4th" on that day - even you must remember 'thank Givens day', after all it should be indelibly imprinted in your psyche along with you favourite topic, the weather on December 26th 1979.
Ukip
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 08:13 AMManor blade. I was sat above the United supporters in the Leppings Lane when we beat you 4-0. I would have stood on the Leppings Lane that match if the tickets had been sold to us, as Wednesday never lost a match when I was on that end of the ground in our promotion season. I also went to Bramall Lane the season after and stood with the Exeter fans to see you lot go down to the 4th.
manorblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:58 PMUkip why would you sit on the lep on your own and thousands of blades you big fibber .
Banter Blade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:51 PMYou forgot to mention the alleged rapist Owls 20, don't forget the alleged rapist!
Banter Blade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:50 PMSCB - feel free to come along and say hello when the third Blades goal goes in, I reckon it'll be fairly sparse by then as the part time among you will have walked out by then. You should be able to spot around 8 of us celebrating in a civilised manner. I say 8 but I've no idea how many other Blades will be sat near us too. Just say hi to all of us on your way out. Xxx
WTID
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:45 PMRemember when the pigs were 10 points clear in the prem. Then in the final game the pigs only needed to score a goal or a draw. But they capitulated . The wheels can always come off for he pigs and usually do, or they fail in a final . Then they blame and sue. Unlike us we just got relegated. Reason being, we were not good enough. Keep bragging about points and your games in hand. You usually brag then mess it up
silverblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:57 PMMany owls post's on here sound very nervy and tense, so they should it's ther cupfinal and last big game of the season,lose and they are doomed to another season in the pub league as we go marching on....utb....
Ukip
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:11 PMManor blade. I don't know what I am fibbing about. Your crowds were less when you got promoted into the Premiership, than when we were bouncing around in the third division the time before. I have definitely been in every side of the ground at Bramall lane in a derby. The last time I was sat in the middle of your Kop, where the flare is and I didn't jump up when you scored to make myself look like a United supporter.
CuniBladeUTB
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 07:29 PMit's not like deluded little piglets to bang on about crowds as we are proving yet again we are the best team in Sheffield for I think the 12th year running. We have a similar size fanbase your just looking at it threw your pork scratching tinted MASSIVE specs. How many players were you worried about losing in the JTW? none that's what poor side rusting ground deluded fans end of. Wonder how long after your defeat on sunday Ron will bang on about our 3million pound striker, thought it was between Udders and wendy for 2nd spot ha comedy gold
manorblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:55 PMIM at the bean bag as for a life of petty crime and work evasion i like the rest of the country are having to tighten our belts .White Lightening instead of special brew ,8 bets instead of 10 , shoplifting at Asda instead of Sainsburys were will it all end .someone at the job center suggested i look for work, as if ,where would i find the time and scrap being the price it is today. Be like throwing money down the toilet.
sliverblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:54 PMOh Banter.. those stats are so easy to follow.. what do you not understand about we turn more fans out than you lot
sliverblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:45 PMhey banter I am in the South too... keep yer ead down...
red flag
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:35 PMay up manor, what you doing on the sabbath ? are you off to the game or are you going to the bean bag, whatever that is? how's life in your seedy world of shoplifting and benefit fraud by the way?
manorblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:29 PMUkip your such a fibber
manorblade
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 06:26 PMEvening red ,In their youth the porkers on hear went to the match hoping a little fight would break out this season they go to the match hoping a little football will break out, no luck so far
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