Sponsored by
Tud comes good when it matters - SLIDESHOW
Sheff Utd 1 Lupoli (5) Sheff Wed 2 Spurr (1), Tudgay (29)
BRIAN Laws challenged Sheffield Wednesday's players to: "Walk out like men but return as heroes."
Marcus Tudgay's superb strike - a rasping long-range effort fit to grace any game - ensured they finished the match as history-makers too by recording the visitors' first league double over their arch-rivals since 1914.
King George V was on the throne and Charlie Chaplin still a fledgling film actor the last time a team from Hillsborough achieved such a feat, so it was fitting that the finish which ended Wednesday's 95-year wait could have been crafted in South America let alone South Yorkshire.
There appeared little danger when Tudgay, having seen Tommy Spurr and Arturo Lupoli trade goals during an explosive opening, seized possession before advancing deep inside Sheffield United territory.
But the former Derby County forward clearly had other ideas and, having considered the possibilities, unleashed an vicious shot which Paddy Kenny was powerless to prevent flying into the top corner of his net.
Over an hour of the fixture remained but, a combination of Wednesday's resolute defending and United's predictablility meant it proved to be the decisive blow.
"This time I'm going to enjoy it," Laws, who masterminded October's win, said.
"The last time we beat them we had another match straight away afterwards and we were absolutely shattered, but that's not the case now.
"I will enjoy it because it's been far, far too long.
"This is a special occasion because you throw the form book and everything else for that matter out of the window."
While Laws planned a night out on the tiles, Kevin Blackwell, his United counterpart, was left to reflect on what what might have been.
Only the width of a post prevented Leon Clarke doubling Wednesday's advantage soon after the interval but, for the most part, United enjoyed the greater share of chances and possession throughout the second half.
They demonstrated plenty of endeavour but too little invention and, as an increasingly irritable home crowd began to voice its displeasure, their confidence haemorrhaged.
"We had plenty of the ball," Blackwell lamented. "But unless you score or use it wisely then it doesn't mean much."
Searching for positives having suffered the most painful defeat of his reign so far must seem like a thankless task for the United manager.
But in Lupoli, the centre-forward signed on loan from Fiorentina last week, he can at least find one, with the precocious young Italian marking his Bramall Lane debut with a fifth-minute equaliser after Spurr had fired Wednesday into a 46-second lead.
With the adverse weather hampering his preparations, Lupoli was later withdrawn soon after the interval to guard against injury.
But he had already done enough to suggest he will be a valuable asset as United, who slip to fifth, look to consolidate their position among the top six.
"I am the kind of person who likes to play with the ball but that was much more of a fighting game," Lupoli admitted. "However, we knew that was the way it would be.
"Overall, I thought we made plenty of chances and I didn't think it was the right result but, in football, you have to take what you can get."
Wednesday, now 12th, did exactly that when, with less than a minute on the clock, they edged in front.
Michael Gray, a pillar of composure throughout the afternoon, showed excellent awareness on the edge of the penalty box by cutting the ball back into Spurr's path and allowing the defender to fire home.
Faced with an early test of character, United responded when Greg Halford's long throw - their most potent weapon - tempted Lee Grant off his line but not before Lupoli intervened to convert off the underside of the crossbar.
United's Nick Montgomery, wearing the captain's armband in Chris Morgan's absence, went close with a well-timed volley while another Halford delivery, again towards Lupoli, caused confusion among Wednesday's rearguard only for Leigh Bromby to see his shot deflected wide as the ball bounced loose.
But, just as United appeared to be in the ascendancy, Gray alleviated the pressure with a clipped cross towards Kenny's far post which Clarke prodded wide before Tudgay pounced.
"If that was in the Premiership then people would be talking about it for ages," Laws said. "He's been shocking in training, but that doesn't matter now because he's come up with the goods."
Tudgay found himself in the thick of things again when, moments after the restart, his header presented Clarke with an opportunity but he struck the woodwork.
Wednesday, by now content to pounce on the counter, retreated deeper and deeper in a deliberate attempt to deny United space.
Jamie Ward should have done better after meeting Halford's cross before being released by fellow sub Lee Hendrie only for Gray's perfectly-executed tackle to deny him the chance to test Grant.
Billy Sharp, Blackwell's third and final change, saw his effort well saved at the death.
"It wasn't about the league today," Laws said. "I just told the lads to go out there and enjoy it, and they did."
But probably not as much as their celebrations after.
Managers' Views
BLACKWELL: You need the breaks in derbies and we didn't get them.
How do I feel? Sick as a parrot.
What a quote that is but, really, it's impossible to describe.
But I'm not going to criticise the lads because they've given me everything since I've been here.
LAWS: I told the players that anyone who went out there as an individual would not be winning that game.
I'm very proud of the players and the supporters. They've not had much to shout about at times but hopefully that has given them something back. It's worth celebrating isn't it!
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
