Sheffield United U23s 0 Sheffield Wednesday U23s 1: Derby delight for Owls at Bramall Lane

United enjoyed comfortably the best chances of the mini-derby, but couldn't find a way past Owls 'keeper Joshua Render before Borukov latched onto a good through-ball to find the bottom corner and give his side victory.

United, who again fielded Everton trialist Kieran Phillips up front alongside senior professionals Michael Verrips and Kean Bryan, had the better chances of a drab first half but couldn't make any of them count.

First, Phillips sidefooted a cross from the right but it was straight at Owls' goalkeeper Joshua Render.

Wednesday's Ben Hughes tested the handling of Verrips with a stinging volley from the right of the Blades area, but the giant Dutch goalkeeper held it comfortably.

Phillips, who scored in United's 3-3 draw with Bolton Wanderers last week, went close again when he cleverly swung his boot at another cross after being dragged to the floor, but Render was again equal to the effort.

Phillips almost then turned provider with a knockdown to his strike partner Jake Young, but his acrobatic effort on the turn sailed over the bar.

Young then went closest with the best chance of the first half, this time from a cross from the left. Bryan played a neat one-two with skipper Reece York and fizzed in a cross, but Young could only divert his effort narrowly over after getting across his marker.

Wednesday, who fielded defenders with first-team experience in Ash Baker, David Bates and Jordan Thorniley, had the first opportunity of the second half when the giant Bates got his head to a free-kick in the box, but Verrips punched it away under pressure from Osaze Urhoghide.

Tempers then threatened to boil over after a succession of meaty challenges, as Hughes was penalised for illegally jumping with Bryan. The former Manchester City youngster responded with a shove of his own, and ref Aaron Banister had to step in and calm things down a little.

Bryan went close with an angled drive before Ta'Shae Andall-Gibbons woke up the crowd with an exciting run from the halfway line, before seeing his shot deflected away for a corner.

Blades sub Sammy Ompreon replaced Young and with his first real impact, nutmegged Jud Thorniley and put in a dangerous cross which Bates eventually hacked clear.

Then, completely against the run of play, Wednesday took the lead when they finally punched a hole in the home defence and Borukov took advantage with a calm finish, past Verrips and into the bottom corner.

There was the potential for late drama when Verrips ventured forward for an injury-time corner, but it wasn't to be as the Owls sealed the points on this occasion.

Blades: Verrips, Sheppeard, Gordon, Belehouan, Bryan, Boyes (Mallon, 82), York, Andall-Gibbons, Ndiaye (Neal, 86), Young (Ompreon, 73), Phillips. Not used: Amissah, Hall.

Owls: Render, Baker, Urhoghide, Waldock, Bates, Thorniley, Hughes, Hunt, Borukov, Grant, Preston (Hagan, 87). Not used: Hare, Brennan, Dawodu, West.