I can’t think of a single reason why Sheffield United won’t beat Sheffield Wednesday
Alan Biggs on what many expect to be a one-sided Sheffield derby this weekend
“A dangerous game for us” - Chris Wilder’s post-match assessment of the last steel city derby, despite a 3-0 win at Hillsborough in November.
Sheffield United, on home soil, are even bigger favourites this time. Unassailably so, it would seem.
Maybe that increases the “danger” element and the Blades boss wouldn’t be doing his job if he didn’t highlight it.
Normally also, I’d accentuate that, trotting out stuff like derbies are cup ties and current form goes out of the window.
Indeed, I probably used both those in setting the scene for the last meeting.
But honestly (and I might regret this) I can’t think of a single reason why United won’t win on Sunday.
And it goes beyond better teams beating inferior ones. Wednesday’s young, threadbare outfit, for all its pluck, hasn’t managed a single cup-tie-like upset where an underdog has the breaks to force a shock result. Not once in 26 win-less league encounters.
That said, most of their games have been close. And the law of averages suggests we’ll be smacked between the eyes sometime.
Chris Wilder is entitled to be proud of his Sheffield derby record
Ironically, all of the above builds up the case for this being a “dangerous game” again for United in spite of everything. I imagine Wilder won’t see it any differently.
As a fan of both his club and the city, he’s entitled to be proud of his derby record as manager. Seven games unbeaten, including four victories. Wilder will be desperate not to surrender that.
Maintaining an outside shot at the play-offs also rides on it. But with an undertone, as per Hillsborough in September, of respect to ravaged opposition. Purely business and no showboating.
I was with an Owl in a pub last week and a mutual friend, a Blade, joined us for a chat about football’s ownership problem. “No gloating from me,” he said. “There but by the grace of God …”
Of course, the health of the city’s two clubs is in no way comparable right now. But football is a fragile business with the way clubs are run these days.
All at Bramall Lane need to keep those emblematic blades firmly crossed that the club is back on course.