Sheffield Wednesday could equal another unwanted club record vs Sheffield United
Sheffield Wednesday will be determined to enjoy a first derby day victory over Sheffield United since 2012 this weekend.
If ever there was a time and a place for Sheffield Wednesday to try and put a smile on their supporters’ faces, Sunday lunchtime at Bramall Lane would be the perfect time to try and do it.
The Owls will make the short trip from S6 to S2 knowing a defeat, regardless of what happens elsewhere in the Championship this weekend, will officially see them relegated to League One.
After having their squad decimated last summer, manager Danny Röhl walk away, go into administration and have a total of 18 points deducted, relegation has long since been on the cards at Hillsborough. However, having it become official at the hands of their rivals is a scenario no Wednesdayite wants to experience.
Winless in their last 26 league games, the odds are stacked against Wednesday enjoying a first derby day triumph over their cross-city rivals in 16 years. Chris O’Grady’s header, sealing a 1-0 win for the Owls at Hillsborough in February 2012, marked the last time the blue and white half of Sheffield enjoyed a derby day victory.
Since then, seven derbies have been played and United have won four of them, with the other three finishing goalless. It means Blades boss Chris Wilder takes an unbeaten record in this fixture into the latest chapter of this historic rivalry.
What has made United’s dominant run in this fixture in recent years all the more impressive is that they have kept six consecutive clean sheets against Wednesday. Not since Lucas João brought the Owls level at Hillsborough, making it 2-2, before United issued an immediate response through Mark Duffy, helping them clinch a 4-2 win in September 2017, have Wednesday breached United’s rearguard.
A run of six games without a goal against the Blades has taken its toll on Wednesday’s supporters, even if some might not be as brave to admit it as others. Both of last season’s meetings finished 1-0 to the Blades before their November showdown at Hillsborough earlier this term saw the Blades run out 3-0 winners, thanks to goals from Tyrese Campbell (two) and Tom Cannon.
Wednesday have not scored against the Blades since 2017
Facing the prospect of going a seventh successive game without a goal against their arch rivals this weekend, Wednesday are in danger of equalling another unwanted club record of matching a run of seven games against a single opponent without scoring.
The only previous time Wednesday have gone seven games in a row without a goal against the same opponent was against Oxford United between 1971 and 1974. Oxford won six of those seven clashes 1-0 with the one remaining encounter finishing goalless.
The biggest thrill in football is celebrating when your team scores a goal. Wednesdayites have been deprived of that feeling once too often this term with Jamal Lowe’s strike against Milwall last weekend, which ended their nine-game run without a goal in the league, only their 19th Championship goal of the campaign.
The thought of Wednesday scoring at Bramall Lane on Sunday, particularly if it is a goal that sees them take the lead or draw themselves level, will almost certainly cross the minds of Wednesdayites ahead of the game. They will be desperate to see their side end their goal drought against their rivals, even though it is not going to change the outcome of their season.
With relegation, regardless of when or where it is confirmed, all but guaranteed, Sunday’s trip to Bramall Lane represents the last chance for Wednesday to deliver a result that would actually be meaningful or memorable this season.
To achieve that ambition, though, Wednesday are going to have to score a goal against their cross-city rivals for the first time in almost eight-and-a-half years. Nevertheless, just imagine the scenes if a meaningful goal is scored.