Sheffield United 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday
It was a massive game on Friday night; S2 vs S6, Blades vs Owls, Red vs Blue. United seeked to do the double over their Sheffield rivals, where as Wednesday wanted revenge after a 4-2 thumping at Hillsborough and also a good performance after recent games.
I met my mate and we went to ‘The Three Magpies’ pub in Brinsworth for a few drinks and some food before a group of us got a minibus into Sheffield. We got to Bramall Lane at about 7.25pm but it would take us twenty minutes to get in! The queue, well more like bundle, of people was massive. The atmosphere was ecstatic, both sets of fans chanting against each other like a competition to see who would be the loudest (Wednesday of course 😉). This got me even more excited for the next 90 minutes of football, however the nerves were still there because of what happened earlier on in the season (I couldn’t face Mark Duffy dancing his way through our defence before slotting it past Westwood again).Kickoff imminently followed and the Derby was underway. United squealed their Chip Butty song and Wednesday sung ‘Hi Ho Sheffield Wednesday’.
United had more of the ball in the early stages of the derby and went very close through John Lundstram. Flecks corner was only headed away by Jordan Rhodes to Lundstram who hooked a volley back into the box. The effort dipped and landed on top of the net.
Wednesday responded with an effort of their own. Adam Reach’s shot was deflected into the path of Joao. Joao switched the ball from his left foot to his right to avoid the tackle of O’Connell and tried an audacious chip from 20 yards which landed on the roof of the net.
Not much else happened apart from a few chances that didn’t really trouble either side. Both Steel City clubs defended well and went in at halftime goalless.
In to the second half we went and Wildsmith produced an outstanding save to deny the Blades an opener. George Baldock curled in a cross from the right. Clayton Donaldson connected with the cross sending the ball towards goal. Everyone in the ground thought it had looped in until Joe Wildsmith stretched and clawed the ball over the bar. A brilliant piece of goalkeeping from the Wednesday fan.
Wednesday were inches away from taking the lead. Pudil’s long throw was headed away first by Lundstram and then by Baldock, but the right-backs clearance fell kindly for the Owls’ wing-back who struck a curling volley just past the post.
Again Wednesday were on the front foot and had another great opportunity when Palmer passed the ball to Wallace on the edge of the box. Wallace teased O’Connell about which way he was going before rifling a shot towards goal. However Simon Moore got down to the shot and saved it.
The visitors were down to ten men after the hour mark. Glenn Loovens received his second yellow of the game when the Wednesday captain brought down an accelerating Donaldson. From the following free-kick former Owl Leon Clarke headed wide of the target.
Wednesday almost won it right at the death through Adam Reach. Wallace crossed in to the middle where Moore and Stearman clashed. Reach tried to head it in but Stearman headed it away before Lundstram headed it straight to Reach who chested it down and hit it on the half-volley. The shot fired towards goal but Simon Moore shot up to parry it wide, he had previously been crouched over in pain after bumping into his own defender.
Wallace again went close as he cut in from the right and lashed a shot towards the net but Moore blocked the goal-bound shot with his body. That was it for the game and both sides walked away with a point.
So the game ended 0-0 and both teams must of felt they could of nicked the win. Both teams were solid defensively and keepers Wildsmith and Moore made some crucial saves to earn the clean sheets.
Even though many Blades fans have stated the game was boring, I thoroughly enjoyed the night. I loved the atmosphere and the adrenaline that’d run through me every time Wednesday attacked or the nerves as United drove forward.
Overall it was brilliant!
Attendance: 31,120
MOTM: Joe Wildsmith
SUFC: Simon Moore; Chris Basham, Richard Stearman, Jack O’Connell; George Baldock, John Fleck, John Lundstram, Mark Duffy, Enda Stevens; Clayton Donaldson (James Wilson), Leon Clarke
Unused Subs: Jamal Blackman, Daniel Lafferty, Jake Wright, Lee Evans, Ryan Leonard, Billy Sharp
SWFC: Joe Wildsmith; Frederico Venancio, Glenn Loovens, Daniel Pudil; Liam Palmer, Ross Wallace (Sean Clare), David Jones, Adam Reach, Morgan Fox; Lucas Joao (Atdhe Nuhiu), Jordan Rhodes (George Boyd)
Unused Subs: Cameron Dawson, Jordan Thorniley, Jacob Butterfield, Marco Matias
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