Sheffield Wednesday suffer the earliest relegation in EFL history at the home of their bitter Steel City rivals, Sheffield United, writes Kyle Kennealey from Bramall Lane.
It wasn’t the massacre that was expected pre-match, though, despite the Blades racing into a two-goal lead after 19 minutes.
A red card for the home side early in the second period allowed Wednesday back into the game, but they were unable to force an unlikely equaliser before they were also reduced to ten men.
Fast Start
A lot of the build-up to this game focused on United recording the biggest ever winning margin in this fixture. That was Wednesday’s 4-0 ‘Boxing Day Massacre’ in 1979, with the Blades one goal away from replicating that in their comfortable victory at Hillsborough earlier this season.
And records looked set to tumble as Chris Wilder’s side had the perfect start. Joe Ndala carelessly gave away possession, allowing Gus Hamer to pick out Patrick Bamford. The former Leeds United man had all the space in the world, thanks to that excellent lay-off from his teammate, and the forward was never going to pass up that opportunity in just the second minute.
With Wednesday needing a win to delay their inevitable relegation, two goals appeared a tall order for a side that had only scored once since Boxing Day. Japhet Tanganga passed up a golden opportunity to double the hosts’ advantage before Callum O’Hare smashed the woodwork. But the second goal arrived soon after, as Harrison Burrows netted after a fine Sydie Peck assist.
Change In Momentum
The Owls’ discipline was poor in the early stages, as Svante Ingelsson and Jaden Heskey picked up yellow cards in the opening half an hour. A clash between both sets of players saw Josh Smith keep his cards in his pockets, perhaps aware that flashing a booking was not the way forward in this derby.
Surprisingly, United seemed to take their foot off the gas after going two goals to the good, with the remainder of the first half played at a slow pace. While they had managed 75% of the ball, the Blades had just five shots to show for their first-half endeavours.
After failing to fully kill the game in the opening 45 minutes, Kalvin Phillips gifted the visitors a way back into the game. The Manchester City loanee went over the top on Ingelsson, which resulted in a red card being shown his way. And Wednesday made the most of that lifeline by halving the deficit moments later.
Wednesday Response
Charlie McNeill picked up Tayo Adaramola’s deep cross, sending a fierce effort beyond Michael Cooper at the near post. Suddenly, the momentum shifted, and Henrik Pedersen’s outfit went in search of an unlikely leveller. His opposing number shifted to a back five midway through the second half, and that helped turn the tide back in their favour.
Gabriel Otegbayo picked up a needless booking for a foul on Sydie Peck, which proved costly eight minutes later, as the Owls man pulled back Tyrese Campbell to receive his marching orders. That spurred United on to try and find a killer third goal, with Campbell and Peck both denied by saves from emergency Owls goalkeeper Seny Dieng.
But it didn’t matter, as Sheffield United relegated their fierce rivals in a memorable afternoon for the red and white side of Sheffield. A return to League One beckons for the Owls, who will have plenty of time to rebuild as they aim to try and exit administration. The Blades move up to 14th in the Championship, their highest position of the campaign, and just six points off the play-offs.
Wilder completes his second derby double in as many seasons, and likely his last for a long time.
