Sheffield United win on derby day
Sheffield Wednesday 0 - 1 Sheffield United
Rhian Brewster’s goal secured a derby win for Sheffield United over Sheffield Wednesday, drawing the Blades level on points with Championship leaders Leeds.
The win also sealed United’s first league double over their city rivals since the 2005-06 season and delivered a blow to the Owls' play-off hopes.
The match was tense, with both sides desperate for points to strengthen their promotion bids.
United keeper Michael Cooper made a crucial first-half save to deny Michael Smith, while a vital block from Harrison Burrows prevented Josh Windass from putting Wednesday ahead after the break.
The defeat leaves Wednesday six points adrift of the play-off spots with eight games remaining, despite their recent resurgence with back-to-back away wins.
Home form has been a major issue for Wednesday all season. They have the second-worst record in the division at Hillsborough, while United have been the Championship’s best away side, this victory marking their sixth consecutive win on the road.
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Wednesday created the better chances in what was a tight and often scrappy contest, but United’s ability to grind out results proved decisive. They have now lost just once in their past nine league matches.
Danny Rohl’s side started the brighter, with Ryo Hatsuse delivering a pinpoint cross onto Smith’s head, only for Cooper to acrobatically tip the effort over the bar.
With tensions still running high after United’s win at Bramall Lane in November, the game had a feisty edge, with six yellow cards and a heated flare-up when Callum Paterson booted the ball at Ben Brereton Diaz as the United striker lay on the ground following a foul by Barry Bannan.
Tyrese Campbell was United’s biggest threat, dragging one shot across the face of goal before being denied by goalkeeper James Beadle, who was quick off his line to smother after Gustavo Hamer’s slick pass.
Campbell was also inches away from getting on the end of a drilled Burrows cross, while a smart Smith backheel set up Windass, only for Burrows to throw himself in the way of the goal-bound effort.
The decisive moment came when Campbell latched onto a pass from Sydie Peck, glided past Michael Ihiekwe and fired in a low cross. A fortunate deflection sent the ball straight into Brewster’s path, and he made no mistake, slotting home his third goal of the season.
Wednesday pushed for an equaliser, but their best chance went begging when Marvin Johnson’s volley was palmed away by Cooper, falling to substitute Svante Ingelsson. With the ball flying at him, he could only react instinctively, sending his shot over the bar.
