Tyreese Campbell scored the only goal to send Sheffield United second in the Championship and claim local bragging rights, as they won a scrappy Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Bramall Lane.
Coming into the game, The Blades made two changes from their late win at Bristol City with Rak-Sakyi and Arblaster coming in for Brooks and Peck while Wednesday named an unchanged team from the side that beat Norwich.
Before the match, both sides paid respects to the fallen with the British Armed Forces present on Remembrance Sunday.
In the first Sheffield derby for five years, neither side calved out a clear-cut chance or had a shot on target in a particularly disjointed first half.
The visitors had two long range efforts well off target, Josh Windass shooting with the outside of his right foot but well beyond Michael Cooper’s left post and Shea Charles’ side footed effort from long range towards the end of the half could only find The Kop.
The Blades’ best opportunity came on 18 minutes when Vinicius Souza’s cutback found Callum O’Hare in the middle of the penalty area, but his scuffed shot was blocked and trickled through to Beadle.
Tempers flared five minutes before the break when Owls captain Barry Bannan’s reckless challenge on Harrison Burrows saw him cautioned.
The home side started the second period brighter and just five minutes after the break, Tyresse Campbell latched onto Callum O’Hare’s through ball and finished low past Beadle, sending those in red and white wild. The 24-year-old’s opener was the only shot on target recorded by either side.
The moment that won it for Sheffield United! pic.twitter.com/bx2BrQuKEL
— Forge Sport (@ForgeSport) November 10, 2024
A period of United pressure followed but they couldn’t add to their advantage and a double substitution from Danny Rohl gave the visitors a foothold again with Anthony Musaba making an immediate impact with a purposeful run into the box, but his effort was blocked by several Blades defenders.
Josh Windass also skied a speculative effort on the half volley following Michael Smith’s chest down, before the striker was replaced shortly after.
There was a flurry of Wednesday corners in the closing stages with Dominic Iorfa seeing two efforts rise over the bar, but the visitors couldn’t find that elusive equaliser and go into the international break 15th in the table.
SUPER BLADESMEN ⚔️🔥 pic.twitter.com/bxN8cqV10b
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) November 10, 2024
As for The Blades, this Steel City Derby victory will have meant a lot to manager and local boy Chris Wilder, who went into unrefined celebration at the full-time whistle – this was their sixth consecutive clean sheet at home, for a side who have the second-best defensive record in the division.
Only the two point deduction they received at the start of the season is denying them top spot, so they will be as confident as ever of an immediate return to the top flight.
Full time: Sheffield United 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
