Blades fans were like my brothers, but when I went back there with Leeds, they all just wanted to rip my head off!

BRIAN DEANE ON THE BITTER RIVALRY WHICH WILL BE REKINDLED TOMORROW

THEY have bigger rivals but their fans still love to hate each other.

And one man knows better than most the antipathy that exists between supporters of Sheffield United and Leeds, who meet at Bramall Lane tomorrow. Brian Deane had three spells with the Blades and two with Leeds and admits he was shocked by the hostility he faced when he moved to Elland Road in 1993.

“It was difficult going back to

Bramall Lane because for so long all the fans were like my brothers,” said Deane, who scored for Leeds in the last top- flight meeting between the sides, a 2-2 draw on March 13, 1994.

“When I went up for corners at the Kop end, I used to look into the crowd and see individuals and they would be egging me on.

“When I went back with Leeds, those same faces looked like they wanted to rip my head off.

“It’s like when you finish with a girl, that love can turn into something else!

“They weren’t happy that I had gone to Leeds and maybe I was a little bit naive in expecting to have a little bit of fun together.

“Having no crowd there on Sunday will probably suit Leeds more because the Blades fans are so passionate that they have been like a 12th man at times for their team.”

The rivalry between Yorkshire’s two biggest cities has periodically been in the deep freeze because of their fluctuating fortunes. But once defrosted, it can heat very quickly. The clubs went head to head for the Division Two title in 1989-90 when Howard Wilkinson’s

Leeds pipped Dave Bassett’s Blades on goal difference on the final day of the season.

Their hostility was revived in 2005-06 when Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock secured automatic promotion to the Premier League ahead of his former No.2 Kevin Blackwell, who in his eyes had “defected” to Leeds. It resur

faced in 2018-19 when Blades chief Chris Wilder branded Leeds “muppets” after he secured automatic promotion to the top flight at their expense.

As a Blades fan, Wilder is steeped in the rivalry between the sides and played under Bassett against Leeds 30 years ago.

Deane, 52, was Wilder’s Blades

team-mate and says he reminds him of Bassett because he is such a great man-manager.

“How he motivates players reminds me of how Harry used to motivate us, fostering that siege mentality among his players,” said Deane ( left). “Chris doesn’t give too much praise but he does when it’s due and that’s important.

Whether you need that stern n talkingtalkan to or an arm round d the shoulder, he’s spot on.”

Deane – the first player to score in the e Premier League, 28 years ago – cannot call this high noon shoot- oot- out and is just pleased the he Yorkshire derby is back in the e Premier League.

“Leeds have scored seven and conceded seven, so that tells you there should uld be goals,” he said.

“I’m just t glad they’re both back in the he Premier League and I hope e they’re still there at the end of the season.

“This needs eeds to be a regular Premier League eague fixture. Yorked Yorkshire needed good represenhe representation in the Premier League