Blades boss Wilder laments coin attack in Sheffield derby draw

LONDON: Shef field United manager Chris Wi lder was lef t regret ting a “hosti le” atmosphere after a goalless derby draw with Shef f ield Wednesday at Hillsborough on Monday was overshadowed by coins being thrown at the Blades’ Jack O’Connell.

Monday’s result saw Sheffield United fail to regain a place among the top two of the Championship following wins by leaders Norwich and secondplaced Leeds.

Instead, the Blades were left in third place, two points behind fellow Yorkshire club Leeds.

O’Connell was preparing to take an early throw-in for the visitors when the defender appeared to be struck by objects thrown from a section of the home crowd.

Wilder, a former Sheffield United player, said: “There were some coins – it’s gone quite hostile.

“It’s always been boys and rough and tumble, but, when I was player, you knew Sheffield Wednesday players and you used to go out and have a beer.

“It’s gone pretty hostile now and I don’t think anybody wants to see that. I’m disappointed it’s gone that way and you can’t really do a lot about it.”

Wednesday boss Steve Bruce, who ended his playing days at Sheffield United before going on to manage the club, promised action against anyone found to have thrown objects onto the pitch.

“I real ly can’t comment because I didn’t see it,” he said.

“If that is the case and somebody threw a coin then unfortunately it’s the society we live in today and we’ll find them and we’ll deal with it.”

Monday’s incident followed the bottle-throwing that marred Celtic’s 2- 0 Scottish Cup quarterfinal win away to Hibernian in Edinburgh on Saturday.

In Sheffield, a draw was a frustrating result for United as only the top two sides at the end of the regular season are guaranteed places in English football’s lucrative top flight next term, with the other promotion place decided by a series of play- of f matches involving teams finishing third to sixth.