Bragging rights the only concern to fans
Sheffield Wednesday, even allowing for Sam Winnall’s recent departure to Derby County, have a plethora of strikers, but one stands tall above the others in the finishing stakes. Hooper is the most reliable finisher in the Owls’ camp and already has five goals to his name. Jack O’Connell’s task of keeping Hooper quiet will be key to deciding who has bragging rights come the end of the weekend.
Derbies rarely do, and especially ones that come after a lengthy gap such as this one, due to the play being frenetic and invariably errorridden. An early kick-off rarely helps an atmosphere, even on an occasion when passions will be running as high as on Sunday.
These two old foes may not have met since February, 2012, but such is the depth of the rivalry that every cough and spit on one side of the Steel City is invariably common knowledge in the other camp within minutes. Surprises seem unlikely.
Once a derby is under way, influencing proceedings from the sidelines isn’t overly easy.
When it comes to derbies, 1-1 always feels a safe bet, but this one has come at an inconvenient time for the Blades in terms of injuries so 2-1 to Wednesday.
Should be a feisty Caledonian edge in the engine room, in a nostalgic rewind to those famous derby days across the land in the Seventies and Eighties when a couple of Scots usually locked horns. Both have looked the part and midfield governorship assumes great importance.
I don’t think either Carlos Carvalhal or Chris Wilder will care a jot about expectations, as long as their side are smiling come mid-afternoon. The occasion is just too big; to expect free-flowing football is idealistic and would probably be a bonus to both sets of fans, whose tribal concern is bragging rights.
The derby has yielded some unlikely heroes over the years. Bobby Davison, Steve Watson and Alan Quinn to name but three. Here’s a few possible contenders to join that ilk: Paul Coutts, Tom Lees, Adam Reach, Kieron Freeman.
Both are proficient in that regard, but the battle could well boil down to workable options available. It is fair to say Carvalhal will have a bit more in his tool kit. Wilder may have to find a curveball.
The first goal will be key. Wednesday proved adept at seeing out games last term and if United are stymied in terms of attacking options, one goal may be enough for the Owls, who have plenty of attacking options. 1-0 for the Owls.
Blades’ captain Sharp missed last week’s defeat to Norwich with injury, and while his fitness has not been confirmed, the lifelong United fan would have to have a broken leg not to play. So it will be down to cultured Dutch defender van Aken to cope with him and the frenzied pace and atmosphere of a Steel City derby.
Hype around the game means there is little chance it will meet expectations. Every player will just hope they don’t make an error, which will stain their career. Alternatively, score a goal – like Chris O’Grady did for the Owls in 2012 – and you will retain hero status in one half of Sheffield.
The battle could be won in the central midfield – can Blades duo Paul Coutts and John Fleck stamp their authority on the game?
Carlos Carvalhal prefers 4-4-2, tinkering with a midfield diamond at times; Chris Wilder opts for three centre-backs and wing-backs. It will be intriguing to see which formation comes out on top.
Hard to call, not knowing how many of United’s five strikers who missed the Norwich game will be fit. We wait to hear on the fitness of Sharp, Clayton Donaldson and Leon Clarke, but I go for a 2-1 win for Wednesday – Steven Fletcher and Gary Hooper could prove a key pairing.