Nothing gets the blood stirring as much as the rivalry that is seen in a local derby fixture, even more so if this is an inter-city fixture.
One of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures that was due to hit the Sky Bet Championship this season was the Steel City Derby fixture between Sheffield Wednesday and their cross-city neighbours Sheffield United.
Today was the day, it was Owls vs Blades at Hillsborough, Wednesday’s ground and the blue-and-white side of the Steel City readied themselves to clash with the recently promoted red-and-white portion of Sheffield.
The only good result, well fair to both sides would have been a draw – there would at least have been a sense of begrudged equality in a game that neither could claim. A win either way would be unbearable for the losing fans, even more so if United managed to defeat Wednesday on their own patch – which is exactly what happened.
The Blades were sharp early on – leaping out to a rapid 2-0 advantage over their hosts.
3' GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!! From the free kick Fleck puts the Blades 1-0 up #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/FT6ULSqdak
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 24, 2017
15' GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! Clarke makes it 2-0 #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/Jzipx9Ijps
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 24, 2017
Then, with the Blades looking to head to the break two goals to the good, Wednesday pulled a vital ‘just-before-the-break’ goal through Gary Hooper.
We've got one back before the break and it's HOOPER with the goal! #swfcLIVE pic.twitter.com/9YfK0AYWRn
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) September 24, 2017
After the hour mark, the score still stood at 2-1 to United, only for Lucas Joao (65′) to draw the home side level at 2-2.
JOAO!!!! #swfcLIVE pic.twitter.com/eBFg89Zkh5
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) September 24, 2017
A breath later (67′) and United were back in front with Mark Duffy giving the advantage back to the Blades only five minutes after coming on as a substitute.
67' GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! Duffy puts the Blades back infront #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/6GBiq6USqa
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 24, 2017
With Wednesday upping the pressure, it was left to Leon Clarke (77′) to put the cherry-on-top of an excellent game with his second of the afternoon.
77' GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!! Clarke scores his second to make it 4-2 #twitterblades pic.twitter.com/2QN7OA3Y7E
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 24, 2017
That is how it finished, with Sheffield United claiming city bragging rights in a hotly-contested and enthralling Steel City derby fixture.
On the following page are what both sets of fans had to say about the result over on Twitter.