Sheffield Utd 1-3 Derby: Like 3 Points In Sheffield, Like A Cheeky Chipped Finish
Credit: photoyh / shutterstock.com
Sheffield United’s Championship nightmare continued this Halloween weekend. Without any sweets to hand out, they instead gifted goals when Derby County came knocking at the door.
Two weeks ago, Derby were teetering above the drop zone by a single point having won just once in ten Championship games and had just succumbed to an embarrassing and listless defeat at fellow strugglers Oxford. Things looked desperate for the midlands club, and manager John Eustace’s position was starting to come under question amongst the fanbase. Fourteen days and three wins later, fans are looking up the table rather than down it and Eustace’s name was echoing around the empty seats in Bramall Lane as the Rams ran out comfortable winners.
Sheffield United’s start to the season has been dreadful, the only silver lining being they aren’t the worst club from Sheffield, but things are even starting to look more positive at Wednesday. They have a squad packed with individuals that can obviously compete at a higher standard than they’re showing, having achieved 90 points and narrowly missing out on promotion in the play-off final last time out, but something just won’t click for the Blades.
A lot of the pre-match chat was about this Sheffield United side being in a false position, and I have to agree. If they’d been beaten at Oxford as they had deserved to and their neighbours’ financial transgressions had been resolved, the Blades would find themselves rock bottom where they belong. If Chris Wilder’s side are going to dig themselves out of this mess, home games against teams like Derby simply have to be turned into wins. The Rams have a hideous record at Bramall Lane - a fact that I, a Derby fan who spent his university years living in Sheffield, know all too well. They hadn’t won there in fourteen years and hadn’t managed three goals since 1972. Certainly an unprecedented result, especially by the Tipple boys as two of them had Derby down to lose this week! You’ll learn one day lads.
It’s no coincidence that the resurgence of Derby has coincided with the return from injury of defender Sondre Langas. The Norwegian was a key figure in the miraculous survival last season, putting his body on the line for the cause and leaving himself in need of an operation that has kept him out of action until last week. He finally reappeared as he was subbed on at half-time against Norwich, his side reverted to a back three and went on to win their first home game of the season and have never looked back.
Another player left out in the cold was right wing-back Joe Ward. Derby have had their fair share of players in his position over recent years, Ryan Nyambe and the now-MK Dons player Kane Wilson took precedent over him previously and marquee summer signing Max Johnston is now the Rams’ first choice. Johnston picked up an injury last week against QPR, however, so Ward was called upon to make his first Championship start since December 2024. One thing Ward is known for is his delivery, and this was evident in this game as his whipped corner found the head of Carlton Morris who glanced the ball inside the far post for 1-0. Sheffield United were unable to muster a reply, their best chance falling to Callum O’Hare who was stopped by a lunging tackle before he could get his shot away, so the score remained 1-0 at the break.
The second goal came 19 seconds after the restart, as Sheffield United’s anthem was still blaring out over the speakers. Midfielder Sydie Peck played a pass back to his defence under Derby pressure without realising Carlton Morris was lurking. The striker latched on to the wayward ball and charged into the box, lifting his shot over Michael Cooper in goal just as the tannoy was cut off to avoid further embarrassment.
Morris then completed a first career hat-trick from the penalty spot just after the hour mark. Rams forward Patrick Agyemang beat his man and dribbled into the box, using his strength to bully Alex Matos who dropped to the floor and grabbed the ball expecting a free kick. The referee blew for a penalty and handball, deeming that Agyemang simply out-worked Matos. The penalty was definitely soft, but will epitomise everything Wilder wants to change about this team if they’re to get out of the relegation zone. Three players stood around the ball as Agyemang pressured Matos and nobody was brave enough to stick themselves in the way of it to get it clear. Add that to a sloppy second goal and poor marking from a set piece for the first, this team looks a million miles away from a Chris Wilder side.
Callum O’Hare struggled in his first season in red and white, widely maligned by fans for being too weak and not working hard enough, but he has been the only player that looks like he’s trying so far this campaign. His goal came from hard work in the box following a long throw, latching on to the bouncing ball and finishing well beyond Jacob Zetterstrom in the Derby goal. He had a few other chances himself as well as helping create them, the best of these a near-post effort that was well saved by the Swede. Zetterstrom has been the busiest keeper in the division this season, so he’s well practiced.
The game finished 3-1 and condemned Sheffield United to another weekend languishing in the Championship’s bottom three. They face a difficult trip to leaders Coventry in midweek before welcoming QPR to the Lane. Losses in both these games could really spell disaster for Wilder’s team as they then have to face Sheffield Wednesday, who will love nothing more than to drag their city rivals down to League One with them.
Derby, on the other hand, can start to look up the table for a change. Hull come to Pride Park in midweek, they’ve been in good form but their away record is middling and Derby will hope to capitalise on their winning streak and keep charging up the table. Then it’s a trip to strugglers, and Eustace’s former side, Blackburn and a home tie against the worst away side in the league in Watford. It would be very Derby to lose both of these, but if they were to extend their winning streak even further it might not be long before dreams of the play-offs are circling around fans’ heads once more.