Match Preview: United Vs Wednesday

United Vs Wednesday

Date:  Saturday 3rd December

Venue: Bramall Lane, Sheffield

The big one. At last. United Vs Wednesday.

The Sheffield derby is undoubtedly the game all Wednesday and United fans looked for first when the fixtures came out way back in the summer. It's the game of the season as far as football fans in Sheffield are concerned.

The months have ticked by since then though, and I'm sure the United fans will be looking forward to this one much more than the Wednesdayites.

United lie second in the Championship after a fantastic start to the campaign which was kicked off with a 4-1 victory over Leicester City. The momentum has kept running for the blades, who have lost just three matches this season and are one of the bookies favourites - along with Reading - to achieve promotion to the Premiership.

It may be hard to take for myself and Wednesday fans alike, but manager Neil Warnock has built a squad who finally look like taking the red and white half of Sheffield to the promised land after years of trying.

Warnock has been given amounts of money that Paul Sturrock could only dream of to bring in his own players for an assualt on the Championship this season. Paul Ifill moved to Bramall Lane in the summer from Millwall and has proven to be a big hit withb the Blades fans. Experienced front man Neil Shipperly also moved north from Crystal Palace, as did Keith Gillespie from Leicester City. David Unsworth was also brought in to strengthen the defence from Portsmouth.

The mix of class and experience has added to the team that Warnock has brought so close to glory in the past few seasons. Michael Tonge, Nick Montgomery, Paddy Kenny, Phil Jaglielka and Alan Wright to name but a few have all been key playes in United's success.

Let's not forget the mediocre players that Warnock has got the best out of. No sign of sour grapes here, but Alan Quinn, Leigh Bromby, and Derek Geary hardly set the world alight whilst at Wednesday, despite being the better players in a not-so successful squad. The three aforementioned former Owls will no doubt get a hostile reception both at the Lane, and more-so at the return fixture in March from Wednesday fans.

Usually in these fixtures, United have been the under-dog and have usually come out on top. This time the tide has turned, and United are very much the bookmakers favourite to win the match. Up until last weekend I would have said that this may prove to be a good thing as far as Wedneday are concerned, but events in the past few weeks have put the Derby back on a more level standing.

I'll tell you why.

Derby games are very much a one-off match, league positions cna usually be thrown out the window on such occasions. In the past United have always been the underdogs and it's worked in their favour. I wouldn't say I was looking forward to it, but Wednesday going in as underdogs was certainly different.

The past weeks have seen unrest in the Blades camp though with manager Neil Warnock being linked with the job at Portsmouth. This has led to United going on their poorest run of the season - no wins in 3, ending in a 4-2 defeat at mid-table Leicester City at the weekend. United now have everything to play for on Saturday, and although they may still be the favourites, they will be much more determined in light of these recent events.

The good news for Wednesday fans is that United captain Chris Morgan will face his final game suspended following his sending-off against Millwall two weeks ago. David Unsworth was also missing from their trip to Leicester, so the influential Phil Jagielka has been used in defence - which can only be a good thing for wednesdayites. Paul Ifill was an unused substitute at the Walkers stadium but is likely to regain his place on Saturday.

Wednesday are likely to use the same squad that lost to Stoke at the weekend. Daryl Murphy should retain his place up front, but a question makr will be hanging over the head of his stroke partner - should there be one. Lee Peacock is expected back in training on Tuesday following a neck injury, and will be the favourite to partner on-loan Murphy. David Graham, Gaby Agbonlahor, and Barry Corr will also be available.

JP McGovern is another player who has played for both sides of the city, and should be included in the squad following his comeback from injury on Saturday. Chris Eagles should also be recalled to the squad following his bout of flu. Graham Coughlan should continue in defence following a successful 90 minutes at the weekend.

Boss Paul Sturrock knows how important the game is to Wednesday fans, so the tactics he'll use are unknown. At the last away match at Watford sturrock changes to a 4-3-3 formation, which he seemed to think worked so that may be a possibility.

One thing is for sure - anything can happen in a derby, and let's hope that anything can happen on Saturday - in favour of the blue and white side of the city of course.

Come on you blue and white wizards!

United: Kenny, Geary, Jagielka, Bromby, Wright, Gillespie (Kabba 45), Tonge (Short 85), Montgomery, Quinn, Webber, Pericard (Shipperley 70).
Subs Not Used: Ifill, Nalis.

Wednesday: Weaver, Heckingbottom (O'Brien 71), Coughlan, Diallo, Simek, Whelan, Brunt, Partridge (Agbonlahor 76), Rocastle, Murphy, Graham (McGovern 71).
Subs Not Used: Wood, Corr.

Last Time Out:

15th October 2005

United 3-1 Wednesday

United: Kenny, Jagielka, Murphy, Page, Quinn, Brown, McCall, Tonge, Ndlovu, Windass, Kabba. Subs: Montgomery, Allison, Peschisolido, De Vogt, Mooney.

Goals: Kabba 72', Brown 65', Allison 78'.

Wednesday: Pressman, Geary, Maddix, Monk, Westwood, Johnston, Powell, Robinson, Alan Quinn, Di Piedi, Kuqi. Subs: Knight, Haslam, Green, Crane, Evans.

Goals: Quinn 47'.

Head-To-Head:

Current Form (last 5):

 Won (Luton Town H 4-0), Won (Crystal Palace A 3-2), Drew (Millwall H 2-2), Drew (Wolves A 0-0), Lost (Leicester City A 2-4)

 Won (Derby County H 2-1), Lost (Cardiff City H 1-3), Lost (Watford A 1-2) Draw (Plymouth H 0-0) Lost (Stoke City H 0-2)

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