Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United: Express Sport brings you LIVE scores, news and highlights from Hillsborough
12:50: Chris Wilder says there is only one important occasion this weekend, and it’s most certainly NOT his 50th birthday.
The Blades make the short journey along the A61 for the 128th Steel City derby, but the first since 2012, and Wilder, a lifelong United fan, is relishing the encounter.
“There’s only one big occasion this weekend and that’s the derby,” Wilder said. “These are the games we want to be involved in. It’s why we worked so hard to come up.
“We won’t take a backward step. We’ve never taken one since I’ve been here and we’re not going to start doing it now. We’ll be on the front foot, as we always have been. That’s the way we want to play.”
12:40: Carlos Carvalhal has kept things simple for today’s clash. He’s made one change from the starting XI who drew 1-1 with Cardiff. Ross Wallace replaces Daniel Pudil on the wing.
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder makes three changes.
Kieron Freeman, Mark Duffy and Ched Evans replace George Baldock, Leon Clarke and Cameron Carter-Vickers.
The Blades also see the return of leading goalscorer Billy Sharp, he’s fit enough for the bench.
12:25: Here’s your starting XI’s folks. A quick glance tells me that Billy Sharp is fit enough to make the bench today. Big boost for the Blades.
Sheffield Wednesday XI: Westwood, Hunt, Lees, Van Aken, Reach, Wallace, Lee, Jones, Bannan, Fletcher, Hooper.
Subs: Wildsmith, Palmer, Pudil, Butterfield, Joao, Rhodes, Nuhiu.
Sheffield United XI: Blackman, Baldock, Stevens, Fleck, O’Connell, Basham, Clarke, Wright, Coutts, Carter-Vickers, Brooks.
Subs: Moore, Lundstram, Sharp, Duffy, Lafferty, Evans, Carruthers.
12:20: God afternoon folks, welcome to our LIVE coverage of Sheffield Wednesday vs Sheffield United from Hillsborough.
What a refreshing change it is to be able to concentrate on the Championship rather than a second-rate Premier League fixture that Sky Sports needed to fill their quota with…
One of English football’s most passionate derby clashes returns today after a five year absence – the Steel City derby.
As always local pride is on the line but this year, after some lean times for the two South Yorkshire teams, there is also an air of optimism and ambition surrounding both clubs.
Let’s get stuck in!
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY TEAM NEWS
Sheffield Wednesday pair Sam Hutchinson and Almen Abdi could both return to contention for today’s derby.
Hutchinson has missed the last seven games due to a knee problem and fellow midfielder Abdi has been sidelined since the end of August with knee and abductor injuries.
Skipper Glenn Loovens has returned to training following a hip injury but it remains to be seen whether it’ll come too soon for the central defender.
Forward Fernando Forestieri (knee) and midfielder George Boyd (shoulder) are both recovering from surgery.
SHEFFIELD UNITED TEAM NEWS
Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder refused to divulge any team news, although he has not been able to hide the fact that he is in the midst of a striking crisis with Billy Sharp, Clayton Donaldson, Leon Clarke, James Hanson and Caolan Lavery all missing the 1-0 defeat to Norwich through injury.
The latter two are definitely out again, but if Sharp, Donaldson and Clarke are absent, it means Ched Evans is the only recognised striker for the Blades – and even he needs knee surgery.
The Blades will be able to call on midfielder Paul Coutts after no further action was taken against him by the Football Association following an off-the-ball incident in the game with Norwich.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sheffield Wednesday W D W W D; Sheffield United W W W W L
Top scorers (all competitions): Gary Hooper (Sheffield Wednesday) 5; Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) 4
Match odds: H 1-1 A 13-5 D 11-5
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
