An emotional Chris Wilder declared Sheffield United’s season was “alive” and Sheffield Wednesday’s “was done” after his side’s 1-0 Steel City derby win at Hillsborough.
Rhian Brewster’s second-half goal clinched the Blades their first league double over Sheffield Wednesday in 19 years and lifted them back into the Sky Bet Championship’s top two.
The Blades, indebted to goalkeeper Michael Cooper – who made top-class saves in either half – leapfrogged Burnley to move level on points with leaders Leeds.
Blades boss Wilder, a United fan, said: “I’m a local boy. I’ve managed in six local derbies and I understand the emotions of them and everything. I feel it, I breathe it.
WHAT A FEELING ❤️✊ pic.twitter.com/cO33ppqVfZ
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 16, 2025
“We’re here to win and we’ve won another tight Sheffield derby. It hasn’t been luck. We didn’t come here expecting it to be a slow start.
“It was a big start from them and we got through that and then we got control back of the game.
“We win games of football. We’re on 82 points (minus a two-point deduction) after 38 games. Sheffield Wednesday are on 51. Their season’s done.
“Ours is still alive. We’re 31 points clear of them, that’s quite big.
“It’s amazing, we weren’t even thinking about going top of the division today. It was ‘we have the chance of doing the Sheffield double’.
“When I went for run this morning to clear my head at half-five or six o’clock, whatever daft time it was, just to get out the house, all I’m thinking about was winning a game of football today.”
Brewster’s career at Bramall Lane following his £23.5million move from Liverpool in 2020 has been undermined by injury and Wilder was thrilled for his match-winner.
He added: “I would have wanted him too (to score the winner). He’s been through a lot but hopefully all the hard work he’s put in – he never wanted to be injured.
“He came with a fee. It was a difficult first season for him with Covid and us having a struggle (in the Premier League).
“Rhian’s had a difficult time here. He’s an example to young players to keep going and you get your moment if you keep working hard.
“I’m delighted for him and everybody connected to our club should be.”
Who put the ball in the Wednesday net? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/9tBLLGqFWg
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 16, 2025
The Owls missed the chance to close in on a play-off place and a third straight home league defeat saw their winless derby run against the Blades extend to six matches.
Their last victory in this fixture was back in 2012, while they have failed to score in each of the two sides’ last five encounters.
Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl said: “In the second half they were just once in our box. One touch and it’s a goal.
“We had really good opportunities but football is about defending goals and scoring goals and I cannot complain about my team.
“They invested a lot. We tried everything. The atmosphere was great. If you want, I think there should be no winning team today.”
Ruben Amorim was unable to overcome Pep Guardiola for a third time this term as Manchester United and Manchester City played out a drab 0-0 derby draw at Old Trafford.The 196th Manchester derby was the teams’ most low key clash in years, with the visitors fighting for a Champions League spot rather than a fifth straight title at a side needing to win the Europa League to save their season.Un...
Jim Goodwin challenged Dundee United to hunt down the teams above them in the race for Europe after they surged eight points clear of sixth-placed Hearts with a 1-0 win at Tynecastle.The Tannadice side secured their top-six place in the William Hill Premiership on Saturday after results elsewhere went their way.And they had more joy on Sunday after Sam Dalby’s stunning second-half header, fo...
Ivan Juric paid tribute to Southampton’s “incredible” fan base for the love they showed after relegation from the Premier League in record-breaking fashion was confirmed at Tottenham.Saints’ fate had felt inevitable for months, but a 2-1 victory for Wolves at Ipswich on Saturday opened up a 22-point gap to safety for the south coast club.It meant Juric’s team required...
Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted he was not used to seeing the volume of mistakes made by his Premier League leaders as a 3-2 defeat at Fulham saw their 26-match unbeaten league run ended.Despite Alexis Mac Allister’s sensational opener, Liverpool were handed their second defeat of the campaign, with Fulham responding thanks to goals from Ryan Sessegnon, Alex Iwobi and Rodrigo Muniz.Subs...
Enzo Maresca blamed the quick turnaround for his selection gamble after starting Cole Palmer on the bench in Chelsea’s 0-0 draw at Brentford.The Italian felt it was unfair that the Blues had 24 hours less than Brentford to prepare for the west London derby, having played Tottenham at home on Thursday.England forward Palmer was eventually introduced after an hour but he was unable to break th...
Sam Dalby’s header proved decisive as Dundee United capitalised on a first-half red card for Hearts forward James Wilson to win 1-0 at Tynecastle and boost their European hopes.The Jambos knew victory would secure their top-six place and take them within two points of fifth-placed United in the William Hill Premiership, and they were on top before the break.However, the dismissal of 18-year-...
Southampton’s survival battle ended at Tottenham after a 3-1 defeat consigned them to relegation from the Premier League in record-breaking fashion.Saints’ fate had felt inevitable for months, but a 2-1 victory for Wolves at bottom-three club Ipswich on Saturday opened up a 22-point gap to safety for the south coast club.It meant Ivan Juric’s team required a draw or win in north ...
Leaders Liverpool saw their 26-match unbeaten Premier League run ended as they threw away the lead and suffered their second defeat of the season as Fulham fought back to claim a narrow 3-2 victory at Craven Cottage.Arne Slot’s men failed to capitalise on Arsenal’s dropped points at Goodison Park in the previous 24 hours, on a day where Alexis Mac Allister scored a goal-of-the-season c...
Cole Palmer was left on the bench for almost an hour as Chelsea’s winless run on the road continued with a goalless draw at Brentford.Blues boss Enzo Maresca raised eyebrows by leaving the England forward out of his starting line-up despite his side battling for a Champions League place.They do have a Conference League quarter-final trip to Legia Warsaw on Thursday, but Maresca’s prior...
Brendan Rodgers had to control his anger after William Hill Premiership leaders Celtic suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to bottom side St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.Defender Daniels Balodis scored the only goal of the game after four minutes before the visitors dominated for the rest of the game but were denied by Simo Valakari’s side, whose keeper Andy Fisher made some vital saves.It was the Pe...
- 1 Aaron Collins scores against former club as Bolton beat Bristol Rovers
- 2 Alan Sheehan happy to grind out win over Derby
- 3 Leaders Liverpool’s 26-match unbeaten Premier League run ended in Fulham defeat
- 4 Five draws in a row for Gillingham as points shared with Salford
- 5 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 6 Hollywood superstar Anne Hathaway sends clear message to Bukayo Saka
- 7 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 8 In-form Hibs condemn Rangers to record fifth successive home defeat
- 9 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender
- 10 Kieran Green at the double as Grimsby see off Morecambe