There have been 126 Steel City Derbies taken place prior to this Sunday's clash at S6 with United winning a large percentage (37%) of these fixtures, although the last two outings have ended in draws. The last team to win a Derby match was United when the Blades recorded a 3-2 victory in Wednesday's relegation season of 2009/10.
Ironically the first ever professional meeting of the two teams also ended in a 1-1 draw, this was on 16 October 1893 - the report from this match was published on Blades-Mad prior to our last meeting this season. However the Red and Blue of Sheffield had met times before that in friendly matches. The first ever meeting of the two teams came on 15 December 1890 at Olive Grove, the former ground of Wednesday - the Owls won 2-1 that day with W. Robertson netting for United. Surprisingly; there was no meeting between the two clubs in the Blades first ever season of 1889/90 - they did however face Sheffield sides; Sheffield Exchange, Sheffield Heeley, Sheffield Club and Attercliffe!
The Owls gained their last victory at either Hillsborough or Bramall Lane on 7 February 2009 (2-1) when there win at the Lane completed the double over United; it was the first time they had formed a double victory in a season for 94 years. On 18 September 2009 United claimed there last victory in a Sheffield Derby (3-2) - Jamie Ward, Darius Henderson and Lewis Buxton (own goal) on target for the Blades whilst the Owls responded with strikes from Marcus Tudgay and Etienne Esajas.
At this level (Third Tier) there has only been one ever season were a Steel City Derby has taken place. This was in the 1979/80 campaign were Wednesday unforgettably beat United 4-0 on Boxing Day. In the return fixture at Bramall Lane on 5 April the pair drew 1-1 and finished the season mid-table (12th) whilst Wednesday finished 3rd and was enough to secure promotion.
Alan Quinn remains the only player to have scored in a Steel City Derby for both clubs; his two goals both occurred at Bramall Lane and both ending in United victories. His first strike (46 minutes) came in January 2003 for Wednesday when he netted the first goal of the game only for it to end 3-1 and his second (for United) came in December 2005 (24 minutes) in a 1-0 win as the Blades celebrated promotion to the Premier League that season.
On other records Lewis Buxton holds the record for netting the Blades 100th Derby goal in all competitive competitions at Bramall Lane when he headed into his own net following a challenge from Darius Henderson in the 2009/10 encounter.
:: Memorable Matches ::
There have of course being some famous victories for both sides too over the years; older fans may recall United overthrowing Wednesday at Bramall Lane on 8 September 1951 when in front of 51,075 fans United beat their rivals by a whopping 7-3 score-line. In fact the Owls had taken the lead inside 90 seconds through Thomas but United bounced back and by half-time where leading 2-1 with strikes from Derek Hawksworth and Harold Brook; it could have been more but McIntosh in the Owls goal had kept out Fred Furniss spot kick.
Dennis Woodhead leveled for the Owls on the hour mark with the scores locked at 2-2 with 30 minutes of play remaining. In rapid response Alf Ringstead, Hawksworth and Ringstead again and Fred Smith netted to make it six - Woodhead reduced the deficit for the visitors but Brook netted again to complete the rout.
Wednesday fans will boast that the 'Boxing Day Massacre' as there biggest Steel City victory, winning 4-0 at Hillsborough in 1979 (We are sure it will be mentioned somewhere in the match day programme!) and whilst no doubt it is a famous victory for the Blue half of Sheffield it isn't their biggest official recorded winning score. They beat United on their own ground 5-2 in the old First Division on 22 September 1928 but their biggest win came on 13 February 1943 when they recorded a War League win of 8-2 at home.
On three occasions the two teams have drawn 3-3 which is the biggest scoring draws between the two clubs. The first draw came at Bramall Lane on 6 November 1909, since then they have drawn by the same score-line at Hillsborough on 4 February 1928 and 24 September 1932.
Away from home the Blades best score-line at Hillsborough has ended in a 3-1 victory in favour of the Red & White Wizards - this has happened on four occasions in; 1909/10, 1930/31, 1951/52 and most recently 1991/92. United have managed a 5-2 win in S6 before today in a County Cup fixture in 1955/56 and in the War League campaign of 1917/18 the Owls recorded a 5-0 win at the Lane.
On 21 November 1989 there was a rare occurrence were there was just one position difference between the two clubs but yet there was two Divisions separating them when they met in the Zenith Data Systems Cup Second Round at Hillsborough. The game finished 2-2 at 90 minutes and Wednesday went on to score a winner in extra-time. At the end of the season they changed hands with the Owls being relegated and United winning promotion to Division One.
:: Derby Doubles ::
Sheffield United have managed ten league doubles over Wednesday, they accomplished this in; 1894/95, 1904/05, 1926/27, 1933/34, 1937/38, 1951/52, 1954/55, 1961/62, 1991/92 and most recently 2005/06. Wednesday have completed six doubles; 1905/06, 1907/08, 1910/11, 1912/13, 1913/14 and 2009/09. However with this seasons encounter at Bramall Lane ending 2-2 neither side can complete a derby double.
:: Hat-tricks ::
Only one Blade has netted a league hat-trick against our most fiercest rival; that honour goes to Bill Boyd (1933/34) in a 5-1 win. Unofficially there has been four others; Arthur Watson (1895/96) in a friendly fixture, Harry Johnson (1927/28) in the FA Cup, Jimmy Dunne (1932/33) scored four in a County Cup Final and Charlie Thompson (1942/43) scored three in the War League.
Picture: Captains table - Sheffield United captain Stewart Houston shakes hands with Sheffield Wednesday's Carl Shutt (image copyright to actionimages.com) in our League Cup encounter on 9 September 1980 at Hillsborough.
| PLD | WON | DRW | LST | GF | GA | |
| Football League | 113 | 42 | 36 | 35 | 156 | 146 |
| League Cup | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| FA Cup | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 13 |
| Full Members Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 126 | 45 | 40 | 41 | 174 | 167 |
:: Head-to-Head ::
| Season | Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011/2012 | Sun 16 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | League One |
| 2009/2010 | Sun 18 Apr | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship |
| Fri 18 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship | |
| 2008/2009 | Sat 07 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship |
| Sun 19 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2007/2008 | Tue 08 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship |
| Sat 19 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship | |
| 2005/2006 | Sat 18 Feb | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | Championship |
| Sat 03 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | Championship | |
| 2002/2003 | Fri 17 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | League Division One |
| Sun 01 Sep | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
| 2001/2002 | Tue 29 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | League Division One |
| Sun 07 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One | |
| 2000/2001 | Sun 01 Apr | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | League Division One |
| Sat 16 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | League Division One | |
| Wed 01 Nov | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | League Cup | |
| 1993/1994 | Sat 22 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Premiership |
| Sat 23 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | Premiership | |
| 1992/1993 | Wed 21 Apr | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Premier League |
| Sat 03 Apr | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| after extra time, 90 minutes ?-?; played at Wembley | |||||
| Sun 08 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | Premier League | |
| 1991/1992 | Wed 11 Mar | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sun 17 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1989/1990 | Tue 21 Nov | Sheff. Wed. | 3 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | (Full Members) |
| after extra time, 90 minutes 2-2 | |||||
| 1980/1981 | Tue 12 Aug | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | League Cup |
| Sheffield Wednesday won 3-1 on aggregate | |||||
| Sat 09 Aug | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | League Cup | |
| 1979/1980 | Sat 05 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | Third Division |
| Wed 26 Dec | Sheff. Wed. | 4 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Third Division | |
| 1970/1971 | Mon 12 Apr | Sheff. Wed. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 03 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | Second Division | |
| 1967/1968 | Sat 06 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 02 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1966/1967 | Sat 04 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division |
| Sat 24 Sep | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1965/1966 | Sat 12 Mar | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 18 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1964/1965 | Sat 02 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 3 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division |
| Sat 05 Sep | Sheff. Wed. | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1963/1964 | Sat 18 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 3 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 14 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1962/1963 | Wed 15 May | Sheff. Wed. | 3 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 06 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1961/1962 | Sat 03 Feb | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 16 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1959/1960 | Sat 12 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | F.A. Cup |
| 1958/1959 | Sat 21 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | Second Division |
| Sat 04 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division | |
| 1954/1955 | Sat 05 Feb | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 18 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1953/1954 | Sat 23 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 3 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Wed 13 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Wed. | F.A. Cup | |
| Sat 09 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| Sat 12 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1951/1952 | Sat 05 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 08 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 7 - 3 | Sheff. Wed. | Second Division | |
| 1949/1950 | Sat 21 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | Second Division |
| Sat 17 Sep | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division | |
| 1938/1939 | Sat 04 Mar | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division |
| Sat 29 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 0 | Sheff. Wed. | Second Division | |
| 1937/1938 | Sat 26 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | Second Division |
| Sat 16 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | Second Division | |
| 1933/1934 | Sat 03 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 5 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division |
| Sat 21 Oct | Sheff. Wed. | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1932/1933 | Sat 04 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 3 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division |
| Sat 24 Sep | Sheff. Wed. | 3 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1931/1932 | Sat 02 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division |
| Sat 21 Nov | Sheff. Wed. | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1930/1931 | Sat 03 Jan | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 06 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1929/1930 | Sat 01 Feb | Sheff. Wed. | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 28 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Wed. | First Division | |
| 1928/1929 | Sat 02 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 22 Sep | The Wednesday | 5 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1927/1928 | Wed 22 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 1 | The Wednesday | F.A. Cup |
| Sat 18 Feb | The Wednesday | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup | |
| Sat 04 Feb | The Wednesday | 3 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| Sat 24 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1926/1927 | Sat 15 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 28 Aug | The Wednesday | 2 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1924/1925 | Sat 31 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 2 | The Wednesday | F.A. Cup |
| 1919/1920 | Sat 04 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 0 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 27 Sep | The Wednesday | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1914/1915 | Sat 02 Jan | The Wednesday | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 05 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1913/1914 | Sat 28 Feb | The Wednesday | 2 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 25 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1912/1913 | Sat 01 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 26 Oct | The Wednesday | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1911/1912 | Sat 09 Mar | The Wednesday | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 04 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1910/1911 | Sat 25 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 22 Oct | The Wednesday | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1909/1910 | Sat 19 Mar | The Wednesday | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 06 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 3 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1908/1909 | Sat 26 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Fri 25 Dec | The Wednesday | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1907/1908 | Sat 07 Mar | The Wednesday | 2 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 09 Nov | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 3 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1906/1907 | Thu 04 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 03 Nov | The Wednesday | 2 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1905/1906 | Wed 18 Apr | The Wednesday | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 21 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 0 - 2 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1904/1905 | Sat 08 Apr | Sheff. Utd. | 4 - 2 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 10 Dec | The Wednesday | 1 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1903/1904 | Sat 09 Apr | The Wednesday | 3 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 12 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1902/1903 | Sat 11 Oct | The Wednesday | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Mon 01 Sep | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 3 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1901/1902 | Sat 01 Mar | Sheff. Utd. | 3 - 0 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 02 Nov | The Wednesday | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1900/1901 | Mon 29 Apr | The Wednesday | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 15 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1899/1900 | Mon 19 Feb | The Wednesday | 0 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | F.A. Cup |
| Sat 17 Feb | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | F.A. Cup | |
| 1898/1899 | Mon 26 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Mon 03 Oct | The Wednesday | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1897/1898 | Mon 27 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 16 Oct | The Wednesday | 0 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1896/1897 | Tue 02 Mar | The Wednesday | 1 - 1 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Sat 26 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 2 - 0 | The Wednesday | First Division | |
| 1895/1896 | Thu 26 Dec | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 07 Sep | The Wednesday | 1 - 0 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1894/1895 | Sat 12 Jan | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 0 | The Wednesday | First Division |
| Sat 27 Oct | The Wednesday | 2 - 3 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division | |
| 1893/1894 | Mon 13 Nov | The Wednesday | 1 - 2 | Sheff. Utd. | First Division |
| Mon 16 Oct | Sheff. Utd. | 1 - 1 | The Wednesday | First Division | |