Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell hailed "a massive win" after clinching his first Steel City derby at Bramall Lane as his side held on for a 3-2 triumph in a classic Coca-Cola Championship encounter.
Blackwell became the first United manager in 95 years to succumb to a league double to Wednesday last season, but three unanswered first-half strikes from United forwards Jamie Ward and Darius Henderson and Lewis Buxton's own goal wiped out his derby anguish.
Blackwell, whose side have climbed to fourth place in the table, said: "To be honest with you that monkey has been on my back for a while. As great a season as we had last season many locals dismissed it because we lost twice to Sheffield Wednesday. So it was a massive, massive victory here."
He added: "I had 10 new players who had never experienced a Sheffield derby. Try tell them what it's like. They now know what it's like. I'm delighted to get such a big result."
Blackwell praised new loan signing Andrew Davies, who arrived from Stoke earlier in the day and replaced Matt Kilgallon, who was suffering with a chest infection.
But the Blades boss revealed his side's first derby win since February 2006, in front of a crowd of 29,210 that created an electric atmosphere, was tempered by the loss of goalscorer Ward, who was stretchered off in the first half with a torn hamstring.
Blackwell added: "Andrew Davies looked a bit rusty in the first half an hour, but as the game went on he got better and better.
"He came in on Friday afternoon and it was a case of throwing him in, so he showed terrific mental toughness.
"We were superb in the first half. It could have been four or five, but Wardy was a big loss.
"He's on fire at the moment. He took his goal really well. He has goals in him and he's a real threat, so to lose him for six weeks is a blow."
Comment 1 - 8 of 8
i looked for your carling cup result last night but oh yeah you ve been knocked out ain ya hahaha by a lower league port vale hahaha what a load of S H I T you are .I know your excuse will be we consentrating on promotion but let me tell you forget it loosers the toon west brom and middlesborough will go up and you will be left to cry again and blame west ham just face it your a championship club and nothing better
greshlad your liverpool,manutd,rangers,celtic,real madrid,birmingham,arsenal til you die...........you are a muppet footballs not for you pal you no nothing about the subject
Well Rodders you obviously are an expert on football arent you!! Clearly watched a different game to the rest of us poor old football supporters, we're not part of the prawn sandwich brigade you see!! Hope you had a good trip back to Essex.
rodders, As a Blade i don't think we will go up, not without some new 'quality' players, a better style of football & a new manager.
As for winning the Sheffield Derby!, I'll settle for doing that by any ways or means for the rest of my natural born days & i don't rightly 'give a monkey's' who was or wasn't the best team, just as you don't when it comes to winning your city's Derby games. So do both sets of fans in our City a favour & stick to Old Trafford, that's assuming you're one of the rare Man U. fans that have actually go to the games!!.
Thank you.
The Blades will not go up this season.
They did not deserve to win against the Owls.
This is from a Man U supporter who went to the match.
Wednesday were the better team??
Both teams are S H I T and the blunts wont be promoted this season or next for that matter they just think they have a right to be in the prem they not even a big club up the hammers
The Sweet FA state they are going to investigate Premier League transfers. Start with TEVEZ and West ham (cheating ) United. Sepp Blatter of FIFA states that points should be deducted. Start with West Ham (cheating ) United.
delighted with derby win 3-0 up at half time sheff wed fans gutted they had to come out they were showing themselves up same again at hillborough boys lets show the little club in sheff who,s the daddy utd utd utd utd utd utd
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account