Sheffield United got it all wrong at Hillsborough last year but it was the pre-match comments of their then manager that lingered as long in the fans' memory as the disappointing performance on the pitch.
When Bryan Robson said the Steel City derby was "just another game" it showed that he didn't understand the deep passion and tradition belying this fixture.
A lot of Blades fans were justifiably disappointed that Captain Marvel didn't deliver a statement of intent. You can't say you're going to treat it as just another game because it isn't. It's a titanic battle.
Sheffield expects: Laws and Blackwell
You're either red and white or blue and white in Sheffield, and in a city with working class roots, the very least both sets of fans expect is that their players give 100 per cent every time they step on the pitch. In a derby, they expect 120 per cent!
Struggle all season, but if you can do the double over the other lot, you will appease a lot of fans.
You can't say you're going to treat it as just another game because it isn't. Struggle all season, but if you can do the double over the other lot, you will appease a lot of fans.
Peter Beagrie
Quotes of the week
Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United
1.00pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
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The high expectations and the intense media speculation make it a real pressure cooker of a game to play in. But you can't blame outside influences; you control your own performance.
I missed out on playing in a Sheffield derby during my time at Bramall Lane in the late '80s but I played in various pre-season and testimonial games between the two rivals - and it's safe to say there was more hair and skin flying about than in many competitive games I've played in over the years!
Passionate
But it's an easy fixture to buy into even if you have no association with Sheffield: a big city, split down the middle, deeply passionate fans and an interesting sub-plot of how the ascendancy has swung from one club to the other over the years.
The styles of play have changed, too. I remember Wednesday playing some lovely stuff under Ron Atkinson but going much more direct when Howard Wilkinson was in charge; equally we played some great football when I was at United during the tenures of Ian Porterfield and Billy McEwan but we narrowed the pitch and played down a train track when Dave Bassett took the reins!
Kevin Blackwell and Brian Laws are the men pitting their wits on Sunday and I expect the 122nd Steel City derby to be as tight as the last one at Bramall Lane back in April. In terms of excitement, attacking football and sheer will to win, that 2-2 draw was probably the best game I saw all season.
After a 4-0 drubbing at Plymouth, Wednesday will have certainly have welcomed the international break more than United, who go to Hillsborough looking for their fourth win on the spin - a great response to their Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal.
The Owls' results have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous but they are unbeaten at home and Brian Laws will be counting on the vociferous home support. Off-the-field uncertainty has definitely been reflected in some performances but the fans have really stuck by the manager and the players.
With four goals in nine, Marcus Tudgay is a key man for the home side and if Brian Laws springs a surprise in naming Akpo Sodje in his squad, it would give the hosts a massive boost.
Tudgay has the craft and guile but Sodje is a real handful; dominant in the air and a powerhouse when the ball is in front of him. The Owls like to play football but when they have not been able to dominate possession, with Sodje out injured, they have lacked a long ball outlet to alleviate the pressure.
Anxiety
Kevin will try and feed off the negativity and anxiety that accompanied Wednesday's heavy defeats to Reading and Plymouth, which means getting on the front foot right from the whistle.
Being a positive manager, his battle plan will be to play in the opposition third as much as possible, get plenty of balls into the box and get an early goal. With James Beattie and Billy Sharp leading the line, United have certainly got goals in their side.
It will be interesting to see how big a role Brian Howard plays on Sunday. He could well be the missing link in midfield on the evidence of what he produced in a struggling Barnsley side.
A dead ball specialist, he has tremendous belief in his own ability, as well as the ability to run past his strikers in the way that Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard do in the Premier League. Like Gary Speed and Stephen Quinn, he'll also chip in with goals and a midfield that can score you goals when your strikers might be going through a bit of a barren spell is invaluable.
He demands the ball, too. People talk about bottle; well, it's not flying into tackles, it's when you take responsibility and make things happen. Brian certainly has it.
The first goal will be crucial in this one - but I've got a funny feeling we're going to see a lot of them. It could be a repeat of the four-goal thriller at Bramall Lane.
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Peter answers your questions...
UPROOT FOREST?
Hi Peter, with the way Nottingham Forest are playing at the moment - losing five away games, only won once - do you think it is a good time to sack Colin Calderwood before it's too late or do you think it's just a patch we're going through? Jay Phillips
PETER REPLIES: I must admit that the chairman has shown Colin a fair bit of patience but it's still too early for a knee-jerk reaction like that, Jay. He took the job in the hope of building Forest back up to their former glory days but with all that tradition comes pressure, although Colin, who I have a lot of respect for, put pressure on himself by declaring that promotion to the Championship was the very least of his targets. He's lost players like Junior Agogo and Kris Commons, who was the difference between being an average and a good side, and it's difficult to reconstruct your team. Yes, they've brought in the likes of Guy Moussi but the big money went on Rob Earnshaw and he's been feeding off scraps because they haven't created much at all. And they've conceded a horrendous amount of goals. I'm surprised Ian Breckin hasn't featured more; I think it's time to get some of the older heads back in. Something needs to change but I'd back Colin to turn it round. It sounds like the chairman does too, so let's hope that continues to be the case.
ATHLETIC ENOUGH?
Hi Peter, Oldham fan here looking forward to our top-of-the-table clash with Leicester. I know you've already praised both teams for playing some good football so far this season but who do you think has got the edge as far as promotion is concerned? Pete Turnbull
PETER REPLIES: I'd have to say Leicester, Pete; they've always been one of my favourites for automatic, largely because they have the bigger squad, and financially are on a better footing than Oldham. But the Latics have a great blend of youth and experience - the likes of young winger Chris Taylor alongside Andy Liddell, Mark Crossley and Sean Gregan, who has the distribution of any centre-half in the division. I'm pleased to see Lee Hughes seemingly grabbing his second chance after his much-publicised troubles. John Sheridan has got his side playing some lovely football and after finishes of sixth and eighth in the previous campaigns, the squad now has the mental as well as physical strength to keep going, even if they do have a bit of a dip.
To send Peter a question, send an email to skysportsclub@bskyb.com or use the feedback form below...
Comments (23)
Lee Sarson (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
come on you blue and white wizards .......................................................................
Posted 15:20 18th October 2008
Daniel Staniforth (Sheffield United fan) says...
Got to be a Blades win. Always enjoy walking into the pub after the piggies get hammered and seeing some wednesday fans sitting silent. LOLOLOLOL Cmon you BLADES!!!!!! 3-0
Posted 02:10 18th October 2008
Keeren Whiteley (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
pete its got to blue by three goals to two
Posted 21:50 17th October 2008
Kevin Johnston (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
Owls wake up, 3-2 over Blades. Wish I could be there...
Posted 18:55 17th October 2008
Rod halls (Sheffield United fan) says...
Beattie Hatrick Billy sharp 2 and a thunderbolt from howard 6 - 0 To the best team in yorkshire Up The Blades
Posted 16:25 17th October 2008
Chris Small (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
3-1 Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 13:03 17th October 2008
Chris Smith (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
Its great to read all the Blunts getting excited just like last year, they all came,they all watched and they all stayed silent as they were outclassed for 90minutes. This year will be closer as true they do have a better team on paper but that counts for nothing come kick off. They cant cope at the back as a Leeds reject and club foot like morgan arent good enough for this league. UP THE OWLS
Posted 12:33 17th October 2008
Richa Kiplio (Hull City fan) says...
"Utd are the best team in Yorkshire" - *ahem* - Hull City anyone?
Posted 11:45 17th October 2008
Shaun Briggs (Sheffield United fan) says...
Thanks for the preview Peter. Sundays game is gonna be awesome, but hopefully, we'll lay the BDM to bed, once and for all. Wednesday, live with this fact, you are living in the past, and you'll never be on the same level as the Blades, on or off the pitch. If everything you've got hinges on Sodje and Tudgay, god help you, we've got a team of 11 players, not 2.
Posted 11:13 17th October 2008
Matthew Tindale (Sheffield United fan) says...
easy peter i think its hilarious them wednesday pigs still think they are better than the mighty blades! back int he early 90's i could name the wednesday first eleven, and easily admit that the pigs were better than us, but the tables have turned. wednesday fans are living in the past, have an unknown team, and play mediocre football. the blades are the number one club in yorkshire, we play the best football, we are run better than most clubs in the country and we're heading in the right direction. it should be an easy victory for the blades and if it isnt, blackwell better have a "warnock style" excuse up his sleeve. hahaha but in all seriousness, united have the talent and the bottle to destroy wednesday!
Posted 09:59 17th October 2008
Lee Sykes (Sheffield United fan) says...
It amazes me how cocky the true Piggies actually are... Heard nothing from them in recent years but now all of a sudden they are world beaters! Of course on paper Blades will skin them, but football isn't like that. Derbies are always exciting in Sheffield and I hope the experiemce is not as frustrating as it was last season when we forgot to turn up under that idiot Robson!
Posted 08:05 17th October 2008
Robert Davies (Sheffield United fan) says...
we have the best team but i know this doesnt mean anything cum derby day but this time i think we will beat the piggys 3-0 cum on you red and white wizzards up the blades
Posted 23:50 16th October 2008
Jamie Furniss (Sheffield United fan) says...
Hi Peter. You've made a good preview for the game their, but there's only one result and that's going to go United's way. Your correct by saying your either red and white or blue and white, the hatred between the two fans is unreal! And for any people who will be watching the game who aren't United or Wednesday supporters, they're in for a tasty encounter. Up the Blades!
Posted 22:55 16th October 2008
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United fan) says...
beattie hatrick !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 22:00 16th October 2008
Elliot Mann (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
I'm a lifelong owl, and after last seasons win and near away win at bramell lane, i reckon we can do better than a loss on sunday (hopefully!) Being a season ticket holder, the passion is always red hot at derby games, and having barnsley away on the tuesday(also attending:D) the fans including myself are deeply looking forward to the match!
Posted 21:33 16th October 2008
Callum Wasden (Sheffield United fan) says...
Come On You Blades. Miles better than last season with Howard Joinin. Billy Sharp and beaatie smashing them in. We are going to hammer the pigs off sheffield all over. UNITED!!!!!!
Posted 20:35 16th October 2008
Matthew Burgin (Sheffield United fan) says...
the blue and white pig is talking out of his.......! theres only 1 side thats guna cum out with a smile on there faces and thats the red n white side of sheffield!!! howard first sheffield derby, and he and bettie r guna shut the pigs up ! cum on blades 2.0
Posted 19:38 16th October 2008
Ali King (Sheffield United fan) says...
the blades will reign supreme on sunday an we will be giving all teh owls bacon butties come monday morning! Score? 3 2 with goals from sharp and beattie. come on u blades!!!
Posted 18:57 16th October 2008
Kyle Smith (Sheffield United fan) says...
I predict a comfortable 2-0 win for united with beattie and howard to score. Up the Blades
Posted 18:28 16th October 2008
Lewis Waddingham (Sheffield Wednesday fan) says...
Wednesday'll smash United on Sunday, we're gonna knock em down again, back where they belong! Come on lads do us Owls proud, an' Lawsy Good Luck.
Posted 17:50 16th October 2008