There’s heightened tension brewing ahead of the next Steel City derby match in March next year, following Chris Wilder’s antics after the last game.
Before the November international break, Sheffield Wednesday headed to Sheffield United for what was the first Steel City derby match in five years.
It was a first for Danny Rohl, but not for Chris Wilder. Meanwhile, it was a first for the Blades’ squad but not for the likes of Barry Bannan, Liam Palmer, and Dominic Iorfa.
The game was close in the first half. Sheffield Wednesday looked as though they could’ve come out of the game with a point but for a lapse in concentration after the restart.
Sheffield United beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the end. But what happened after the game has been the main talking point since.
Wilder was filmed in a pub chanting ‘sausage roll’ to the tune of Sheffield Wednesday fans’ song ‘Danny, Danny Rohl’, to which the Owls boss has since responded.
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Chris Wilder hits back after Danny Rohl breaks silence at Sheffield Wednesday
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Championship clash against Cardiff City on Saturday, Rohl gave his verdict on Wilder’s chanting after the Steel City derby.
Rohl said: “If you ask me, if the opponent has a song about me, maybe it is not the worst thing.
“Maybe they recognise they have a big respect, I take it like this. I would not do this, but if the opponent stadium sings about me and not their own team, hey, they can think what they want.”
And speaking ahead of his side’s Championship game against Coventry City on Saturday lunchtime, Wilder also gave his thoughts on the matter.
Wilder told The Star: “Do supporters want to see that, or do they want to see them just slope off and get in their cars and go back to their houses 200 miles away? No.
“They want to mix, they want to be part of it. When you win a game of football, you have to do a hell of a lot of things right. So you have to enjoy it and enjoy it together, as they have done.
“I’m not going to knock that and going back to the groups that have been successful, they all stay together. I like the look of it, and I’m all over it.”
He added: “It [the game] becomes sterile, doesn’t it?. It becomes emotionless and you can’t get away from it. I certainly can’t.
“I’m not trying to gain favour or anything but my situation is quite a unique one. I’m 100 per cent emotionally tied in. How can I not be with the journey I’ve been on?”
What date is the next Steel City derby match?
As things stand, Sheffield Wednesday will welcome Sheffield United to Hillsborough on Saturday Match 15th in a 3pm kick off.
Though that date seems subject to change with the game bound to be shown live on Sky Sports.
It’s the first Steel City derby match at Hillsborough since 2019 with the last being a 0-0 draw in the 2018/19 Championship season, with Steve Bruce the manager at the time.
Right now, Sheffield United sit in 2nd place of the Championship table and the Owls in 15th, though things could be wildly different by the time the two teams meet again, with a transfer window in between now and March 15th too.
Sheffield Wednesday go up against Cardiff City in a 12:30pm kick off on Saturday.