Danny Rohl oversaw his first Steel City derby as Sheffield Wednesday manager before the break, and his side put up a very good fight.
Sheffield Wednesday lost 1-0 at Sheffield United before the November international break in what was the first Steel City derby in five years.
The Owls were up against it, facing a Sheffield United side who’d recently been in the Premier League and who boast the much better squad.
But Danny Rohl’s side gave a very good account of themselves and have set up an exciting reverse fixture at Hillsborough in March.
After the game, Blades boss Chris Wilder made national headlines. Wilder was filmed in a pub singing ‘sausage roll’ to the tune of Wednesday’s fans’ ‘Danny, Danny Rohl’ song.
And in his pre-Cardiff City presser on Thursday, Rohl finally gave his thoughts on those videos of Wilder.
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Rohl refused to get drawn into a personal rivalry with Wilder. Instead, the Owls boss shrugged it off.
He told the press: “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.
“I can not guarantee but I can promise you. This topic, it makes no sense to speak (about it). He (Wilder) is experienced enough.
“What he does or what he is not doing, I have my opinion, I have my style of how I celebrate wins or not. All good.”
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Sheffield Wednesday could have improved squad vs Sheffield United in March
The second Steel City derby of this season is in March. Of course, between now and then is the January transfer window, and for both the Owls and the Blades, it’s a huge month.
Both clubs have different ambitions in the Championship this season. For Rohl, the January transfer window looks set to be about loan deals, and possibly trimming the first-team squad amid financial uncertainties.
Speaking on Thursday, Rohl said he wants loan signings at Sheffield Wednesday in what felt like something of a plea to owner Dejphon Chansiri.
And if the Owls can get one or two quality loan players through the doors and perform like they did at Bramall Lane, then the Steel City derby at Hillsborough could be a very different story.