Sheffield United have given their own supporters many years of hurt and usually when it comes to the big games they manage to invariably let down their loyal following. 2009 saw another chapter to this long catalogue of disappointments as many United fans saw something they had not seen in their lifetime; a Sheffield Wednesday victory at Bramall Lane.

The pain of losing a cross city derby always hurts but it will be doubly disappointing for the red and white half of Sheffield this weekend. The last Wednesday victory was recorded way back in 1967 but hardly a soul in Bramall Lane will have remembered the last time the Owls did the double over the Blades. It is 95 years since the Wednesday achieved this feat but on a bitterly cold backdrop set against snow and ice, they managed to finally achieve this feat to leave further unrest in S2.

The Blades went into the game without key figures Morgan and Henderson and gave debut to Arturo Lupoli in a new look strike force. Wednesday played an attacking line up with two strikers in Clarke and Tudgay and with two orthodox wingers in Johnson and Gray.

With the ground full to bursting point it was Wednesday who kicked off towards the United fans and stunned the entire stadium when they were ahead under a minute. The kick off was directed towards United's left hand side and after Naughton had slipped and given a foul away. The ball found its way to Gray from the free kick who was free and his precise pull back was met by SPURR who was completely unmarked and hammered in an unstoppable drive pat Kenny's right hand. The Wednesday fans were in dreamland with some United fans not even in their seats such was the quickness of the goal.

United tried to rally from this appalling start and it was not long before they were level. It came from Halford's bomb of a long throw that Grant came and did not take and the ball was nodded over the line via the underside of the bar from debutant LUPOLI. Four minutes into the game and two goals had been scored in an unbelievable start.

The frenetic start continued with Wednesday then back onto the attack but Naughton thwarted Johnson. Tudgay then could not get a shot off after more hesistant defending. Halford's long throws caused further confusion as the end to end contest resembled that of a basketball game as each team took turns at attacking. Montgomery fired a long range shot wide and then Bromby hit a snap shot in a crowd of bodies that hit the outside of the post. Wednesday were very much still in the contest and Clarke nearly profited after Quinn had given away possession.

Wednesday were able to regain the lead though after United had carelessly lost the ball once again. Howard was the man at fault this time and after the ball dropped TUDGAY advanced and from fully 25 yards hit an absolutely stunning strike into the top corner that gave Kenny no chance.

United tried once again to get back into the game but half chances for Montgomery and Halford failed to seriously test Grant before the half time whistle.

United did not make any changes and continued with only one man up front and the ineffective Howard in the central area of midfield. United's best early chances came from long throws and set plays but the lack of height the Blades possessed meant Wood and Beevers were coping with this threat. Wednesday nearly converted a third goal as after neat and tidy interchange, Tudgay flicked on and Clarke smashed a volley against the post with Kenny motionless.

United brought on Ward for Lupoli and Wednesday were now using less than fair means to stop some of United's attacks with Quinn being the recipient of one or two late challenges. Ward ought to have done better with a header from Hallford's cross. Sharp and then Hendrie came on for Howard and Webber and instantly the former Villa man played in Ward but the ball was taken off his toe by Gray.

United tried in vain to create more opportunities but it was often predictable long balls into the heart of the Wednesday defender that was cut out all too easily. However, Hendrie's vision was a breath of fresh air and saw United almost get into shooting positions. Sharp pulled back an inviting cross but Buxton turned the ball behind for a corner that came to nothing.

As the game entered its dyeing embers, United sent further men forward and from a ball into the box, appeals were raised for handball before Sharp turned and hit a shot that was acrobatically tipped over from Grant. Bromby headed tamely wide from the resultant corner. Wednesday saw out the final moments with no further danger and could then finally celebrate the long overdue victory at Bramall Lane and the even longer overdue city double.

United

A desperately disappointing defeat and a desperately disappointing performance. The Doncaster game hurt such was the abjectness of the showing from the Blades but this was different as it was against 'the rivals'. Man for man we should be as good and probably better even with the players we had out but seemed to struggle to win key battles in all areas. We looked lightweight and punchless up front and looked slow and pedestrian at the back. In midfield we lost the 50/50's and had little in the way of creativity. We continued to play the long hump balls for much of the contest despite not having any height. Only 2 or 3 players came out of the game with any credit the likes of Kilgallon, Halford and Montgomery doing ok. Others like Quinn, Webber and Howard proved that in all reality they are not good enough.

We started the game badly but then got back in it. However, we still were inferior for large portions of the game. Sure we did have chances and the ball did not drop to us but overall I have to concede Wednesday defended well in numbers and attacked when they could and did try and pass the ball. They scored two great goals too (although badly defended). After they got the second we had half chances and a few scrambles and did have a lot of the game played in the last third but they looked just as dangerous on the break. We huffed and puffed but did not really look like blowing the house down and the game petered out.

We played 4-5-1 but played Webber up front and he did nothing all game (albeit with no service) and did not hold the ball up whatsoever in comparison to the strong Wednesday front duo who although were not great did hold the ball and bring others into play. Our midfield had 5 men in it and still lost most of the 50/50s.

We literally played without one player for most of the game with Brian Howard giving one of the most anonymous performances I have ever seen in a red and white shirt. Quinn was appalling but at least he did not hide. I felt Lupoli did well in patches and was harshly taken off when numerous others should have got the chop. The crowd's boos told a story. We improved when Hendrie came on and ward looked lively but should have perhaps done better with a few half chances.

We have a very, very limited manager who has no other way of playing other than direct football. He has no plan B and the team has no shape, no organisation and is bereft of someone who can actually get their foot on the ball and pass it. United fans are now running out of patience. Sure we may be in top 6 but the football being served up is utter tripe. We may somehow scrape into the playoffs but I doubt it and reason my early season prediction of 9th is still about where we will finish.

I do not see any progress in the way we play most weeks. We seem to be getting worse rather than better. Granted I have only seen 4 or 5 away games this year but based on what I have seen overall, it is simple unacceptable. I am not even enjoying watching the games and as an entertainment factor it is nil at the moment. I feel that the crowds will deteriorate badly next season and we will be back down to 15-18,000 most weeks.

McCabe has done a tremendous job but he has made two awful managerial appointments and then has authorised some appalling signings that have drained the wage bill (spent about 4 million on Cotterill, Sharp and Howard - all who I would gladly see the back of tomorrow). Maybe when the crowds/revenue drop he will realise people are not happy. I think the fact we are in the top 6 says as much about the appalling sides throughout the rest of the division as us.

Blackwell also badly mismanaged the transfer window where had 4 weeks to sign 2 or 3 additions to improve us and he basically failed to do that. Today we were left with a team of tiny players due to Henderson's stupidity and Blackwell's inability to bring in a replacement for Beattie. He has failed to address the midfield creativity issue nor bring in a pacy winger who can get crosses in. In short he did nothing in reality as Lupoli, Bromby and Ward are bit part players in reality and would not have interested the other top clubs around us.

Kenny 6/10
Had no chance with either of the goals and actually did not have that much to do in terms of saving actual shots but he stayed on his line routinely when he should have taken some crosses/long throws. His kicking was awful; demonstrated when he kicked the ball straight out towards the end.

Naughton 6/10
Had a mixed game. He slipped that led to the free kick for the early goal but he made some great tackles on Johnson and came in for some real hammer over the course of the game. He tried to use the ball and get forward but made some mistakes in the second half both with his decision making and taking too long to do things.

Naysmith 6.5/10
Had a really bad start when he went completely missing from his position and the ball came across and was suddenly in the net but he was not the only one culpable. He was one of the major culprits in terms of just lumping the ball. It was either a diagonal lump or one down the line. Defensively he did alright after the opening but would like to see him try and pass the ball a bit more.

Kilgallon 6.5/10
Had a really shaky start to the game and was indecisive in the early stages as was most of the defence but got better as the game went on and made some key blocks and clearances. He at times he struggled to get to the ball first like Bromby and this led to Wednesday keeping possession through the forwards hold up play. He ended up on the left wing as we tried to salvage something. One of the few players who actually looks like he could play at a higher level and like Naughton has to use reading of game and pace to cover for others shortcomings so often.

Bromby 6/10
Not a forward thinking signing as he probably was not good enough 12 months ago when he left the club and has hardly improved his stock since leaving playing for a struggling side. He struggled badly with physical play when we lost at Hillsborough a year ago and did again today as he could not win the key headers or first balls against the centre forward and this led to Wednesday keeping the ball in our half. Got better in the second half but we really missed Morgan and Ehiogu today.

Montgomery 6.5/10
Ran his socks off. Sure I want more than that from United players but we all know his limitations but he chased every ball, won tackles and tried to take the fight forward. Some other players should be embarrassed how little effort they put in comparison to him. His passing was usual mixed bag but he put two or three good balls out too. Cannot fault him today as he at least showed what this game meant.

Quinn 3/10
Atrocious for most of the game. Had one or two runs where got chopped down but other than that most things he did, he did wrong. His set plays were terrible either floated to the keeper or failed to beat the first man. His passing was rushed and wayward. His touch was awful and his overall football intelligence is just not there. He is not good enough as for all the odd great free kick, or nice shot he may have every say 7 or 8 games; for the most part he contributes more negatives than positives.

Halford 7/10
A lot of United fans do not like him but I think he has been one of Blackwell's better signings. His long throw is a tremendous asset and made the goal and other chances. However, his touch and passing are also generally very good. I thought he tired towards the end as he was having to play the target man role on the diagonal punts forward which is clearly not his game.

Webber 3/10
Never in the game at all. He was forced to challenge for long high whacks forward and hardly won a header. However, he did not do enough to try and hold the ball up and at times was not even a nuisance factor as Wednesday defenders could head/clear the ball too easily. I would have played Lupoli up top and Webber outside.

Lupoli 6/10
Started the game well and got the goal. He showed one or two nice touches and a nice turn of pace. Quite a few players failed to read his intelligent touches and passes. He still looked one of our better outlets and it was a surprise when he was taken off.

Howard 1/10
We had a player called Jamie Hoyland in the nineties and the joke was that there was a mythical hole in the middle of the pitch called Hoyland's hole that our Jamie used to hide in,; so anonymous was he at times. However, we have a player that makes Hoyland look like the Brian Robson or Roy Keane of his era, so poor is our so called match winner from Barnsley; Mr Brian Howard. He basically marked space today, avoided the ball at all costs and hid from where most of the play took place. He did not even get his shirt dirty. The one time he had the ball he lost it and Wednesday went and scored the winner. How he survived as long as he did I do not know. People can say we do not utilise his abilities and do not play through midfield but Quinn and Montgomery saw plenty of the ball (ok they wasted it) but he seems to hide from the ball and when he does have it he gets brushed aside. I would look to try and get some money back in the summer as I honestly think regardless of the style and manager, he is not good enough as his touch and passing is poor and his tackling/ability to press/win 50/50;s is nonexistent.

Subs

Ward
Looked lively and did not let his size disadvantage put him off but he missed a headed chance when he should have done better and also was too slow with another opportunity when Hendrie put him in with a good chance of getting a shot away.

Hendrie
Came on and got involved instantly. He played 2 or 3 superb balls; one to Ward that the striker dallied on and one across the box that Grant gathered as no one attacked it. He has to start the next game as he can actually look after the ball and pass the ball.

Sharp
Put in a fine cross from the right hand side and also had a decent effort (maybe should have kept it down) turned over at the death. He at least looked a threat when he came on.

Wednesday

Were they any better than us? Not really. They got two good goals and then battled and scrapped and put bodies in the way. They only had three shots all game but scored two of them. I never felt convinved we would score and our shooting was poor and final ball was poor all day. They looked more dangerous when they did attack. It was not smash and grab though as they attacked when they could and did try and pass the ball and showed some flair when they could. Thus they got the three points.

They are not a great side by any stretch of the imagination but like the Bassett United sides of the early 90's they show fight and heart in these big games and invariably win the individual battles. They have players like Johnson, Wood and Sodje (surprised he did not play today) who raise their game against United. Fair play to them. I may dislike them more than any other team in the World but Laws has done a good job and gets them prepared for these big games. Blackwell seems to struggle to get our players playing to their optimum.

They actually attacked us from the start and got their reward. They looked as good going forward as any other side who has come down to the Lane this season as they attacked with pace and power. They did not sit back and let United take the game to them as we did at Hillsborough but rather went for the jugular. They could easily have scored 2 or 3 more goals in the first 15 minutes but then so could us as they were equally bad at the back. They won't trouble the playoffs but will not go down.

They will probably get some fresh investment eventually and push on to add to the few decent players they have. However, I do not see them threatening for promotion anytime soon though and they will probably bob about in this division for a good few years. Still they have done the double over us and will probably be in the same division as us next year so for a lot of them that will represent a good season.

Ability wise they have a few decent technical players in Gray, Potter and Johnson but a lot of combative hard workers too like O'Connor, Watson (who did not play today) etc. I felt that the front two especially Tudgay caused us problems with their hard work and running. They held the ball up well and were a handful all afternoon. The goal Tudgay scored was a tremendous one and deserved to win any game.

At the back Grant is a much improved keeper and takes many crosses that our own Paddy Kenny does not even contemplate coming for, although Grant was partly at fault for the goal. Beevers and Wood are ok but they had nothing to play against. They have collapsed in many away games this year and routinely let in 3 or 4 goals. However, today we only had midget/s up against them and they routinely coped with what we threw at them. I feel Spurr and Buxton are very limited full backs but we had no pace or ability to really test them at all.

Referee

Halsey. Had a decent game as he had done at the Lane a few weeks ago. Thought he should have booked Johnson for unsportsmanlike conduct (delaying free kicks etc by not retreating) but overall he reffed the game well and we could not point to him for why we did not better in the game.