Rare advantage for Sheffield United ahead of Sheffield Wednesday game over Leeds United issue Chris Wilder has highlighted — Sheffield Star 7/2/25
By Danny Hall
Rare advantage for Sheffield United ahead of Sheffield
Wednesday game over issue Chris Wilder has highlighted
Chris Wilder has welcomed news that Sheffield United have
been on the right end of a fixture change for once after being handed a day
extra to prepare for next month’s Steel City derby against their rivals
Wednesday. The Blades chief has highlighted how the schedule has affected the
Blades routinely this season, with United suffering the most out of the
Championship’s top four sides.
They aren’t the only ones to be affected - with rivals Leeds
United’s long trip to Portsmouth switched to a 12pm kick-off on a Sunday,
causing mass fury amongst their supporters - but it has hit them hardest with
their squad numbers and availability issues already well documented. But they
will have an extra day on the Owls to prepare for the derby at Hillsborough
after their game at home to Bristol City that week was moved back to Tuesday
night, from Wednesday.
Wednesday, in contrast, are at Norwich on the Wednesday
evening and will then face a long journey back from Norfolk before beginning
their preparations to host United. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s home clash with
Portsmouth, boss Wilder admitted: “We are always looking for those little bits
that might help.
"But ultimately, that is way down the line. I have
talked about the players attacking every game with everything we have got, with
no short-cuts and everything has got to be put into the game against
Portsmouth.